August 28, 2020

Shopfox W1826 โ€“ Wall Dust Collector Review [REVISITED]

The Shopfox W1826 Wall Dust Collector is just as its name entails, a wall-mounted dust collector, and it is designed to capture dust right at the source and eliminate a duct systemโ€™s reduced efficiency.ย 

With a 537 CFM capacity, you can best relax and believe that this dust collector will handle any woodworking machine. It is user-friendly and has a simple duct system, so minimal static pressure loss.ย The Shop Fox W1826 Wall Dust Collector comes to you as a simple wall-mount bracket and locking screw system. This will ensure it will be up and running in no time. The bag filter features a window to gauge dust levels and a bottom zipper for easy cleaning.ย 

Shopfox W1826 - Wall Dust Collector

Once you feel youโ€™re done, take the bag out and dispose of the dust in it, and you are done. So you donโ€™t have to worry about collecting dust anymore manually. Itโ€™s an excellent choice for any woodworker, and it will not disappoint you.ย 

Prosย 

  • It is very efficient and effectiveย 
  • It is very easy to use
  • Collects all dust particles preventing health issues
  • It can be used on large surfacesย 
  • Collects dust in a plastic which can be easily disposed

Cons

  • Can easily be affected by a fire
  • It is not as effective as filters

Specifications

  • Motor: 1 HP, 110V/220V, single-phase, prewired 110V
  • Motor amp draw: 7A/3.5A
  • Air suction capacity: 537 CFM
  • Static pressure: 7.2โ€ณ
  • Intake Hole Size: 4โ€ณ
  • Impeller: 10โ€ณ balanced cast-aluminum
  • Bag capacity: 2 cubic feet
  • Bag size (diameter x depth): 13-1/2โ€ณ x 24โ€ณ
  • Standard bag filtration: 2.5 micron
  • Powder-coated finish
  • Height with bag inflated: 44โ€ณ
  • CSA certified meeting CSA C22.2 #243-M91 and UL 1017 standards
  • Approximate shipping weight: 55 lbs.
Shopfox W1826 Dust Collector

What are Dust Collectors?

Dust collectors are specially designed systems and devices to filter the air by collecting any impurities or dust particles known to pollute the air surrounding us. These range from compact and portable collectors used in small shops. They collect particles from woodworking activities or cement work for much larger systems.ย 

The large dust collectors clean the polluted air in large industrial areas to purify the air, providing the workers with a healthy atmosphere. A dust collector is usually an attachment to various woodworking machines and tools, and their sole purpose is to collect dust from the machine, just like what its name refers to.ย 

A dust collector can collect dust from the machine by inhaling or otherwise removing airborne sawdust and fine debris into its chamber, usually screened by a filter. In that way, a dust collector prevents dust from accumulating in the work area.ย 

A dust collector is almost always a vacuum type powered by an electric motor that drives an intake fan to move air at a high rate โ€“ very similar to how a household vacuum cleaner works but on a larger scale.

Whenever you need to operate any grinding or bladed power tool for woodworking, itโ€™s always recommended to attach it to a dust collector if the machine supports it. There is no better alternative to keeping a working area dust-free, even if it is well ventilated, short to doing your woodworking projects outdoors.

Buying Tips

Common Terms

  • Micron: Unit of measurement for dust particles. 397 microns equals 1/64th of an inch.
  • Static pressure resistance: The air already moving through the duct needs to be pushed away by the suction.ย  This produces static pressure resistance that is measured in inches.
  • CFM: Stands for Cubic Feet per Minute.ย  It is used to measure air intake.

Filter Size

Filter fabric technology has changed significantly over the last 20 years. A machine was likely a single-stage collector equipped with a 30-micro bag back then. These bags almost did more harm than good, and they poorly filtered the tiny dust particles, which are sometimes the most harmful ones.

Particles smaller than 10 microns are most dangerous as they can penetrate deep into your lungs, and your body does a poor job at filtering them out.ย  As filtration technology developed, new dust collectors are now equipped with pleated filters which can filter particles as small as 0.3 microns. When purchasing a dust collector, ensure that it can filter down to at least 2.5 microns.

Suction Power

The last thing you want to do is purchase a dust collector that does not provide enough suction for your needs. CFM measures suction, and your suction needs are dependent on the tools you use in your workshop.ย ย 

Keep in mind that every foot of pipe will add resistance to the suction, so you will need to calculate the amount of static-pressure loss between your dust collector and where your tools are set up.ย  You should check their websites for performance curves as each manufacturer is different.

Single Stage or Two Stage?

Single-stage systems are cheaper than two-stage systems, which means that they are worse and not as effective? It is likely so. A two-stage collector will first draw air into a separator that filters out the larger pieces.ย  From there, the smaller pieces reach a filter.ย ย 

The benefit is that the largest particles (including chips) donโ€™t clog the filter and ensure that the filter suction is constantly working with no hiccups. So yes, while you will notice that a two-stage collector is generally more expensive than a one-stage collector, its system design will ensure that it always runs smoothly and sucks out all harmful particles out of the air.

Our Verdict

When we do woodworking, we produce different sizes of wood chips and dust particles, both of which we can collect with our dust collectors. Studies have shown that fine dust, which we canโ€™t even see often, is the most damaging to our bodies. So get yourself a dust collector and take care of your health. You may also be interested in Shop Fox W1844 Dust Collector Review.

David D. Hughes

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