Rockler has recently come out with a new mobile dust collector with a 750 CFM airflow rating.
Rockler isn’t a stranger to the dust collection scene – they’ve had a 650 CFM wall-mounted Dust Right collector for quite some time now. Still, this looks to be their first mobile unit, or at least their first dust collector that’s specifically designed to be mobile.
I had been tempted by Rockler’s Dust Right collector for a while, considering it as an upgrade to my dust collector vacs. After a couple of years of temptation, I ultimately passed on it, instead opting for a Jet dust collector.
Rockler’s wall-mounted dust collector had some good selling points, and could be upgraded with a canister-style filter similar to what their new mobile dust collector features. But, I really wanted a mobile dust collector, and although Rockler featured some mobilizations of their Dust Right wall-mount dust collector, they weren’t exactly elegant. Plus, I was a bit concerned about performance and went with the more powerful Jet unit, which is rated as having 1100 CFM of airflow.
With all that in mind, knowing that I was tempted by Rockler’s wall-mounted dust collector but ultimately went with a mobile and more powerful Jet solution, I can say that Rockler’s new mobile dust collector does look to be a step in the right direction.
From the looks of it, Rockler’s new mobile dust collector is compact. There’s a caged-in lower compartment that looks like it can hold a couple of feet of hosing, and a large handle that doubles as a cord-wrap.
The dust collector features a 1-micron canister-style filter with crank-style agitator to help dislodge dust, a 4″ diameter inlet port, 10′ power cord, and 2″ caster wheels.
It uses clear plastic collection bags.
- 750 CFM airflow
- 4″ inlet port
- 10′ power cord
- 75 dB noise rating
- 110V, 12A
- 11 gallon bag capacity
- 1µm Canister-style filter
- Weighs 88 lbs
- Approximate dimensions: 16-1/2″ wide x 30″ deep x 54-1/2″ tall
Read Also: Dust Collector Purchasing Decision Woes
Price: $550
Note: You’ll need to add a 4″ hose to your order, as well as any adapters you might need.
Discussion
In my experience, there aren’t very many options when it comes to 110V dust collectors, and so every new addition to the market is notable.
Should you buy this? Or rather, who should buy this?
I like canister-style filters like the one that comes with this Rockler unit. The alternative for entry-level dust collectors are filter bags, which I never liked the idea of. Canister-style filters are often rated for finer filtration levels, such as 1 micron for this Rockler model, which in theory keeps the air cleaner than with filter bags.
The Jet dust collector I purchased, with canister-style filter, is regularly priced at $750, which is $200 more than the price of this Rockler unit. Jet also has a 650 CFM dust collector with canister filter, and that machine is priced at $550, the same as this Rockler dust collector. But compared to that Jet, this Rockler has a higher airflow rating (750 CFM).
This is all to say that the Rockler dust collector seems to be competitively priced.
Yes, you can get less expensive dust collectors, but I personally don’t like the idea of filter bags – canister filters are a worthwhile upgrade.
Rockler’s canister filter looks to be smaller than what other brands use on their collectors, but it looks proportional to what Rockler has used on their wall-mounted dust collector previously.
I think that this Rockler model might serve as a decent first dust collector for small workshops or users who want more premium features (such as the canister filter) at a lower price point.
The 750 CFM airflow rating isn’t impressive, but is probably the best you could hope to see at this price point and electrical power level.
Rockler’s wall-mounted 650 CFM dust collector is regularly $270, and their canister filter is $230. The only bundle I could find on their website is a $500 kit of both items, so it doesn’t save you any money. For just $50 more than that bundle, you switch from getting a basic wall mount to a newly designed mobile base.
If 750 CFM is adequate for your needs, this new mobile dust collector looks like it could be a good option. It’s priced higher than lower-featured entry-level models, but lower than higher-powered models from Jet and other traditional woodworking dust collector brands. And once you go above $1000, power requirements usually get bumped up a notch as well.
I wonder how sturdy the base is on this Rockler unit, but then again nothing could be flimsier than my Jet with its 4 small vertical support rods.
Keeping in mind that I’ve spent a lot of time over the past few years yo-yoing between different dust collector options, I think that Rockler’s new mobile system is well-featured for its price. It looks like the canister could stand to be bigger, but that would also mean a higher center of gravity, necessitating greater support and wider footprint. As it is, this looks like it could be the Goldilocks of entry-level models.
It’ll be interesting to see if this model gains popularity and what users eventually have to say about it.
