Question: My DUST COMMANDER is mounted on a wooden container, and I'm getting poor results. How can I make my system more efficient?

I installed my DUST COMMANDER filter onto an OSB wooden container, which I made myself. The filtration system doesn't work: all the wood chips end up in the vacuum cleaner's tank. I don't understand why, as the container has been carefully glued and screwed together, with gaskets inside. The lid has been reinforced (2x18mm) with a seal on the tower, and the lid is firmly secured with flanges. Even when the lid is not closed with the flanges and I turn on the vacuum, it is still impossible to lift as the suction is so strong, and so I really can't believe that the container is not airtight!

Answer: Your container is not airtight.

Caution: OSB, like other types of wood particle board, is not airtight.

The DUST COMMANDER must be attached to a 100% airtight container, which will collect the filtered particles during use. The slightest air leak will cause pressure loss which will affect the filter's efficiency. We can only guarantee the efficiency of the filter if it is installed onto a plastic or metal container. If you choose to construct a wooden container (or one made of any other porous material), this must be sealed with several layers of varnish or paint.

You can carry out the bin bag test by wrapping up your collector tank and sealing it to the bottom of the DUST COMMANDER (as shown below).
If the bin bag retracts, this confirms that air is passing through the OSB - which is not good. The system must be completely airtight in order to work properly.

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Question: I have a chip/dust collector with 100 mm diameter inputs. Which model of cyclonic filter do you recommend?

Answer: We recommend our DUST COMMANDER XL and DUST COMMANDER XL+ models for this type of dust collector.

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Question: Is there a product you recommend to collect the cold ashes from a a fireplace or wood stove ?

Answer: Collecting of cold ashes is extremely difficult. We recommend the DUST COMMANDER S30 for this type of application.

But please keep in mind that ashes are extremely volatile and that although the DUST COMMANDER S30 is our most efficient cyclone dust separator some of finest particles will still pass through the cyclone and end up in your vacuum cleaner's bag...
That being said the DUST COMMANDER S30 will still outperform standard ash collectors which you usually find in big box stores.

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Question: For my pellet heater I would like to install a cyclone in the return air line of the pellet suction system in order to collect the dust that would be blown into the storage!
Does a cyclone also work when the air is blown backwards through the cyclone?

Answer: It is possible to use a cyclone filter in this configuration (the air is "pushed" through the filter). For this particular application we recommend the DUST COMMANDER S30.

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Question: What is the difference between the DUST COMMANDER CLC (white) and the DUST COMMANDER DLX ESD (black)?

Answer: There are many differences between these two models. These are listed in the table below.

In summary, the DLX ESD model is a little more powerful and more robust than the CLC model. It is also anti-static. On the other hand, it is a little harder to install than the CLC model. The CLC model offers good performance and is easy to install.

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Question: What is the difference between the DUST COMMANDER P30, S30 and X30 kits?

Answer: These kits differ in their composition (filter and container), as indicated in the table below:

* Due to their construction (steel container) the S30 and X30 kits do not require an anti-crush valve.

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Question: Do DUST COMMANDER filters work with planers that make a lot of chips? My Makita planer has a 75 mm chip output.

Answer: Our DUST COMMANDER filters work very well for the extraction of wood chips. However, bear in mind the diameter of your hose. If your planer has a 75 mm chip output, you should not use a pipe with a smaller diameter in order to avoid blockages and clogging. For this reason, and in your case, we would not recommend the use of our DUST COMMANDER CLC, DLX ESD or HD shop vacuum filters, but would instead recommend our large format DUST COMMANDER XL and DUST COMMANDER XL+ filters, together with a dust/chip collector.

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Question: What is the difference between a shop vacuum and a dust/chip collector?

Answer: A shop vacuum (just like a household vacuum cleaner) is based on the principle of low volume and high pressure suction (LVHP). The air suction velocity for these systems is between 30 to 80 m/s at the inlet of a 32 mm diameter hose. The suction of dust/debris is carried out very close to the source via a nozzle, broom or directly at the tool (saw, sander, etc.)

A dust/chips collector is based on the principle of high volume and low pressure suction ( HVLP). The air suction velocity for these systems is between 5 to 20 m/s at the suction hood, which may be quite large. These collectors extract large amounts of airborne particles, over a large, cross-sectional area. Due to the diameter of the hoses used, this type of collector is often also utilised for the extraction of heavier and bulkier particles, such as wood chips coming off a a planer or digital machining centre.

Put simply, vacuum cleaners are designed for precision cleaning and the transport of materials, while a dust collector or dust/chip collector allows for the extraction of large particles and keeps breathing air and process air clean across entire facilities.

The DUST COMMANDER XL and DUST COMMANDER XL+ filters are suitable for use with HVLP collectors, while DUST COMMANDER CLC, DUST COMMANDER DLX and DUST COMMANDER HD filters are designed to be used with LVHP vacuums.

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Question: What accessories do I need to connect a DUST COMMANDER S30 kit to a Festool vacuum cleaner?

Answer: We recommend the following 3 accessories:

• - One HESD32 32mm hose
• - One AD58-40FT adapter. This adapter will connect our DUST COMMANDER HESD32 antistatic hose to the 58mm diameter inlet of a Festool vacuum cleaner.
• - One SD53FT adapter. This adapter will allow you to connect the Festool hose supplied with the vacuum cleaner to the DUST COMMANDER DLX ESD MKII cyclonic filter.

The photo below illustrates an example of implementation of all the accessories with a DUST COMMANDER S30 and Festool CTM 26 E AC.