Thank you for the detailed review with no condescension or patronization of anybody involved - from the viewer to Harbor Freight, you laid out everything I want to know about this unit for extracting dust and what it might do beyond that. I'm gonna have to keep it on my list in the HF app for a little while until I can cobble together enough scratch to replace the PITA that is the big Ridgid shop vac I got at an estate sale for $20 to just get the job done - a fine starter unit for a kid just entering adulthood, but now that I've matured a little and I know a little more about what I'm willing to put up with, I spend a little more time and a little more money on the things I interact with in my life. Since I'm already rambling, I also just really love Harbor Freight - there aren't any other stores where I feel they respect my dollar as much as I do, and they offer a variety of options and they acknowledge that their low end is low end, but they've really kicked it up a notch recently with their medium to high end stuff. I will say I waited a long while to jump into any branded battery ecosystem, but in the last couple years I said to heck with it and snapped up a few batteries at strategic times in their coupon timeline (there was a single day where you could get 2x 8Ah Hercules batts for $75, bless that day and bless the Harbor Freight subreddit), and now I'm fully on board the Bauer and Hercules battery ecosystems and I couldn't be happier.
HF used to be a mail order only company when I first started out. I ordered some of their cheapest tools around 1996. I still have a few of them that still work. Most other tool companies have been bought up and have to overcharge so that investors can siphon off millions. HF is a private company, so they can bring new tools to market without having to spend years getting approvals from a dozen different levels of bureaucracy. This lets them bring new tools to the market quicker and cheaper while maintaining higher quality.
Thanks man, the truth is, I’ve been scared of shelling over 1000 bucks to any extraction system , specially Festool. This is a good option, reasonably priced, and with your honest review I will put it on my shopping list. Again, thanks man.
It's hilarious how these popular UA-camrs just read what's written on the product packaging. You can tell they've never even used the tool. I might not always be right, but I always try to give accurate and honest information about what matters, not just marketing hype.
Thank you, I just bought this, this past weekend. Harbor Freight sent me a 25% off coupon good for one single item in store only. When I saw Matt do a review, I jumped on it, especially for a final price of $240.74! I have to say, it's a nice dust extractor! The only thing I wish was the time of shutoff after the power was off from my miter saw. If you find a way to decrease the shut down time, please post it, otherwise that would be the only complaint, if you even want to call it that.
I find the shut-off time good. If it is too quick, the dust will fall out of the hose if it is moved. I had that on my other unit. So far, I am still happy with everything.
A good dust collector and a good shield (mask) are must-haves for any woodworker. I have the small Festool but I have just ordered the new HF Hercules unit. My Powercap active IP respirator mask is my go-to mask for fine dust woodworking.
I've had a Fein Turbo II HEPA w/built-in attachment storage for 10+ years and even at $900 it's some of the best money I've ever spent. But this HF model looks like it took all the best ideas from that and is a third of the price! The floor attachment with wheels/bristles/rubber looks identical. I love the built-in tool triggering too
I had a couple of fein tools. Like you said, they are high quality. So are many other tools. Bean a new tool they can take the best of each and combine them into an awesome tool.
A big determinate of the duty cycle on shop vacs is whether the motor cooling is accomplished with a separate fan and air circuit from the vacuum system. The better shop vacs have an impeller on the bottom of the motor which runs the extraction/vacuum air flow, and another run off the top of the motor, which draws air past the motor and cools the motor.. Nice video. But, I will stick with the Shop Vac, with a Cyclone Separator, followed by an internal bag filter, and a clean stream HEPA filter which can be run through the dishwasher for cleaning. Over 95% of the dust is getting trapped by the cyclone, which means the bags last a long time, and the HEPA filter only needs to be cleaned annually.
I am sure that setup works great. I have been using bags and they keep the filter clean. By running through a separator first that would keep from having to replace the bags as often. I didn't want to take up the space of having a separator also. I use A separator on my big system and it works great. I got lucky and seen this at the right time and got it. Another time I would have just kept doing what I have been. Now I got it and have been using it, if the hurricane wipes my shop out tomorrow there is no question I will be buying another. Fingers cross I don't have to but last I checked the eye is passing over me and my shop.
@@ShopRamblings Good luck. We had 60-mph winds this weekend. Tw little fires of less than fifty acres, jumped to 50,000-acres overnight, with the fire perimeter now about 10-miles from my place. No matter where you live Nature seems to throw things your way.
I'm running a shop vac with cyclone at the moment, and the clumsy ergonomics are making me consider this HF unit. I don't run enough volume through the system (at the moment, anyway) for the cyclone to pay the same dividends. A simpler all-in-one at the expense of slightly higher bag/filter maintenance might be worth the trade.
When this goes on sale I am buying one, I don’t do enough woodworking to justify the $1000 Festool and my rigid with cyclone system is decent but this will my life better.
I do a lot more work in my shop. I have a dust collector system. I have been using shop vacs for dust extractors. At this price, I could finally justify getting a legit extractor, and it is so much better than what I have been using.
@@ShopRamblings Now that you mention it... how does a dust extractor compare to a dust collector? This extractor is nice, but collectors move 5 to 10 times the CFM. Your input is appreciated since you use both.
Was a Festool fan boy,but Hercules is coming up fast.Got the sliding compound miter saw and the 2.5 router. Loved both and use th sickens out of them. This dust extractor is posing my interest.
I’ve got the sliding miter. That shadow line is dead accurate. What a nice tool. I’ve got a lot of Hercules tools now, and an ditching all my Dewalt XRs…3 broken tools and all no older than 8 months old.. never dropped, never abused. An XR circ and jig saw which constantly shut off so frequently that even cutting a 2x stock is an exercise in tedium, and that overpriced inflator, which also shuts off with error codes, can no liner even read pressure, and to top it all off, the damn swivel function of the valve no longer rotates to attach it to the stem. I’ll never again spend a dime of Dewalt…they’ve lost me forever. Now I’m just waiting for Hercules to launch a jigsaw…can’t believe they haven’t made one yet.
That is why I put the meter on the screen. I knew it was something like that but let people see for themselves what it is instead of me saying it is twice as loud. Thanks for letting me know.
@@zacjones89 Do a search. Decibels are crazy because they’re on a logarithmic scale. You’ll see that 90 dBA plus 90 dBA is 93. So an increase in 3 dBA is double.
@zacjones89 @David-fy3in you're both correct. 3db is double or half; however, the human ear only notices doubling at 10db. So, the power doubles or halves based on 3db, but when it comes to audio our ears can't tell the difference until 10db.
Ridgid has a new HEPA filter that doesn't require the HEPA bags to be HEPA certified. With the green HEPA material filter Ridgid sells you must have it combined with the green HEPA bags to be certified HEPA. Adding a small cyclone system will keep most of the debris out of your filter. I bought the Hercules dust extractor and I love the tool activation and it's quieter than my Ridgid vacuum. Thanks for the video.
I had not seen the new Ridgid HEPA filter. The issue would still be that it would get clogged without a separator or bag. If a person considers a 6.5hp Ridgid vacuum is $160 and this filter is $40 you aren't really saving much when you add in all the other features like the auto start, auto filter cleaning, longer hose, longer cord, and more. There are a ton of little thing that I never thought about that I found on the Hercules that I love. I am so glad I got mine.
I wait until my wife is in a good mood. Then ask here how much does she love me. Then follow up with does she think it is worth $300 to make my shop safer.
Good video and thanks for the review. I’ll always amused by the horsepower ratings they put on vacuum cleaners. A standard 15 amp circuit can put out about 2 horsepower. And because the sander or other tool is plugged into the vacuum, that circuit is shared by both tools. I looked at the specs on the HF website. Says it’s a 11.5 amp motor. That will calculate to about 1.85 horsepower. This is not a negative mark on this machine though. I agree that it’s a great value!
Yeah. My dust collector has a 2hp motor. The motor weighs over 50lbs. This is 6.5hp and weighs 5lbs. All wet dry vacs use the same rating system. I just haven't been able to figure it out.
Thank you so much for this review, straight to the point. Realistic real world examples. I love Matt dont get me wrong, but it appears hes more commercialized and does mainly tool reviews instead of actually working on projects, which I would love to see him actually do... anyways i will definitely be picking this up now based off your review. I subscribed to your channel and liked. Looking forward to more great content from you and wish you nothing but the best.
Thanks, I would love to be able to make content for a living like Matt. He does a great job, but it is his job. I still buy my tools to use. I see how making project videos take 10x longer to make and actually get less views than tool reviews. There are very few channel like Blacktail Studio that can just make project videos and be successful. I am still humbled that people watch my videos. I truly appreciate you watching.
Great review Thanks for sharing. As a new woodworker I’ve been looking At dust extractors but they are so expensive. But I’m definitely going to look into this for sure
A good Shopvac with a bag works if that is all you can afford. The key is to use a bag instead of the filter it comes with. This is the least expensive dust extractor I have found it has better features than many of the most expensive ones. Technology is advancing fast and the big companies take a long time to create a new model. They really have added all the best features into this. If I had my choice between this and a Festool the only reason I may chose the Festool would be for the name. I would pick this one for functionality.
Nice supplement to the 731 review. Harbor Freight is going to be taking a chunk out of the big boys' bottom line before long. I wouldn't have thought I'd see the day where that was even remotely possible 10 years ago.
These big companies have so many departments it takes years to bring a new design to market. Harbor Freight can do this in a few months. With the speed the new technology is advancing by time these large companies can bring a new model to market here is already something better out.
Here’s a tip for those throw away bags, when full cut the end of the tube and then empty it in the trash, then tight roll the end 2/3 times and use a metal binder clip to hold it back in place, now you can get several more times out of it.
But, if doing that you’re adding dust, contaminants and small particles to the air we all breathe, and on an urban area like where many of us live, that is bad for everyone else. Using bags helps us and everyone.
@@jaimeecaballeros9742 Your not releasing that much, I think your overthinking it, what happens at the landfills when they roll over it and puncture the bag open? I wouldn’t recommend it if your doing mold remediation, and sure those who know/know how when/when not to use this tip
My dust collector has been down while I moved it to the outside. I am just now getting all.the new blast gates built and installed. This has dust around the shop. I am now getting the shop cleaned back up. I do that by blowing my shelves and tool holders off. There hasn't been any dust in the air while using this.
I have been using this one without a bag to see how well the cartridge filter cleaning system worked. It works great so I have not decided if I am going to use a bag or not. The bag makes it easier to empty but there is the added expense of the bags. I probably will use bags.
With respect to the knobs can’t you remove them and reinstall them with the orientation you prefer? This was a very good review and I’ll go pick one up. Thanks!
Being a DC motor, it will probably last for a few decades. I can't remember the last time I had to replace a DC motor. If you are worried you can always purchase to extend warranty.
Ive been waiting for someone to do a review on this new Hercules unit vs the Bauer 16 gallon shop vac because it appears to me they have the same power, but the Hercules obviously has a few additional feature. But, if you add the hepa filter to the bauer, does it actually justify spending nearly tripple for the Hercules? Am i completely off, or do i make a good point? Great review btw! 💯👍
If you use the Bauer, just use a bag and cartridge filter. I used a setup like that for years. You will get satisfactory results and will probably be happy as long as you never use a dust extractor. Once you use a system like this, you will realize there are so many little things that make it so much better that you will no longer be happy with a vacuum.
Thanks for the review. It's good to see Harbor Freight picking their game up off the trash heap with a few of their products. With the addition of a good cyclone on top of an extractor there really is extremely low consumption of filters and bags, regardless what extractor you use. Harbor Freight missed the mark by not integrating an attachable cyclone option for this extractor. For me this is a dealbreaker. All of my extractors have a cyclone designed to stack securely on top.
I don't understand or buy into the the 6.5HP rating. The manual also states that the electrical power rating is 120V and 11.5 amps. This equates to 1.38 kilowatts which then equates to 1.85 Horsepower, which is a much more realistic and believable number. 6.5HP at 120V would require 40 amps of current, and you just can't get 6.5HP on 120V with ordinary wring. In theory, you could get 2.4kilowatts/3.2HP out of a 20 amp circuit, but you would be tripping breakers and running a serious fire risk. A more realistic max is something like 1.5 kilowatts/2HP and any power tool, shop vac, dust extractor, will be subject to the that same practical limit. Note: I know that 6.5 is peak HP and that the unit might be capable of the for extremely short bursts in a lab setting, but it is misleading to think you are getting anywhere near that much power in real world use. I am not saying that this might not be a good device, I might even buy one myself. I am just calling out the HP rating as being misleading.
I completely agree. But it doesn't matter the brand. All shop vacs use this rating system. At least since they all use the same measuring system, it makes it easier to compare apples to apples.
@@ShopRamblingsI tend to agree that every brand does it, but I am not so sure how good a relative measure it is. All vacs are basically limited to the same power level based on the limitations of available input power, so no matter what theoretical peak power might be attained in a lab, there will be no practical difference in operation. The only real performance difference can come from efficiency of the impeller and the filters, and these may be real, but still somewhat negligible. In other words, all vacs with a standard 120V power source will perform about the same due to the limitations of that power source. Other features, of course, will vary to make one brand a better choice than another.
Looking to get my hands on one. wonder what kind of deals mught pop up for these, i want a better deal. Even if $300 isnt bad , Im use regular decent shop vacs and like you said they dont cost too much so its hard to swallow that big of a different price tag.
Will this tihng go on sale even cheaper and can you use coupons for it? Also, I'm curious how it compares to the Fein, which I beleive is at the same price point.
I have owned several Fein tools and the are great quality. I believe the Fein extractor that is similar in price is a lot smaller capacity. You never can tell what HF will put on sale. In my experience, they will give inside track members coupons on new tools first. They rotate about once a quarter. The last few years they are brought back the 10%-20% off with no exclusions coupon around the holidays.
Thanks for the informative video, my concern if it’s such a good dust extractor why is there so much dust all over the outside of it. I use a dust deputy with my 14 year old Ridged shop vac. And not a spec of dust on the outside.
Do you run a 50in drum sander in your shop? I have had to dump the 55-gallon barrel on my dust collector twice in the last two weeks. Some tools are sometimes run without dust collection. Tools like my sander that have good dust collection work perfectly with it.
@@ShopRamblings thank you for the response, I understand at times it gets out of control. I do my best to do it daily. I have a Grizzly 25/50 drum sanders but have hooked up to my Dust Collector.
It comes with a bag. I checked, and the bags i had on my shelf for my other vacuums fit. I don't see Hercules' replacements yet. I am sure they will be out soon. In the meantime, you can use the Bauer ones.
Why then do the large Jet, H F, Laguna, Rockler, etc, dust collectors typically have a 1, 1.5, 2 hp motor on them if a 5.5 hp motor is better? I thought it had to do with the overall piping size of the setup and consistency of it. That's why they recommend not using no less than a 4" pipe for suction power? I genuinely am interested.
This is a dust extractor. I believe you are referring to dust collectors. They are completely different, and their motor is rated differently. If you would like, email me your phone number. It would be easier to discuss to than message .
Add a cyclone separator to that and your bag and filter will last for months and months and months. I have a Rigid 16 gal. I put a bag in it and attached a Home Depot Pro cyclone lid/ bucket. After 3 months of heavy use, the bag is about 90% empty and the Hepa filter looks like it just came out of the box.... and the 5 gal cyclone bucket is over 50% full. I expect to use one bag per year.
Great review - BUT, I gotta ask. Matt's video came out yesterday and you said at the beginning that you saw the video then went out to get the Hercules. Have you been sanding non-stop for the past 24 hours!?!!!
If you go back and watch the first statement I made was "I saw this on Harbor Freights new tool page and had to go out and get it". I have been using it and planning on making a video. I seen Matts video and thought it would be a good time to put out a video showing that it actually cleans the filters not just swapping from one to another.
Thanks for the video, I learned these vacuums really suck lol One thing has always bothered me they claim that little blue shop vac at 5.5 horsepower. I don’t think you could run a 5.5horse power motor on 120volts. They exaggerate quite a bit
I think a band saw would not be a problem. It would depend on the table saw. I have a 4in dust collector connected to my table saw. I still get some saw dust, depending on the blade I am using and the cut i am making. I dust extractor has more cfm and will work better than many $1000+ dust extractors.
@@ShopRamblings I'd love to see how this unit does hooked up to your table saw -- I think a lot of folks are looking for a good budget solution for the table saw in a limited garage diy setup with an extractor built into a workbench / table saw / miter saw / router table setup. Great review!
The end screws off and can be swapped with different sizes. I have already modeled it. If you have a 3d printer, I can send you a file. Just let me know it you want it 4" ID or OD? Also, this is a dust extractor. Most things that connect to a 4" hose use dust collectors. This works great for its intended purpose. I would hate for you to get the wrong tool for the job and not be happy with it.
@@ShopRamblings Thank you. I have a tiny shop and do some resin sanding and needed something to help with the fine particles. I do have a 3D printer bambu. Would love the the 4inch od and ID to see. Anything would be helpful. Sent you an email sir
So I got the Cen-tec hose for my shop vac, it pressure fits, would it work on this? Like is it your normal hose coming out of that, if cen- tech hose fits it im getting it, just do not like them stock hoses at all..and like i told Matt, his comparison to festool makes it a no brainer...why wouldnt you get this ya know...
You'll have to forgive me because I'm a little slow. I'm not sure if there is a mullet that I don't know about or if this was a joke. If it was a serious question, the answer is, I don't know. If it was a joke, Good one.
@@ShopRamblings no joke. There is a company that sells a cyclone contraption that connects to a shop vac that looks like it catches most of the dust before it even goes into the shop vac/extractor. I just don’t know if that would be a necessary add-on, as it seems that the Hercules may be doing all of that. (New to wood working here, I just want to make sure I’m getting what I need for my shop for the best cash outlay).
It came with different ones. Being that this is a dust extractor and not a vacuum, they are the correct size for most tools. I made a 3d model that can screw on the hose like the attachments. If you need a different size, email me, and I can upload a model that can be printed.
I don't have a Hercules table. Which one are you referring to? Table saws and planners are normally connected to a dust collector. That is what mine is connected to. Anything that comes with over a 2in port goes to the collector. My collector has a 55 gallon collection barrel. When doing a lot of planning it has to be dumped multiple times in a day. I don't thing this would work good for that. This is a dust extractor. All dust extractor come with small diameter hoses as that is what they are designed for. Anything that has under a 2 in port I would use with this. Mostly hand tools for me.
I have it hooked into the whole shop system. I have some videos on the system I built. I have done a few more upgrades that aren't filmed but they where mostly on duct routing and blast gate switch improvements.
Where is your dust deputy? It keeps your filters clean. It removes 99.9 percent of the dust before it goes through the filter. I go a year before I clean filters.
The point of a dust extractor is partially to reduce the overall tools, cords etc needed to do the job well. A dust separator works well, but is an additional tank that you have to pull around and attach with hoses and keep near the vac and tool. Yeah, the filters on this will still get dirty but the solution is still okay- filter cleaning and bags. Why most people want this is that it won’t put out dust into the air (without a separator) and will power on/off with use of the tool. Less cords, less leaning down to turn off and on the tool on operations where you need to continuously pick up and put down a sander/router or what-have-you.
I have large thien baffle on a 55 gallon barrel for my main dust collection. I actually purchased the Bauer "dust deputy" at the same time I bought this. I was going to do some testing and comparison. This is just so much better I never open the box. A cyclone would be similar to running a bag just not as convent.
There is nothing wrong with designer tools if you can afford them. I have to decide if I want a lot of different tools that let me get the job done or a few fancy tools and not be able to get the job done. So many people do without because they have to have name brand tools. Some of the most functional tools I have seen were homemade. Thanks for watching.
What is your health worth? The lung damage that "designer" tools prevent is irreversible. They are fully sealed, there is zero chance for leakage. I question if this unit is fully sealed and if so how long it will remain so.
I have a 55-gallon drum on my dust separator, and it fills up quicker than expected. I have a 5 gallon on my orbital sander, and it fills up quickly. I really like the increased capacity and it takes up less space than a shop vac and dust deputy.
Using a bag would make it cleaner when emptying it. With the HEPA cartridge filters, it filters the air the same but saves the cost of replacing bags. Since it's a 12-gallon, I won't have to change the bag as often. I'll probably put a bag in it, but I wanted to test the filter cleaning system first.
Why is the Hercules Dust Extractor covered with dust on the outside if it is so good ? Yes I understand static electricity but I would have thought that things in your shop would be a little cleaner with this "GREAT" new tool...???
There is still dust in my shop. Not all of my tools have dust collection on them. Sometimes I am just lazy and don't take the time to hook it up. I have dumped the 55 gallon container on my big collector twice since I have had this Hercules extractor. The back of my shop had a lot of dust because we had moved my duct work for my collector a couple of months ago and it took me awhile to get the whole system back up and running. While I was working on it everything was piled in the back. I just finished building the the miter station so I could start getting the tools off the floor along with all the saw dust that had accumulated around them. I still don't have a drop for the miter station. If I had a studio and just used tools to make videos, I would keep them spotless. I however work in my shop and will stop and make a video when I can. I could have easily took this out of the box and made a video with it spotless but I would not had know how well it worked. There are people out there making videos with brand new tools they have barely used. I like to make sure it is going to work like it says on the box rather than just reading it and repeating what it says as fact.
While I appreciate your thorough review of the Harbor Freight Dust Extractor, I think your missing an important key. I believe to be hepa certified, you must use the bag in addition to the hepa filters. You can capture even more of the dust you are creating. Just look at the tools you're talking about. They're covered in dust! Try using the bags in addition to the filters, and I bet you'll see a much better result and cleaner shop (and lungs). Just my two cents worth. The additional cost of using the bags is nothing compared to the costs associated with lung cancer or even cleaning up all the extra dust in the shop. To be clear, I agree with you on Harbor Freight and the quality for the price you get with this dust extractor. Happy building and stay healthy
I use bags in all my other vacuums. If you don't use a bag, the filter clogs in a few minutes. I have filled several bags and never had to clean the cartridge filter. I was just testing to see if the pulsing would keep the cartridge clean without a bag. If there is a bag, then the dual cartridge filters with the pulsing isn't really needed. I have cleaned the machine up and put it in the bag since I am finished testing it.
This has washable cartridge filters. The problem with shop vac is the cartridge filters will clog up. I wanted to see if the cartridge cleaning system worked. Since it works I don't have to replace cartridges or bags. It is much easier to empty when using bags so I will probably start using bags now that I am finished testing it.
This extractor looks like a legit thing for the money, and may be a better option overall than buying basic Ridgid shopvac and beefing it up with a set of proper filters, hose and other accessories to make a reasonable dust extractor. However if you already have one, there are chances it already has a HEPA filter and a bag, so pairing it with a $30 load switch and $25 voltage controller (to reduce suction and noise) may be a good starter option. To be honest I would probably go this route and invested into a decent cyclone/separator insted of buying yet another mid-grade wet/dry shopvac on steroids.
That is why I put that in my video. Many people don't realize Ridgid sells HEPA filters. It is a great option and that is what I have done for years. Ridgid does state you have to use the VF3602 bags and the VF6000 cartridge filter together. Those bags are $15 each. I personal use regular bags and it works fine. If I was a business I could be fined by OSHA. In my shop the small shopvac I use on my sander, I just use regular bags and it works good enough. I thought of breaking this down in the video but people will only watch for so long. What I was saying; and I just looked the current prices up. 6.5hp Vac $160 Switch $30 20' hose $56 I could not find 17' 25' 14/3 cord $33 HEPA filters $65 No Ridgid vacuum I could find comes with HEPA filters. Some come with their VF5000 blue filter but that is not HEPA. To get what the Hercules comes with your will spend almost as much or more. Of course you don't have to get the long cord or the long hose and can cut the price. Because there wasn't an affordable option like this I have pieced together my system. Now that I have used this for a month I find i so much easier and better to use. There is no right are wrong . It just depends on your budget, your needs, and what you already have.
@@ShopRamblings - yes, I agree. My point was that *IF* one already has a basic shovac equipped with the HEPA (which I think everyone involved with woodworking *should* have no matter what vac is used), then these may be compatible. One thing I'm wondering about - does the speed control on this Hercules adequately deep (goes to lower enough speeds) considering this VAC is still positioned as a wet/dry shovac. I use a large Ridgid and have to lower speed way down to make it quieter and prevent suffocating, especially when I use a thinner hose for senders/miter saw and other hand-held tools.
HF is absolutely hitting it out of the park as of late. Great review bud.
They are, and Thanks!
Thank you for the detailed review with no condescension or patronization of anybody involved - from the viewer to Harbor Freight, you laid out everything I want to know about this unit for extracting dust and what it might do beyond that.
I'm gonna have to keep it on my list in the HF app for a little while until I can cobble together enough scratch to replace the PITA that is the big Ridgid shop vac I got at an estate sale for $20 to just get the job done - a fine starter unit for a kid just entering adulthood, but now that I've matured a little and I know a little more about what I'm willing to put up with, I spend a little more time and a little more money on the things I interact with in my life.
Since I'm already rambling, I also just really love Harbor Freight - there aren't any other stores where I feel they respect my dollar as much as I do, and they offer a variety of options and they acknowledge that their low end is low end, but they've really kicked it up a notch recently with their medium to high end stuff. I will say I waited a long while to jump into any branded battery ecosystem, but in the last couple years I said to heck with it and snapped up a few batteries at strategic times in their coupon timeline (there was a single day where you could get 2x 8Ah Hercules batts for $75, bless that day and bless the Harbor Freight subreddit), and now I'm fully on board the Bauer and Hercules battery ecosystems and I couldn't be happier.
HF used to be a mail order only company when I first started out. I ordered some of their cheapest tools around 1996. I still have a few of them that still work. Most other tool companies have been bought up and have to overcharge so that investors can siphon off millions. HF is a private company, so they can bring new tools to market without having to spend years getting approvals from a dozen different levels of bureaucracy. This lets them bring new tools to the market quicker and cheaper while maintaining higher quality.
Thanks man, the truth is, I’ve been scared of shelling over 1000 bucks to any extraction system , specially Festool. This is a good option, reasonably priced, and with your honest review I will put it on my shopping list. Again, thanks man.
I'm glad I was able to help you
Solid take. Thanks for actually using the tool first!
It's hilarious how these popular UA-camrs just read what's written on the product packaging. You can tell they've never even used the tool. I might not always be right, but I always try to give accurate and honest information about what matters, not just marketing hype.
Amen! When will we see the new table saw? I have the same unit and was hoping for some baddassery. 😂
Great in-depth review! I brought it With 2 yr additional warranty for $70.. Thanks!
That is a nice thing about HF. If you want a warranty, you can get it. If you don't want a warranty, you do have to pay for one.
Thank you, I just bought this, this past weekend. Harbor Freight sent me a 25% off coupon good for one single item in store only. When I saw Matt do a review, I jumped on it, especially for a final price of $240.74!
I have to say, it's a nice dust extractor! The only thing I wish was the time of shutoff after the power was off from my miter saw. If you find a way to decrease the shut down time, please post it, otherwise that would be the only complaint, if you even want to call it that.
I find the shut-off time good. If it is too quick, the dust will fall out of the hose if it is moved. I had that on my other unit. So far, I am still happy with everything.
Watched this 3 times and get a better understanding of dust extractors every time!
I am glad it helped.
A good dust collector and a good shield (mask) are must-haves for any woodworker. I have the small Festool but I have just ordered the new HF Hercules unit. My Powercap active IP respirator mask is my go-to mask for fine dust woodworking.
Let me know what you think after you use the Hercules.
Great review! I like that you did real world testing! I will consider getting one of these on sale.👍
With the coupon, they are around $250. It can't be beat at that price.
I've had a Fein Turbo II HEPA w/built-in attachment storage for 10+ years and even at $900 it's some of the best money I've ever spent. But this HF model looks like it took all the best ideas from that and is a third of the price! The floor attachment with wheels/bristles/rubber looks identical. I love the built-in tool triggering too
I had a couple of fein tools. Like you said, they are high quality. So are many other tools. Bean a new tool they can take the best of each and combine them into an awesome tool.
A big determinate of the duty cycle on shop vacs is whether the motor cooling is accomplished with a separate fan and air circuit from the vacuum system. The better shop vacs have an impeller on the bottom of the motor which runs the extraction/vacuum air flow, and another run off the top of the motor, which draws air past the motor and cools the motor..
Nice video. But, I will stick with the Shop Vac, with a Cyclone Separator, followed by an internal bag filter, and a clean stream HEPA filter which can be run through the dishwasher for cleaning. Over 95% of the dust is getting trapped by the cyclone, which means the bags last a long time, and the HEPA filter only needs to be cleaned annually.
I am sure that setup works great. I have been using bags and they keep the filter clean. By running through a separator first that would keep from having to replace the bags as often. I didn't want to take up the space of having a separator also. I use A separator on my big system and it works great. I got lucky and seen this at the right time and got it. Another time I would have just kept doing what I have been. Now I got it and have been using it, if the hurricane wipes my shop out tomorrow there is no question I will be buying another. Fingers cross I don't have to but last I checked the eye is passing over me and my shop.
@@ShopRamblings Good luck. We had 60-mph winds this weekend. Tw little fires of less than fifty acres, jumped to 50,000-acres overnight, with the fire perimeter now about 10-miles from my place. No matter where you live Nature seems to throw things your way.
I'm running a shop vac with cyclone at the moment, and the clumsy ergonomics are making me consider this HF unit. I don't run enough volume through the system (at the moment, anyway) for the cyclone to pay the same dividends. A simpler all-in-one at the expense of slightly higher bag/filter maintenance might be worth the trade.
When this goes on sale I am buying one, I don’t do enough woodworking to justify the $1000 Festool and my rigid with cyclone system is decent but this will my life better.
I do a lot more work in my shop. I have a dust collector system. I have been using shop vacs for dust extractors. At this price, I could finally justify getting a legit extractor, and it is so much better than what I have been using.
@@ShopRamblings Now that you mention it... how does a dust extractor compare to a dust collector?
This extractor is nice, but collectors move 5 to 10 times the CFM. Your input is appreciated since you use both.
Was a Festool fan boy,but Hercules is coming up fast.Got the sliding compound miter saw and the 2.5 router. Loved both and use th sickens out of them. This dust extractor is posing my interest.
So far, I have been happy with every Hercules tool I have used.
I’ve got the sliding miter. That shadow line is dead accurate. What a nice tool. I’ve got a lot of Hercules tools now, and an ditching all my Dewalt XRs…3 broken tools and all no older than 8 months old.. never dropped, never abused. An XR circ and jig saw which constantly shut off so frequently that even cutting a 2x stock is an exercise in tedium, and that overpriced inflator, which also shuts off with error codes, can no liner even read pressure, and to top it all off, the damn swivel function of the valve no longer rotates to attach it to the stem. I’ll never again spend a dime of Dewalt…they’ve lost me forever. Now I’m just waiting for Hercules to launch a jigsaw…can’t believe they haven’t made one yet.
Excellent review. I really appreciate these reviews as they help me decide if the product is worth the investment.
Glad it was helpful!
Great coverage of this unit and vac vs extractor. Just an fyi, sound pressure level doubles every 3 dBA.
That is why I put the meter on the screen. I knew it was something like that but let people see for themselves what it is instead of me saying it is twice as loud. Thanks for letting me know.
It's every 10db that sound doubles.
@@zacjones89
Do a search. Decibels are crazy because they’re on a logarithmic scale. You’ll see that 90 dBA plus 90 dBA is 93. So an increase in 3 dBA is double.
@@zacjones89it’s every 3 dB
@zacjones89 @David-fy3in you're both correct. 3db is double or half; however, the human ear only notices doubling at 10db. So, the power doubles or halves based on 3db, but when it comes to audio our ears can't tell the difference until 10db.
Going to be eyeing this around holiday sales...lol
hopefully it will have a coupon.
Sounds good to me!
Ridgid has a new HEPA filter that doesn't require the HEPA bags to be HEPA certified. With the green HEPA material filter Ridgid sells you must have it combined with the green HEPA bags to be certified HEPA. Adding a small cyclone system will keep most of the debris out of your filter. I bought the Hercules dust extractor and I love the tool activation and it's quieter than my Ridgid vacuum. Thanks for the video.
I had not seen the new Ridgid HEPA filter. The issue would still be that it would get clogged without a separator or bag. If a person considers a 6.5hp Ridgid vacuum is $160 and this filter is $40 you aren't really saving much when you add in all the other features like the auto start, auto filter cleaning, longer hose, longer cord, and more. There are a ton of little thing that I never thought about that I found on the Hercules that I love. I am so glad I got mine.
I'm sure thinking about buying one. Now I just have to convince my wife that it is a must have 😊.
I wait until my wife is in a good mood. Then ask here how much does she love me. Then follow up with does she think it is worth $300 to make my shop safer.
😉
Good video and thanks for the review.
I’ll always amused by the horsepower ratings they put on vacuum cleaners. A standard 15 amp circuit can put out about 2 horsepower. And because the sander or other tool is plugged into the vacuum, that circuit is shared by both tools.
I looked at the specs on the HF website. Says it’s a 11.5 amp motor. That will calculate to about 1.85 horsepower.
This is not a negative mark on this machine though. I agree that it’s a great value!
Yeah. My dust collector has a 2hp motor. The motor weighs over 50lbs. This is 6.5hp and weighs 5lbs. All wet dry vacs use the same rating system. I just haven't been able to figure it out.
Thank you so much for this review, straight to the point. Realistic real world examples. I love Matt dont get me wrong, but it appears hes more commercialized and does mainly tool reviews instead of actually working on projects, which I would love to see him actually do... anyways i will definitely be picking this up now based off your review. I subscribed to your channel and liked. Looking forward to more great content from you and wish you nothing but the best.
Thanks, I would love to be able to make content for a living like Matt. He does a great job, but it is his job. I still buy my tools to use. I see how making project videos take 10x longer to make and actually get less views than tool reviews. There are very few channel like Blacktail Studio that can just make project videos and be successful. I am still humbled that people watch my videos. I truly appreciate you watching.
Great review Thanks for sharing. As a new woodworker I’ve been looking At dust extractors but they are so expensive. But I’m definitely going to look into this for sure
A good Shopvac with a bag works if that is all you can afford. The key is to use a bag instead of the filter it comes with. This is the least expensive dust extractor I have found it has better features than many of the most expensive ones. Technology is advancing fast and the big companies take a long time to create a new model. They really have added all the best features into this. If I had my choice between this and a Festool the only reason I may chose the Festool would be for the name. I would pick this one for functionality.
Nice supplement to the 731 review. Harbor Freight is going to be taking a chunk out of the big boys' bottom line before long. I wouldn't have thought I'd see the day where that was even remotely possible 10 years ago.
Honestly I expect a track saw system soon
These big companies have so many departments it takes years to bring a new design to market. Harbor Freight can do this in a few months. With the speed the new technology is advancing by time these large companies can bring a new model to market here is already something better out.
Great Video, Very Informative! I'm definitely going to purchase this when possible!
Be sure to come back and comment on what you think about it after using it.
Here’s a tip for those throw away bags, when full cut the end of the tube and then empty it in the trash, then tight roll the end 2/3 times and use a metal binder clip to hold it back in place, now you can get several more times out of it.
That is a great tip.
But, if doing that you’re adding dust, contaminants and small particles to the air we all breathe, and on an urban area like where many of us live, that is bad for everyone else. Using bags helps us and everyone.
@@jaimeecaballeros9742 Your not releasing that much, I think your overthinking it, what happens at the landfills when they roll over it and puncture the bag open? I wouldn’t recommend it if your doing mold remediation, and sure those who know/know how when/when not to use this tip
Good review. Just wondering why there is so much dust on the outside of the machines. 🤔
My dust collector has been down while I moved it to the outside. I am just now getting all.the new blast gates built and installed. This has dust around the shop. I am now getting the shop cleaned back up. I do that by blowing my shelves and tool holders off. There hasn't been any dust in the air while using this.
great evaluation!!!! Are yuo going to use the bigger bags in your extractor
I have been using this one without a bag to see how well the cartridge filter cleaning system worked. It works great so I have not decided if I am going to use a bag or not. The bag makes it easier to empty but there is the added expense of the bags.
I probably will use bags.
Thanks for this video. I hadn't heard of this. How long has it been available? Sounds like a solid product.
I just found it about a month ago.
With respect to the knobs can’t you remove them and reinstall them with the orientation you prefer? This was a very good review and I’ll go pick one up. Thanks!
I will probably just print some new ones.
It looks pretty good but as with all Hercules tools, how long before the motor burns out?
Being a DC motor, it will probably last for a few decades. I can't remember the last time I had to replace a DC motor. If you are worried you can always purchase to extend warranty.
Does that work with your tablesaw too? Is it alot quieter than ridgid also?
It would depending on the saw.
Ive been waiting for someone to do a review on this new Hercules unit vs the Bauer 16 gallon shop vac because it appears to me they have the same power, but the Hercules obviously has a few additional feature.
But, if you add the hepa filter to the bauer, does it actually justify spending nearly tripple for the Hercules?
Am i completely off, or do i make a good point?
Great review btw! 💯👍
If you use the Bauer, just use a bag and cartridge filter. I used a setup like that for years. You will get satisfactory results and will probably be happy as long as you never use a dust extractor. Once you use a system like this, you will realize there are so many little things that make it so much better that you will no longer be happy with a vacuum.
@@ShopRamblings
Thank you!
Good morning, great review…
Thanks
Thanks for the review. It's good to see Harbor Freight picking their game up off the trash heap with a few of their products.
With the addition of a good cyclone on top of an extractor there really is extremely low consumption of filters and bags, regardless what extractor you use. Harbor Freight missed the mark by not integrating an attachable cyclone option for this extractor. For me this is a dealbreaker. All of my extractors have a cyclone designed to stack securely on top.
Thanks for watching!
I don't understand or buy into the the 6.5HP rating. The manual also states that the electrical power rating is 120V and 11.5 amps. This equates to 1.38 kilowatts which then equates to 1.85 Horsepower, which is a much more realistic and believable number.
6.5HP at 120V would require 40 amps of current, and you just can't get 6.5HP on 120V with ordinary wring. In theory, you could get 2.4kilowatts/3.2HP out of a 20 amp circuit, but you would be tripping breakers and running a serious fire risk. A more realistic max is something like 1.5 kilowatts/2HP and any power tool, shop vac, dust extractor, will be subject to the that same practical limit. Note: I know that 6.5 is peak HP and that the unit might be capable of the for extremely short bursts in a lab setting, but it is misleading to think you are getting anywhere near that much power in real world use.
I am not saying that this might not be a good device, I might even buy one myself. I am just calling out the HP rating as being misleading.
I completely agree. But it doesn't matter the brand. All shop vacs use this rating system. At least since they all use the same measuring system, it makes it easier to compare apples to apples.
@@ShopRamblingsI tend to agree that every brand does it, but I am not so sure how good a relative measure it is. All vacs are basically limited to the same power level based on the limitations of available input power, so no matter what theoretical peak power might be attained in a lab, there will be no practical difference in operation. The only real performance difference can come from efficiency of the impeller and the filters, and these may be real, but still somewhat negligible. In other words, all vacs with a standard 120V power source will perform about the same due to the limitations of that power source. Other features, of course, will vary to make one brand a better choice than another.
Looking to get my hands on one. wonder what kind of deals mught pop up for these, i want a better deal. Even if $300 isnt bad , Im use regular decent shop vacs and like you said they dont cost too much so its hard to swallow that big of a different price tag.
There should be a 20% off with no exclusion for the holidays.
Will this tihng go on sale even cheaper and can you use coupons for it? Also, I'm curious how it compares to the Fein, which I beleive is at the same price point.
I have owned several Fein tools and the are great quality. I believe the Fein extractor that is similar in price is a lot smaller capacity. You never can tell what HF will put on sale. In my experience, they will give inside track members coupons on new tools first. They rotate about once a quarter. The last few years they are brought back the 10%-20% off with no exclusions coupon around the holidays.
Thanks for the informative video, my concern if it’s such a good dust extractor why is there so much dust all over the outside of it. I use a dust deputy with my 14 year old Ridged shop vac. And not a spec of dust on the outside.
Do you run a 50in drum sander in your shop? I have had to dump the 55-gallon barrel on my dust collector twice in the last two weeks. Some tools are sometimes run without dust collection. Tools like my sander that have good dust collection work perfectly with it.
@@ShopRamblings thank you for the response, I understand at times it gets out of control. I do my best to do it daily. I have a Grizzly 25/50 drum sanders but have hooked up to my Dust Collector.
Great video thanks
You are welcome. Thanks for watching.
Are there dust collection bags available for that machine? I would never use it for dust collection without also having a bag.
It comes with a bag. I checked, and the bags i had on my shelf for my other vacuums fit. I don't see Hercules' replacements yet. I am sure they will be out soon. In the meantime, you can use the Bauer ones.
Why then do the large Jet, H F, Laguna, Rockler, etc, dust collectors typically have a 1, 1.5, 2 hp motor on them if a 5.5 hp motor is better? I thought it had to do with the overall piping size of the setup and consistency of it. That's why they recommend not using no less than a 4" pipe for suction power? I genuinely am interested.
This is a dust extractor. I believe you are referring to dust collectors. They are completely different, and their motor is rated differently. If you would like, email me your phone number. It would be easier to discuss to than message .
I’m a floor layer, how well do you think that would work to vacuum floors on a commercial scale?
I think it would work well.
Add a cyclone separator to that and your bag and filter will last for months and months and months. I have a Rigid 16 gal. I put a bag in it and attached a Home Depot Pro cyclone lid/ bucket. After 3 months of heavy use, the bag is about 90% empty and the Hepa filter looks like it just came out of the box.... and the 5 gal cyclone bucket is over 50% full. I expect to use one bag per year.
Thanks for the advice.
Great review - BUT, I gotta ask. Matt's video came out yesterday and you said at the beginning that you saw the video then went out to get the Hercules. Have you been sanding non-stop for the past 24 hours!?!!!
I don't think he meant that he bought it because of Matt's video. He bought it before the video came out and then watched Matt's.
If you go back and watch the first statement I made was "I saw this on Harbor Freights new tool page and had to go out and get it". I have been using it and planning on making a video. I seen Matts video and thought it would be a good time to put out a video showing that it actually cleans the filters not just swapping from one to another.
Yes I have had this for about a month.
@@ShopRamblings Ah, gotcha. LOL, I was thinking "man, this guy must have been working this machine all night!" Thanks!
Thanks for the video, I learned these vacuums really suck lol
One thing has always bothered me they claim that little blue shop vac at 5.5 horsepower. I don’t think you could run a 5.5horse power motor on 120volts. They exaggerate quite a bit
I am not sure how they rate them. My 2hp dust collector motor weighs 50lbs. How does a 2lb motor put out 6.5hp?
Do you use an inline cyclone extractor?
No. With this setup, it is unnecessary.
Where is the link that Matt did comparing to the festool
I think this is the one. ua-cam.com/video/glDtBMkiqTc/v-deo.htmlsi=SLf73zmWOuxOll5B
I didn’t even know HF had a portable dust collector. Will that unit keep up with larger tools like a bandsaw or table saw?
I think a band saw would not be a problem. It would depend on the table saw. I have a 4in dust collector connected to my table saw. I still get some saw dust, depending on the blade I am using and the cut i am making. I dust extractor has more cfm and will work better than many $1000+ dust extractors.
@@ShopRamblings I'd love to see how this unit does hooked up to your table saw -- I think a lot of folks are looking for a good budget solution for the table saw in a limited garage diy setup with an extractor built into a workbench / table saw / miter saw / router table setup. Great review!
Do you know what size hose it has in case I need an adapter from 4inch to whatever it is?
The end screws off and can be swapped with different sizes. I have already modeled it. If you have a 3d printer, I can send you a file. Just let me know it you want it 4" ID or OD? Also, this is a dust extractor. Most things that connect to a 4" hose use dust collectors. This works great for its intended purpose. I would hate for you to get the wrong tool for the job and not be happy with it.
@@ShopRamblings Thank you. I have a tiny shop and do some resin sanding and needed something to help with the fine particles. I do have a 3D printer bambu. Would love the the 4inch od and ID to see. Anything would be helpful. Sent you an email sir
Any links on replacement bags for this unit?
I would probably use the Bauer bags until they start selling Hercules replacments.
@@ShopRamblings okay thanks
So I got the Cen-tec hose for my shop vac, it pressure fits, would it work on this? Like is it your normal hose coming out of that, if cen- tech hose fits it im getting it, just do not like them stock hoses at all..and like i told Matt, his comparison to festool makes it a no brainer...why wouldnt you get this ya know...
Cen-tec has 5 hose sizes under 2.5 inches. I am not sure which one you got but I would think it should fit as everything seems to be standard size.
@@ShopRamblings it's the Ridgid nxt, thought I seen you with that, but if that hose fits I'm in man lol...thanks for reply...
With this vac, do you need an attachment like a Mullett??
You'll have to forgive me because I'm a little slow.
I'm not sure if there is a mullet that I don't know about or if this was a joke. If it was a serious question, the answer is, I don't know. If it was a joke, Good one.
@@ShopRamblings no joke. There is a company that sells a cyclone contraption that connects to a shop vac that looks like it catches most of the dust before it even goes into the shop vac/extractor. I just don’t know if that would be a necessary add-on, as it seems that the Hercules may be doing all of that. (New to wood working here, I just want to make sure I’m getting what I need for my shop for the best cash outlay).
Where do you get attachments to work on different tools.
It came with different ones. Being that this is a dust extractor and not a vacuum, they are the correct size for most tools. I made a 3d model that can screw on the hose like the attachments. If you need a different size, email me, and I can upload a model that can be printed.
How do you hook the hercules dust extractor to the hercules table say?
The small hose will not hook to the dust port on the table saw or the plainer
You can get an Adapter that will fit.
Another option would be to buy the Festool dust extractor and utilize their hose.
I don't have a Hercules table. Which one are you referring to? Table saws and planners are normally connected to a dust collector. That is what mine is connected to. Anything that comes with over a 2in port goes to the collector. My collector has a 55 gallon collection barrel. When doing a lot of planning it has to be dumped multiple times in a day. I don't thing this would work good for that. This is a dust extractor. All dust extractor come with small diameter hoses as that is what they are designed for. Anything that has under a 2 in port I would use with this. Mostly hand tools for me.
Which dust collector do you use for your miter saw?
I have it hooked into the whole shop system. I have some videos on the system I built. I have done a few more upgrades that aren't filmed but they where mostly on duct routing and blast gate switch improvements.
Does the Hercules use a bag??
It comes with one. You can use it with or without one.
Can you pop the knobs off and put them the “correct” way?
I tried to pull them off. They did not want to pull off.
@@ShopRamblings hmm. I agree with though. Seem backwards. Take care!
Where is your dust deputy? It keeps your filters clean. It removes 99.9 percent of the dust before it goes through the filter. I go a year before I clean filters.
Right. I 3d printed a cyclone and it works flawlessly.
Your filters are dirty. Your not using a dust deputy if you were your shop vacs wouldn't be full of dust.
The point of a dust extractor is partially to reduce the overall tools, cords etc needed to do the job well. A dust separator works well, but is an additional tank that you have to pull around and attach with hoses and keep near the vac and tool. Yeah, the filters on this will still get dirty but the solution is still okay- filter cleaning and bags.
Why most people want this is that it won’t put out dust into the air (without a separator) and will power on/off with use of the tool. Less cords, less leaning down to turn off and on the tool on operations where you need to continuously pick up and put down a sander/router or what-have-you.
I have large thien baffle on a 55 gallon barrel for my main dust collection. I actually purchased the Bauer "dust deputy" at the same time I bought this. I was going to do some testing and comparison. This is just so much better I never open the box. A cyclone would be similar to running a bag just not as convent.
I love 3d printing tools for the shop.
Finally, a truly smart woodworker. Buy what gets the job done instead of designer tools to show off.
There is nothing wrong with designer tools if you can afford them. I have to decide if I want a lot of different tools that let me get the job done or a few fancy tools and not be able to get the job done. So many people do without because they have to have name brand tools. Some of the most functional tools I have seen were homemade.
Thanks for watching.
What is your health worth? The lung damage that "designer" tools prevent is irreversible. They are fully sealed, there is zero chance for leakage. I question if this unit is fully sealed and if so how long it will remain so.
I wonder how it can handle fine concrete dust?
With no problem. I have experience with fine dust like that. It will work best housing a bag.
Can you still install a dust bag?
Yes, you can. I will. I wanted to test it to see how good.it.would work without one.
The dust deputy works good until the 5 gallon bucket fills up faster than you expect. Then it’s going straight to clogging up your filter!
I have a 55-gallon drum on my dust separator, and it fills up quicker than expected. I have a 5 gallon on my orbital sander, and it fills up quickly. I really like the increased capacity and it takes up less space than a shop vac and dust deputy.
Is there a reason why wouldn’t you use a bag on the new Harbor Freight?
Using a bag would make it cleaner when emptying it. With the HEPA cartridge filters, it filters the air the same but saves the cost of replacing bags. Since it's a 12-gallon, I won't have to change the bag as often. I'll probably put a bag in it, but I wanted to test the filter cleaning system first.
Thank You I have a limited budget was wondering if the HF dust extractor was good.
Why is the Hercules Dust Extractor covered with dust on the outside if it is so good ? Yes I understand static electricity but I would have thought that things in your shop would be a little cleaner with this "GREAT" new tool...???
There is still dust in my shop. Not all of my tools have dust collection on them. Sometimes I am just lazy and don't take the time to hook it up. I have dumped the 55 gallon container on my big collector twice since I have had this Hercules extractor. The back of my shop had a lot of dust because we had moved my duct work for my collector a couple of months ago and it took me awhile to get the whole system back up and running. While I was working on it everything was piled in the back. I just finished building the the miter station so I could start getting the tools off the floor along with all the saw dust that had accumulated around them. I still don't have a drop for the miter station. If I had a studio and just used tools to make videos, I would keep them spotless. I however work in my shop and will stop and make a video when I can. I could have easily took this out of the box and made a video with it spotless but I would not had know how well it worked. There are people out there making videos with brand new tools they have barely used. I like to make sure it is going to work like it says on the box rather than just reading it and repeating what it says as fact.
@@ShopRamblings OK...THANK YOU FOR TAKING TIME TO REPLY !!!
While I appreciate your thorough review of the Harbor Freight Dust Extractor, I think your missing an important key. I believe to be hepa certified, you must use the bag in addition to the hepa filters. You can capture even more of the dust you are creating. Just look at the tools you're talking about. They're covered in dust! Try using the bags in addition to the filters, and I bet you'll see a much better result and cleaner shop (and lungs). Just my two cents worth. The additional cost of using the bags is nothing compared to the costs associated with lung cancer or even cleaning up all the extra dust in the shop. To be clear, I agree with you on Harbor Freight and the quality for the price you get with this dust extractor. Happy building and stay healthy
I use bags in all my other vacuums. If you don't use a bag, the filter clogs in a few minutes. I have filled several bags and never had to clean the cartridge filter. I was just testing to see if the pulsing would keep the cartridge clean without a bag. If there is a bag, then the dual cartridge filters with the pulsing isn't really needed. I have cleaned the machine up and put it in the bag since I am finished testing it.
@@ShopRamblings I appreciate the reply and must've misunderstood. Have a blessed day and a Happy Holidays!
Why didn’t you use the bag? They are cheaper than the filters to replace.
This has washable cartridge filters. The problem with shop vac is the cartridge filters will clog up. I wanted to see if the cartridge cleaning system worked. Since it works I don't have to replace cartridges or bags. It is much easier to empty when using bags so I will probably start using bags now that I am finished testing it.
@@ShopRamblings I just got this and appreciate your thoughts
Like it do more
👍
This extractor looks like a legit thing for the money, and may be a better option overall than buying basic Ridgid shopvac and beefing it up with a set of proper filters, hose and other accessories to make a reasonable dust extractor. However if you already have one, there are chances it already has a HEPA filter and a bag, so pairing it with a $30 load switch and $25 voltage controller (to reduce suction and noise) may be a good starter option. To be honest I would probably go this route and invested into a decent cyclone/separator insted of buying yet another mid-grade wet/dry shopvac on steroids.
That is why I put that in my video. Many people don't realize Ridgid sells HEPA filters. It is a great option and that is what I have done for years. Ridgid does state you have to use the VF3602 bags and the VF6000 cartridge filter together. Those bags are $15 each. I personal use regular bags and it works fine. If I was a business I could be fined by OSHA. In my shop the small shopvac I use on my sander, I just use regular bags and it works good enough. I thought of breaking this down in the video but people will only watch for so long. What I was saying; and I just looked the current prices up.
6.5hp Vac $160
Switch $30
20' hose $56 I could not find 17'
25' 14/3 cord $33
HEPA filters $65
No Ridgid vacuum I could find comes with HEPA filters. Some come with their VF5000 blue filter but that is not HEPA. To get what the Hercules comes with your will spend almost as much or more. Of course you don't have to get the long cord or the long hose and can cut the price. Because there wasn't an affordable option like this I have pieced together my system. Now that I have used this for a month I find i so much easier and better to use. There is no right are wrong . It just depends on your budget, your needs, and what you already have.
@@ShopRamblings - yes, I agree. My point was that *IF* one already has a basic shovac equipped with the HEPA (which I think everyone involved with woodworking *should* have no matter what vac is used), then these may be compatible. One thing I'm wondering about - does the speed control on this Hercules adequately deep (goes to lower enough speeds) considering this VAC is still positioned as a wet/dry shovac. I use a large Ridgid and have to lower speed way down to make it quieter and prevent suffocating, especially when I use a thinner hose for senders/miter saw and other hand-held tools.
6 dB is 4 times as loud. 3 dB is twice, 10 dB is 10 times as loud.
10db is twice is loud
Thanks
You are correct. 10log(ratio)=db
Where's the link? And who's Matt? ua-cam.com/video/glDtBMkiqTc/v-deo.html
What link? To Harbor Freight? It is Harborfreight.com. The host to the video you posted the link to is Matt Outlaw.
@@ShopRamblings 20 seconds in. You said you'd leave a link to Matt's site. ua-cam.com/video/V6uXhj-uUmw/v-deo.html