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Dust Collector Filters

When selecting the right dust collector cartridge filters for abrasive blasting, it’s crucial to match your filter type to your specific application to maximize performance and minimize costs. Whether you’re managing a high-dust environment on a large-scale industrial project or maintaining a smaller workshop, choosing the appropriate cartridge filter can have a substantial impact on efficiency and worker safety.

In this buying guide, we cover three main types of filters—100% Cellulose, 80/20 Cellulose/Poly, and Spunbond Poly—each designed to address unique challenges in abrasive blasting scenarios.

The different medias can be configured according to the requirements of your dust collector. Whether you have a specific flange, end caps, or sizes, we have the ability to configure the filter to the needs of your dust collector. Call us to help identify the best filter for you!

Media Type	Best Scenarios	Benefits	Potential Concerns	Standard Rating	Note	Optional Treatments	Compare to these OEM names*
100% Cellulose	Applications where the particulate is coarse and dry. The standard media (without optional treatments) is often used in operations where filter replacement is determined by a schedule rather than pressure drop.	Low up-front cost.	No resistance to moisture. Ensure environment and pulse-air is dry to prevent premature failure.	10	MERV Rating Key: MERV 10 is for general purpose. MERV 15 offers longer life and is suitable for hazards such as lead dust. MERV 16 can be used for additional hazards, such as asbestos.	Nano fiber (offers higher MERV rating of 15 as well as longer lifespan). FR treatment (see note below)	Donaldson Cellulex® (standard) Donaldson Cellulex FR® (w/FR) Donaldson Ultra-Web® (w/nano) Donaldson Ultra-Web FR® (w/nano & FR)
80/20 Cello/Poly	Similar applications to 100% cellulose, but is more tolerant of humid conditions.	Economical, with increased lifespan over 100% cellulose.	While the poly content improves moisture resistance, it is not moisture proof and pulse-air must be dry to prevent premature failure.	10		Nano fiber (offers higher MERV rating of 15 as well as longer lifespan). FR treatment (see note below)	Parker PR010® (standard) Parker PR011® (w/FR treatment) Parker Protura PR017® (w/nano) Parker Protura PR018® (w/nano & FR) Donaldson Endura-Tek® (standard) Donaldson Endura-Tek FR® (w/FR)
Spunbond Poly	Where high-strength media and excellent release characteristics are required.	Can be used where moisture may be present. Offers optional MERV 16 treatment. Very resistant to abrasion.	The thicker strands of spunbond poly reduce the number of pleats and the amount of square footage of media that can be placed in the cartridge. This can potentially reduce filter life, especially where the airflow and the dust concentration is high.	10		Nano fiber (increases MERV rating to 15). PTFE membrane (increases MERV rating to 16). FR treatment (see note below)	Parker PE806® (standard) Parker PE1013® (w/FR treatment) Parker Protura PE1017® (w/nano) Parker QP806® (w/PTFE) Donaldson Ultra-Web SB® (w/nano) Donaldson Torit-Tex® (w/PTFE)


Media Type	100% Cellulose	80/20 Cello/Poly	Spunbond Poly
Best Scenarios	Applications where the particulate is coarse and dry. The standard media (without optional treatments) is often used in operations where filter replacement is determined by a schedule rather than pressure drop.	Similar applications to 100% cellulose, but is more tolerant of humid conditions.	Where high-strength media and excellent release characteristics are required.
Benefits	Low up-front cost.	Economical, with increased lifespan over 100% cellulose.	Can be used where moisture may be present. Offers optional MERV 16 treatment. Very resistant to abrasion.
Potential Concerns	No resistance to moisture. (Ensure environment and pulse-air is dry to prevent premature failure.)	While the poly content improves moisture resistance, it is not moisture proof and pulse-air must be dry to prevent premature failure.	The thicker strands of spunbond poly reduce the number of pleats and the amount of square footage of media that can be placed in the cartridge. This can potentially reduce filter life, especially where the airflow and the dust concentration is high.
Standard Rating	10	10	10
Note	MERV Rating Key: MERV 10 is for general purpose. MERV 15 offers longer life and is suitable for hazards such as lead dust. MERV 16 can be used for additional hazards, such as asbestos.
Optional Treatments	Nano fiber (offers higher MERV rating of 15 as well as longer lifespan). FR treatment (see note below)	Nano fiber (offers higher MERV rating of 15 as well as longer lifespan). FR treatment (see note below)	Nano fiber (increases MERV rating to 15). PTFE membrane (increases MERV rating to 16). FR treatment (see note below)
Compare to these OEM names*	Donaldson Cellulex® (standard 100% Cellulose) Donaldson Cellulex FR® (w/FR) Donaldson Ultra-Web® (w/nano) Donaldson Ultra-Web FR® (w/nano & FR)	Parker PR010® (standard 80/20 Cello/Poly) Parker PR011® (w/FR treatment) Parker Protura PR017® (w/nano) Parker Protura PR018® (w/nano & FR) Donaldson Endura-Tek® (standard) Donaldson Endura-Tek FR® (w/FR)	Parker PE806® (standard Spunbond Poly) Parker PE1013® (w/FR treatment) Parker Protura PE1017® (w/nano) Parker QP806® (w/PTFE) Donaldson Ultra-Web SB® (w/nano) Donaldson Torit-Tex® (w/PTFE)

*BlastOne does not own these trademark names or guarantee that the filters supplied are made by their manufacturers.
NOTE: FR Treatment is useful where sparks, hot weld spatter, or other sources of ignition may be present. It resists fire on the media only, and does not affect the potential ignition of collected materials.

For applications other than abrasive blasting, other filter types are available. Contact BlastOne for assistance if your desired type or size is not shown.

Troubleshooting Dust Collector Filters

Dust Collector Filter Tips

MAINTAINING CLEAN DUST FILTERS IS CRITICAL

BlastOne technicians spend a good deal of their day overseeing our rental fleet’s check-ins and check-outs. During this process we perform maintenance checks, repairs, and then clean the equipment before we send it back out again.

A common issue we come across involves our mobile dust collectors. These machines are used to clear interior jobsites of hazardous or nuisance dust that contaminates the air and also reduces visibility for the blasters.

Inside these dust collectors are filters that trap the dust, and these pulse at regular intervals by bursts of air that help blow the dust off the filter. These bursts help keep the filters relatively clean and unclogged. A clean filter promotes the flow of air. A clogged filter inhibits the flow of air.

So what do you suppose happens when the very air that is supposed to clean the filters is directly drawn from the jobsite compressor?

Considering compressed air is extremely warm and saturated with moisture, these filters end up getting damp. And dust begins sticking to the moist filter material. The more pulses, the wetter the filter gets, the more the dust sticks, and soon, airflow is compromised, and the machine is no longer cleaning the environment.

There is a simple fix, however.

Instead of connecting your mobile dust collector directly to your compressor, first run it through your airprep, so the air is cool and dry. This in turn keeps the filter dry and prevents dust from coating the filter, inhibiting airflow. This simple solution not only ensures the dust collector does its job properly, but also cleans the jobsite air so your team can do theirs.

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