What is the difference between a dust extractor and a dust collector?

[nrscroller]

HI all,

Today I made a trip to a Rockler woodworking store with the thought in mind of buying the hanging dust collector for 269 dollars. In talking with one of the staff, he said he would not sell one to me because I am not collecting heavy table saw or planer chips etc, that I needed a dust extractor from my scroll saw and sanding stuff. He suggested a festool but I am not paying 700 bucks for that thing. He said for what I am doing I am best to use a shop vac for that stuff. Any suggestions, I have a wall mounted shop vac which I am using now and I just thought with my bad hearing and not wearing aids in the shop but just ear muffs I can still hear that shop vac screaming. It does a good job of keeping the scrollsaw dust down etc, and it is hooked up to a dust deputy, 

Thanks

Bill

[MrsN]

I had not really thought about it. I did some looking and found this article https://www.thesawguy.com/dust-collector-vs-shop-vac/

It sounds to me like a dust extractor can catch sawdust that goes in the air, while a dust collector collects the sawdust that collects on the floor.

[Dan]

https://toolpowers.com/shop-vacs-vs-dust-extractors-vs-dust-collectors-what-is-the-difference/

https://vircet.com/dust-collector-vs-dust-extractors/

[FrankEV]

Dust extractor clleans the air in a space, dust collector collects sawdust and small chips from a router, table saw. sander, scroll saw, etc.  

An extractor helps you breath clean air (like a dust mask does (for a lot less money) while a collector helps keep the shop clean better than a shop vac will.

I just ordered a:SHOP FOX W1727 1 HP Dust Collector, ,Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC for$268.86.  With hoses, some other fitting and accesories, the total installation will be under $400.

This Collector is for a small shop with up to 3 machines. 

HTH

. 

 

[Zoot Fenster]

The Rockler guy steered you right. There are dust collectors (1-5Hp) that pull high air flow, but at low suction pressures.  As the Rockler guy used the term, a dust extractor is a Shopvac or equivalent.  They pull a low volume of air, but at high suction pressures.  Dust collectors need 4-6" ducts and large openings (ie, table saws, vent hoods behind sanders, etc).  Connecting a dust collector to a small connection will limit the air flow because there is not enough hole area to pull air through.  A Shopvac has a greater suction pressure, so it pulls more air through the small machines like Ridgid sander and scroll saws.  But connecting a Shopvac to a table saw results in poor performance because there is insufficient flow at the collection point.  Clear as mud?  Sorry about that.

[tomsteve]

dust extractor(vacuum)= speed of air

dust collector=volume of air

Edited December 18, 2020 by tomsteve