Tom,
I have both a delta and steel city version of the same thing. They are effective. But here's the thing. It's the sub micron particles you need to worry about, and the stock filters will help not one iota in that regard, and in fact will serve well to keep them flying through your shop.
I was developing sensitivities. The feeling you get when you walk into the shop and it feels like the flu, hot face, watery nose and eyes. So I complemented the dust collector and air filter with a Honeywell HEPA filter, and literally overnight the problem disappeared. I leave it running on full 24hrs a day and clean it weekly. I highly recommend it, it's been the best shop improvement since getting a dust collector in the first place. In fact I'm going to get an even bigger one and put the smaller one in the smaller shop. Can't say enough good things about it.
As well, a company called Wynn Environmental makes filters for both dust collectors and air filters like the one you're asking about that do filter sub micron particles. I believe the last time I checked, they were about 75$ for the machine you're asking about, so a very modest investment in your health.
Maybe you've been there already, but if you google Bill Pentz, there is a lot of info on dust collection in general...
Cheers!
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Seriously, I don't have one but looking at that model from Busy Bee, I might pick one up. What's not to like. 3 speed, 1 and 5 micron filters and a remote. Pretty reasonable price too. Some of the Craftex stuff can be pretty mediocre but there's not a lot of moving parts on those units. Busy Bee service has always been good for me. They took back 2 crappy band saws without a fight. The comparable General unit is $150 more and they're probably made in the same factory. Thanks thanks for the heads up.
