Review on Powerful And Efficient: Grizzly G8027 1 HP Dust Collector For Your Workshop by Kyle Pickett

l have had this machine since 2004. I use it in a garage converted into a small wood shop. Having been a cabinetmaker for a decade before a career change this machine sees mainly hobby use but also for the occasional "side job" when a friend ropes me into building something. I purchased this machine because it was inexpensive and compact. For the money, it works. You just have to know what you are getting. If you plan to use this collector, you should figure on using it on ONE machine and setting it CLOSE to that machine. For that purpose, it will do an adequate job of collecting your sawdust sized particles. With the addition of one of the trash can lid separators, I use it on a spindle shaper for raised panel doors and the shavings fall into a 30 gallon metal can. When trying to handle shavings directly to the machine, I found 2 problems. First, larger shavings from a raised panel cutter would catch on the inlet of the blower until it plugged up. Secondly, the small size of the bag on this machine means you'll fill it quite quickly if doing a larger product. Therefore, the separator is a MUST if you're going to use this for anything bigger than dust, in my opinion.As to durability, it has held up reasonably well. I'm not easy on my tools and it still works after 11 years of pretty frequent operation. I've had 2 failures of parts on the unit. First the rod that hods the top bag broke when I caught it on something moving the machine around. If I cared, this part is 12 bucks plus shipping. I don't care. I am simply careful when starting the machine that it has overhead room to inflate. The second failure is the switch. Mine has been stuck 'on' for about a year and a half. The paddle moves but something broke internally. I have been just plugging it in and unplugging it. I finally got around to ordering a switch this morning for 13 bucks shipped.Bottom line: when I can build a 'real' shop, I'll have a 'real' dust collection system (likely a centralized cyclone if I have my way). However, for the time being this one gets it done and if you can't have centralized, portable is the next best thing.