DUST COMMANDER HD

This was bought as a more durable alternative to the plastic cyclones that tend to crack over time with heavy use. Time will tell if that is the case. This cyclone works well. The cyclone removes heavy materials entirely and fine dust is well controlled - little reaches the extractor filters. It is noisier separating building materials than a plastic cyclones but it should be less subject to wear from abrasion. The metal cyclone has the advantage that you can earth the system to prevent static build-up during prolonged use. Construction is mostly OK. The steel is pretty thin. I had to tidy up rough mitered edges with a file on the intake welds where vacuumed materials were catching and clogging the cyclone intake; hence the four stars. Since then, it has worked well. It has strong wide base and seals very well on my steel collection drum. I found that the plastic cyclone would eventually warp or crack at the base causing leaks under high suction - this steel cyclone does not do that, so no suction is lost. Both the inlet and outlet use the same 2" size which make it easy to attach hoses. Air flow is particularly good.All in all, it's a good idea to have this steel cyclone if you have a very powerful extractor or use it for heavy materials like building rubble. It comes at a good price from Amazon.Update: I have just used my steel cyclone and BVC extractor to vacuum out about 50kg of wet silt from narrow storm drains and a very deep and narrow stopcock pit. To my amazement it worked great! The silt was rolled into balls all of which were sitting in my steel interceptor drum. It would have been an horrific job otherwise. Honestly, I don't think my plastic cyclones would have survived this job. They would have started to warp and leak. Wow, this is versatile! Last week this cyclone was separating oak sanding dust. Now I'm giving it five stars.

Attached this to the top of a small food barrel and used to clean a Victorian loft space before conversion. Separated soot, slate dust, brick dust and various insulation.Clogged up with small bits of glass wool and could not separate lighter spot out.Then used in a workshop for wood dust which it's perfect for.

Works great with CNC or power tools to capture fine dust and chips to keep your vacuume clean and at full power.Connected to a steel UN type drum with ease.