After Over a Year of Use, I'm Reviewing the Rikon Tools 60-2500 Cyclone Dust Collector

[@richragan4810]

thank you Chris. That was a great review. Glad it works well for you.

[@ChristcrossCrafts]

It's built very solid.

[@FinishingFromAToZieg]

CFM test was not what I was expecting! Very cool

[@ChristcrossCrafts]

Sort of a bonus to help show just how powerful it is. Some people may not trust "my words", but can't argue with results.

[@FinishingFromAToZieg]

@Christcross Crafts most people don't trust the manufacturer words of static air cfm, but with this video, it shows Rikon isn't playing with good looking numbers, they're bringing it down the line to the tool where it's needed.

[@awlthatwoodcrafts8911]

I love seeing real numbers when reviewing a dust collection system, no matter how big or small. I bought an anemometer for myself just to see the numbers of my shop vac/Dustopper set up and my Dust Right 750. Most reviews of a Dust Deputy or a Dustopper will give you their opinion of how well it works. Well, your feelings aren't facts. I tested my shop vac/Dustopper set up and was quite surprised at what I found. At the inlet of the vacuum (a Ridgid 12 gal model), I was getting 180 cfm. Add in the Dustopper and a 6 ft hose and I was only getting 80 cfm at the end of the hose. That won't cut it for a table saw like mine (Ridgid R4512). I upgraded to the Dust Right 750 and now I'm getting about 450 cfm at the end of the hose (4" Rockler expandable). I may have felt that the shop vac was doing an ok job, but the numbers don't lie. It was not.

[@ChristcrossCrafts]

Yeah, I bought the anemometer before I upgraded my dust pipe from flex to hard pipe with the upgraded cyclone. I did an initial test before and after both systems to get an idea of just how much. I'm not sure about your anemometer but after finally figuring out the math to enter the correct number to convert to CFM, I was able to see real numbers comparing my old system using 4" pipe to my new system mainly using 8" and 6", with short 4" at the tools. WOW. Smaller ports (less than 2") still perform better on a shop vac due to the velocity the smaller motor on the shop vac produces. I have figured out a way to get reasonable results leaving a 4" port open along with the smaller port at certain tools like my router table. DC is a fun experiment!

[@awlthatwoodcrafts8911]

@@ChristcrossCrafts I got the BTMeter BT-100, off Amazon. It doesn't have a CFM setting so I have to do the math. It was cool to learn the formula. Now I know how to calculate on my own.

[@ChristcrossCrafts]

@@awlthatwoodcrafts8911 Yeah, my BT meter requires you fill in the appropriate formula number based on the internal pipe specs, then it will provide you a CFM based on that. A little math, but makes it easy to get a result. I wrote down common pipe sizes and appropriate data numbers so I didn't have to do math on normal pipe. I did have to do some when I used it to test my ductwork in my house, but that wasn't too bad.

[@joebeaton1101]

Great info... Thanks for posting!!

[@ChristcrossCrafts]

I'm glad it helped. I still love this DC

[@CustomWoodWorkDecor]

I just receive a dust rite cyclone dust collection system. Advertised as 1250CFM. But after 3 uses, I’m getting 450CFM. It’s super weak. I may upgrading to this one here

[@ChristcrossCrafts]

I cut a lot of mdf and even that barely slows it down. I do have to clean out the bag more than if I'm only doing solid wood or plywood. I love this system.