Oneida Dust Gorilla Pro Cyclone Dust Collector Assembly & Installation

In this video, we’ll cover the assembly and installation of an Oneida Dust Gorilla Pro.

Why Oneida?

The move to Denver prompted the opportunity to try a different cyclone manufacturer: Oneida. My ClearVue cyclone performed well but I didn’t think it would fare well in the move so I decided to give Oneida a try. My sales guy Mark had a bunch of questions for me about my new shop and after doing some smart people math, he determined that the 5HP Dust Gorilla Pro (single phase) was the right model for me. We added a 55-gallon drum and an extension to the filter stack that would further improve air flow. I realize it’s just dust collection but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t super excited to receive this delivery.

The pallet was packed well and I was especially impressed with the way they packaged the motor. In the past, I had to install the impeller myself. That process typically involves careful consideration and a torque wrench: a tool I didn’t own at the time. Oneida saved me the work and gave me peace of mind by doing this for me at the factory. The picture above shows my shipment at the warehouse. Apparently it’s standard practice for Onieda to send this as a courtesy prior ot shipment. Large shipments can be something of a mystery so it was awesome getting to see the pallet ahead of time so that I could prepare my space.

Assembly & Installation

The assembly of the Oneida cyclone was simple but somewhat labor-intensive. These are heavy-duty steel components so you have to expect them to be heavy. If you can get a helper, please do so. While a fairly strong person can do most of the work alone, there’s one part that absolutely requires assistance: the final motor installation. I don’t know how much the 5HP motor weighs exactly but even with two people, it’s going to be a little tricky to walk it up a ladder and drop it onto the blower housing.

Take your time, exercise caution, and be sure to eat your Wheaties that day. Because I was alone and didn’t have someone to help me lift the motor, I employed some good old fashioned “Jersey ingenuity.” To be perfectly clear: I DO NOT RECOMMEND DOING WHAT I DID. Neither Oneida nor I endorse this method and we insist that you follow the instructions in the manual. In spite of the obvious hypocrisy and covering of my posterior, the video will show you how I used an appropriately weight-rated rope, pulley, hook and chain to hoist the motor above the cyclone and set it down into position with my truck.

A Verdict?

Unfortunately, I haven’t had the opportunity to run power to the unit after Assembly and Installation of Oneida Dust Gorilla Pro. And you may have noticed that I don’t have any ductwork hung. So I can’t give you any feedback on its performance yet. What can I tell you? This thing is built like a tank and lives up to Oneida’s reputation for world-class quality. Everything about it is big, beefy, and well thought-out. The cyclone body is made from thick gauge steel which gives me a lot of confidence in its durability. The blower housing is made from thick plastic and honestly I’d prefer metal, but it is what it is. The HEPA filter is massive and features oodles of surface area. And the motor looks like it was taken off of a jet plane.

It would be an understatement to say my expectations are high. At this point, I’m inclined to keep small children and pets away from the inlet.

As with many of the products featured on The Wood Whisperer, the cyclone was provided by Oneida in exchange for exposure in a video. As always, my opinions are my own. 

To learn more about the Dust Gorilla Pro models and features, click here.