Customer Reviews

DELTA AP200 Shopmaster 1 Amp 850 CFM Air Filtration System

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been using the AP200 since Oct 2003 in my home and garage during a year long project that included removing the popcorn ceiling throughout the house, sanding drywall joint compound and ripping/cutting 1000 sq' of laminate wood flooring. I realized I needed an air cleaner after cutting flooring for a small room left a cloud of dust in my garage for days.

I looked at the Shop Vac air cleaner and Delta 50-875 but decided on the AP200 because I didn't need the remote control, timer or 3 speeds. It also didn't hurt that the AP200 received a "Best Buy" review in the Oct 2003 issue of American Woodworker magazine. The AP200 did better than the 50-875 in testing because the disposable filter had less blow through than the more expensive washable filter. Also the average CFM of the 50-875 was only 25 CFM more than the AP200. Buy the 50-875 only if you need the extra features and higher CFM. As I see it the AP200 cleans air just as good if not better than the 50-875 and have the features that can fail or be damaged during shipping.

I finally decided to hang my AP200 from the ceiling of my garage and ended up using angle iron like the stuff used to mount garage door opener and rails. It will take some work to get the ceiling joist, air cleaner mounting holes and angle iron spacing just right but it's possible. Now I can change or vacuum a dirty filter without the air cleaner swinging back and forth on chains.

To prevent dust from blowing around the outer filter into the 3 pocket filter you can tape the sides of the filter to the frame of the air cleaner using packing tape. Standard sized 12" x 24" x 1" furnace filters are about 1/4" larger than the ones that come with the AP200 so they can't fit without modification. I ended up just taping a better (hepa style) 12" x 24" x 1" furnace filter to the pleated outer filter. Just make sure the air is going through the filters and not around them. In theory this "double outer filter" setup should cut the overall CFM a bit but it's not noticeable.

The AP200 is a must have for any serious DIYer.

Excellent filtering capabilities at a very nice price sum up this product. The unit arrived packaged very carefully and sufficiently. I like the handles that allow you to move the unit around and the ability to mount it to the ceiling using the included hardware (except for the chain or cable).

Unless you mount the unit very high, you really don't need a remote switch since the unit has a switch on the cord that cam be reached easily with most installations (my ceiling is 9' high).

The unit is certainly not quiet but it is not loud either. The noise blends in the background easily after some time and I have hearing protection on most of the time during its use anyway so I don't even hear that hum.

Now to the performance. This unit is a true performer. I have a woodworking shop that is a little over 200 square feet and the air filter keeps it nice and clean even during hours of fine sanding.

To test the unit (and clean up my shop after months of dust has settled everywhere), I put on a mask and goggles and turned the unit on. The I blew all the dust off the tools, shelves and everything around the shop with compressed air and left the room with the unit running. When I returned about 15 minutes later, the air was perfectly clear and the unit has captured about 90% of the dust from the room before it had the chance to hit the floor. I did the same thing again and ended up with a very nice and clean shop to start the new era of air filtration.

My nose is the best indicator of a dusty environment and it has been very clear since the installation of the air cleaner. What a difference.

The Delta AP200 Shopmaster air filter is an excellent product, however Delta brand filters, at more than $12 each, are way too expensive! I ordered a box standard 12x24x1 furnace filters, 10 for around $32. When the filters arrived they were of equal or better quality then the Delta filters, HOWEVER, they are just slightly too large! Seems like Delta forces you to use their off-size filter, rather than an industry standard. I assume they see consumables as a high margin business.

I suggest you consider another other brand air filter system, like Jet, and determine if they can use standard sized filters. If yes, DO NOT buy the Delta air filter system. In the longrun, you will save a ton of money if you can use a standard filter.

I do quit a bit of woodworking in my garage, with the inevitable result that everything gets covered with dust. This unit has made a huge difference.

It can be mounted on the ceiling, wall, or used on the floor.
It is heavy so I mounted 4 casters on it and built a small lipped top for it (screwed on both with metal screws). I can pull it where needed and have it serve a small table to hold tools.

It is somewhat noisy, but has all but elinnated the dust problem and makes the workspace much more productive.

I specialize in business remodels and presently am remodeling individual labs in a water testing laboratory. Dust is always a problem and not easy to control. After reading about the Shopmaster, I decided to give one a try. I bolted the Shopmaster to an inexpensive handtruck with the intake end positioned at the handles. This keeps the filters from falling out when moving the unit. Removing a few screws allows you to remove the internal fan unit, allowing easy access for attaching the bolts. Now all I have to do is roll the Shopmaster into a lab, position it so the exhaust blows into the hallway, plug it in and turn it on. Covering up the return air vents in the work area will keep dust from getting into the heating/cooling system and allow the Shopmaster to filter all the dust. It works great and I am pleased with the results.

Product arrived 1 day earlier than stated - packaged very well - instuctions on unpackaging done very well - unit put in place and has been working extremely well ever since

As per an previous review - I attached an additional standard size filter on the intake side of the unit (I purchased the filter at a home improvement store at 1/3 the cost of the delta filters and just used masking tape to put the unit in place) because of the cost of replacing the non-standard delta filters

I received the filter system quickly -- something I didn't expect given the free shipping!

The unit works well in my garage where I do a lot of sanding and lathe work. The replacement pre-filters are expensive, so I'm thinking of cutting down furnace filters as others have suggested. However, overall the unit is great: reasonably quiet and does a good job of getting the fine dust out of the air quickly.

The Delta AP200 was delivered earlier than predicted and is everything it is advertised to be. I followed the directions and had it up and running within an hour. I have a 16' x 20' shop with 8 ft. ceiling and it changes the air in minutes. I do a lot of fine sanding and can produce quite a cloud in the air. The air filter clears the shop quickly. I use my air compressor to stir up the dust and the air cleaner takes out the dust leaving me with a nearly dust free shop. This is 5 star for me.

First and foremost, this unit performs the function it was intended for extremely well. When combined with a cyclone DCS, these two items keep my shop far cleaner than it was a few years ago. My only complaint would be that the unit will only accept Delta filters, which are ridiculously expensive. It is within about a half inch of accepting a standard size filter that is readily available at most home improvement stores, but those filters are slightly to large to fit. Hmm, wonder if that was intentional ?

I bought this unit because I noticed that my furnace filter was turning the color of sawdust a few days after I bought a table saw. I did not like the idea of that stuff going into the heating system, but especially hated the thought of inhaling it.

I bought this instead of some of other similar units(e.g. the Jet) because of some complaints that those ones had poor packaging. My furnace filter has been clean ever since. In the winter I just turn the furnace off when I go into the shop (in the cellar) and the Delta on and let the Delta run for 1/2 hour or so after I leave the shop (which is 25 ft x 18 ft x 7 ft high). Before I turn the heat back on the shop is perfectly clean and the furnace's air filter no longer gets dirty.

This was packed securely and is working fine. It has a low metalic whine but it does not seem to interfere with anything. I have had it for a few months. I especally like the on-off switch that is located in the middle of the power cord. I have the unit mounted on a tall (4 ft. high)table and plugged into the ceiling socket so I can turn it on when I am walking down the steps into the shop. With that power switch setup I have no need for a remote control which adds $ to the cost.

To keep from buying the expensive Delta replacements I went to the local home improvement store and bought 6 filters 14 in. x 24 in by 1 in. for about $3.00. They are a little larger than the air-intake end of the Delta unit. I took a strip of wrapping tape (thick scotch tape about 2 in. wide) and put it across the top of that (very light) furnace filter. I then took one of those non-toxic glue sticks that are used to seal envelopes (that you can get at any office supply store) and applied glue across the area where the tape would meet the metal of the Delta unit (across the top).

The glue was strong enough to hold the filter securely over the outside of the unit where the Delta air-intake filter resides and it filters out a great deal of the sawdust etc. When you want to change the filter, the glue offers hardly any resistance and you can pull the old one off and repeat the process with another $.50 filter.

I have even used the air blower on my Shop-Vac to blow out the accumulated dust of that home improvement filter when I did not have the time to change it.

You don't even have to go through that if you just hold the 14 x 25 x 1 filter against the Delta and turn the power on, the suction will hold the filter against the Delata unit. It will just fall on its face when you turn the unit off.

I took a star off because of the slight metalic whine and because I am not sure how long it will last yet.