drunkrussian

Hey,

I need your opinons on this. I have a few refinishes coming up, and I need to be low dust or dust free. Usually I hook my edger up to my vac, and use a 3DS to sand the bulk of the wood. But I hate the the 3DS in large spaces, it takes too long, and eats too much paper. I want to use my drum sander, and hook up a vac to it, or buy an air filtration system like a Jet or Delta. If I hook a vac up to it, i'll need something that can handle what the drum sander will throw at it. Any opinions, or advice? Thanks.

Donedat

Where do you buy your products? Just wondering if they carry a system. You can also try Floor Style Products. They have a few systems. And the Bona has their massive system.

__________________
I admit...I don't know everything...but don't tell my kids I told you.

drunkrussian

oh crap, thanks for the reply, I didn't think anyone had an answer. Anyways, I know all about bonas massive system, and yes if i had the money, i'd get it. Was looking to see how I could use my current machines without buying anything new.

After researching, I'm thinking one of those powerfull vacs with a motor, and bag, buy some vaccume tubing, and just hook it up to the machines. Not quite sure if an air filter will work though.

Bill_Vincent

I'm going to preface this by saying I don't know the first thing about sanding and finishing hardwood floors. However, I DO know about dust collection with power tools. There have been many times where I've had to do repairs, and it starts with cutting grout joints around the tiles that need to be pulled. I've also got a diamond cup on a 7" disc grinder for taking up old thinset off concrete and plywood. For both, I'll use a Shop Vac BRAND vacuum, for the specific reason that they make bags to fit their vacuums that are specifically for collecting extremely fine dust particles without clogging up, and believe me, they work really well. When using the grinder, if I use just the filter alone, I'll clog it up to the point where the vacuum's barely working within about 5 monutes. With the bag, I'll go on for as long as it takes with no problem whatsoever, and it'll take up about 90% of all the dust I'm putting out.

__________________
"Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're probably right."

http://www.creativeceramicandmarble.com

Donedat

When I first started my business I used to go through about 1 ShopVac per year. Then I purchased a ProTeam backpack vac. I've had that vaccuum since 2002 and have never had it repaired. It still pulls strong as ever.

As for vacuum systems don't go cheap. Cheap is for homeowners and occasional use people. Cheap cannot handle constant use. Look at FloorStyle products. I'll post a link for you. They have good products that can take a beating without breaking your pocket book.

__________________
I admit...I don't know everything...but don't tell my kids I told you.

Donedat

Try this link:
http://www.floorstyle.com/

If you don't see what you want online give them a call.

__________________
I admit...I don't know everything...but don't tell my kids I told you.

drunkrussian

Thanks guys, and looks like floorstyle has a few things that look good to me

Donedat

I was looking at Bona's Atomic...you know, the one that has it's own dolly. looks pretty good. I was also looking a the Oneida 2 hp system. I like the power it offers, but don't like the idea of having to clean the cyclone filter. The ultimate bright side in both systems is that they come with 35 gallon drums. Takes a lot of dust to fill 35 gallons. That means only emptying the dust at the end of the day for most residential jobs. Commercial jobs I would just have a couple of drums and just switch them out and the at the end of the day toss the plastic waste bags into the truck. Pretty pricey but probably well worth it.

__________________
I admit...I don't know everything...but don't tell my kids I told you.

Grainywood

I invested in the Oneida last year.

The big thing to get used to are all the hoses. But once you realize the return on that little hassle, it's well worth it.

The filters come with a cleaner. It's pretty simple to use.

The bad was the customer service. The first order came with a busted dust drum and the switch broken. Also they mixed up the edger kit, sending me the clark adapter instead of the bona. Good news is that they let me keep the clark adapter for free after sending me the one I ordered.

Another bad was that the motor on the vacuum got something stuck in it. Can't figure out what but there are vents that aren't exactly fool proof against maybe a screw falling in. So I hadn't even used the thing yet and I had to send the motor back and get a new one.

Quite the nightmare but, I'm happy with the system now that it's working. I would highly suggest getting the 2 hp vacuum. Forget the fein or 1 hp system. According to the technician at Oneida, the 1 hp has 1/3 less sucking power then the 2 hp. I can't imagine what the fein has then. I do have the fein but I use it more like a shop vac rather then hook it up to the drum.

I also have the geno backpac. This is great for hooking up to a dustless buffer. No long hoses, just a backpac, you and the buffer.

As for business, customers in my area don't seem to know much about dust containment sanding or don't realize just how messy sanding a floor can be. I don't think most of my customers realize that if it wasn't for the dustless system, their house would be wall to wall dust. But hey, there are other benefits, like your health; kind of hard to put a price tag on that. So the money spent was well worth it if it cuts down on the crap I breath in.

Donedat

Hey Grainy, you need some dusty pics so you can charge extra for using the system.

__________________
I admit...I don't know everything...but don't tell my kids I told you.