Hi all,

I'm anxiously waiting for the new machine to be built and ship and am shopping for a dust collector. I expect to spend perhaps 50% of the machine time routing aluminum. Every machine i look at (woodworking units at least) call out that they shouldn't be used for metal. I can completely understand why. After some searching I've come across the following unit. it pulls 650 CFM per the specs.

https://www.grizzly.com/products/gri...llector/t28798

I'm comparing it to other collection systems, say this one which pulls about twice as much air.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/to...1233_200791233

I'm looking for thoughts on the differences between a "woodworking" collector and one specifically for metal. I just want to do this right the first time so am willing to spend the $. As an alternative I saw a JET metal dust collector for ~$1200 but it doesn't pull more air than the grizzly unit. Or maybe I'm just thinking about this incorrectly? In a perfect world I wouldn't be cutting aluminum at all, but I'm in the electrical sign business and know that's a big requirement. I'll be cutting anything from ACM to let's say 1/4" thick aluminum sheet, maybe thicker on occasion.

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!