This is the Mullet high-speed cyclone dust collector, a separator accessory that works with most shop vacuums.
The Mullet dust separator has a unique design and numerous benefits over many competing models.
To start, dust separators like this are optional but helpful add-ons that help to keep your shop vacuum filter clean. This lets the motor operate at higher efficiency, as woodworking dust can quickly clog filters and reduce suction performance.
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Its cyclone and easy-empty collection bin form a one-piece construction, creating an airtight system.
Collected dust and debris enter the cyclone and drop into the dump bin, with mostly clean air passing up and through to the shop vacuum.
According to Mullet, 3rd party testing showed that 99% of material is captured by the Mullet. They also saw that the Mullet had faster air speeds, reduced pressure drop, and greater static pressure (suction power) compared to a more traditionally designed setup, thanks to tis single-piece construction.
Mullet says that their dust separate fits “virtually all wet dry shop vacuums on the market.”
The Mullet connects to most shop vacuums out of the box. They have a “will it fit?” page on their website with examples of what’s needed to fit the Mullet to outlier examples.
If need be, they encourage you to talk to Gus. Some shop vacuums have angled inlets, in which case Mullet Tools can send you a free 3D printed adapter.
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Even in the Amazon questions and answers section, a Mullet Tools rep encourages customers to talk to Gus ([email protected]), to sort out any compatibility issues.
The Mullet connects to shop vacuums via a rigid PVC connection, which the company says allows the dust separator and vacuum to be “yanked around in unison.”
Mullet Tools says theirs is “the new top dust collector.” It’s definitely different, and it looks like it could one-up many other brands’ multi-component cyclone and separator attachments.
The walls are thick, not just for durability, but for holding up to the high suction of powerful vacuums.
If you’re worried about durability, Mullet says they designed their dust collection separator to withstand “being tossed in the back of a truck after a long day of sanding floors” or “being bumped into a table saw as you’re carrying a slab of 8/4 walnut.
Many of its unique design features do look to eliminate common issues and frustrations. What do you think?
Price: $250 (direct) $280 (retailers)
COO: Made in USA
Tim
This is an awesome unit and an awesome company. You can literally call there and talk to them, Gus, their owners, whatever.
We use this cyclone on the highest pressure vacuum made (170″ of lift), every day sanding floors and can’t crush it. It’ll deflate a little if we plug a hose and go right back to it’s shape when you let the pressure off where previously we’d been crushing steel buckets.
Michael George
What vacuum are you guys using?
Tim
I use the FG Floortec Aspirator vacuum.
I am the distributor for that company in NA
Randy
Can’t wait for the $50 knockoffs in a year.
Stuart
If you want something cheaper but half as good, buy something else now?
Steven+B
That costs more than my 20amp dust collector and shop vac combined.
Looks like a nice product, but its priced too high for me to justify.
Koko The Talking Ape
In fairness, if it’s a good knockoff, it should be just as good, or nearly, as the original.
And do we know if it’s really better than existing products like the Dust Deputy? As near as I can tell, it seems sturdy and convenient, as long as that flex connector to the vac can take pulling and bending. But does it work better?
The crush-resistance seems like a good thing if you have a really powerful vac, but if you don’t, then it’s more weight and expense. But maybe you want to buy a more powerful vac in the future.
If it were me, I’d secure both a cyclone and a vac to a piece of plywood on casters. No strain on hose connectors, and it’s sure to roll easily.
Stuart
It’s a good question. Mullet suggests their cyclone is better than straight wall cyclones, but they don’t share details about their 3rd party testing.
The Oneida Dust Deputy has been updated again recently, and presumably refined over the years. Their kit with 10 gallon steel drum is less expensive than the Mullet.
You can get the smaller Dust Deputy, new hose, and enough plywood to build a vacuum station that holds a shop vac and separator, and still come in at less cost than the Mullet.
Still, it seems like a novel design worth discussing.
The Dewalt cyclone separator – https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/dewalt-cyclone-dust-separator/%3C/a%3E looked to have a better drum solution than Oneida’s 5 gallon buckets. The poly tank is no longer available, but they still have a 10 gallon stainless tank kit for $140.
JH
Looks like Gus made a better mouse trap. Def will buy for my next shopvac
MoogleMan3
I’ve said this before, I think this thing has a horrible design and is a very poor value compared to a dust deputy or one of the infinity tools/centec cyclones.
Limited capacity, awkward to empty. And $250? No thanks. It does not offer anything more than competitive units.
I’d love to see side by side comparisons to the dust deputy 2.5 and infinity/centec cyclones. The cyclone market is quite crowded now, with some big names even throwing their hats in the ring.
DRT42
I kinda hate to diss something without seeing it in person, or using it, but I do think you have a point. This one is too small for significant woodworking jobs. You hook it up to a planer and it’ll be full after two boards. OK, that might be an exaggeration, but I have a full size 220v Jet dust collector, and I can fill that thing in no time.
Here’s another way of looking at it – if the cyclone is effectively removing chips and larger dust particles, the cyclone should be LARGER than the shop vac. The only way you would want the cyclone to be smaller, is if it doesn’t catch much.
But maybe it’s good for sanding dust, like Tim’s application.
Jack D
Whether using a cyclone attached to a shop vac, like this system, or a full size collector, you might consider using a drop box whenever planing. I made one with a RoughNeck can, put a plexiglass window into it, added a powertec lid adaptor like this one:
https://www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-70292-Collection-Woodworking-Containers/dp/B08KRNHPRD
And you’ll never have to worry about clogging up your main collection system again. It fills up fast, but it’s meant to. I digress, though…
A unit like this looks to be meant more for cleanup jobs, perhaps an occasional table saw hookup…certainly not a main solution, but better than the 5 gallon bucket system?
DRT42
Good tip. Thanks !
Jack D
My pleasure! Glad to pay it forward!
Adam
Good tip. Now we doing drop box then cyclone then shop vac all on one board? 😉 Packout? Lol
MoogleMan3
That’s the whole thing for me; this doesn’t do anything new or much different when it comes to cyclones. And for the price they’re asking you’d think they’re reinventing a better wheel.
Stuart
They say the parabolic cyclone shape is better, but don’t show it.
BigTimeTommy
Small, expensive, hard to empty. Seems like another gadget for the conspicuous consumption hobbyist woodworker.
Nathan
I mean it’s a neat idea. I did similar with my 5gal bucket. Put it on a 2×4 and ply with casters plate. Screwed it to the ss can ship vac I have. No PVC but I don’t own , the strongest shop vac made I guess
It mostly moves around ok but I don’t drag by hose either
Nathan
Went to their website. I like what I see
Koko The Talking Ape
Aha, I just said that. What you did sounds cheaper and maybe more durable.
mikedt
Come on, $250? I didn’t spend that much on my very large shop vac and it has an electric motor attached to it.
It seems like something geared towards the home shop (too small for commercial use) but if this is something your home shop needs I’m pretty sure you have the supplies on hand to create a similar item using the $95 Dust Deputy or one of its $20 knock-offs.
M
Hard 90’s kill the CFMs the vac can effectively pull through this thing. Concept is good but the execution is more the issue. Emptying it looks like it would be a PITA. Dewalt’s 10 gallon steel drum one looks like a better option for a turnkey 2 piece system and costs $170 on Amazon
ASIN B096N3TZLX
Bonnie
Yeah, the extra T-joint seems like they’re shooting themselves in the foot with this thing. I like the idea of lashing the vac and cyclone together, but doing so by the intake seems counter-productive. A wooden dolly is less than $20 and would make a much better platform to set your shopvac and cyclone on.
M
Yup. Piece of rope or webbing tied to the dolly/platform and clipped to your belt with a carabiner makes a decently better setup. With this I’d still want to lash it together with some bungee straps at the very least and you still run the risk of yanking the hose out.
Koko The Talking Ape
Right, re 90 deg bends.
The only really hard bend is at the T fitting where it connects to the vac. I guess it has to be a T because you have to be able to move it up or down on the vertical tube, to suit your particular vac.
So a better solution would be to use a radiused (right word?) 90 bend there, but attach it to the main body in some way that lets you set it at the right height. Maybe it could just be screwed into place. You only need to do it once.
Jack D
Or maybe make it independent of the shop vac with a length of hose. Still don’t see why they need to be attached, especially when you lose airflow via the 90…
Adam
Yeah the rigid connection is just asking for cracks on either side. I’d prefer a flexible hose and a way to *strap* them together more strongly.
josh
I’d wager you lose less flow on a high static pressure vacuum with a 90 like that than you would with a length of corrugated hose. Worth a test at least.
I dissed these guys on Facebook a few times, but when I decided to hook my dust deputy to my Makita extractor and collapsed the bucket in like 5 seconds, I started wondering if there are better options. Really, I like the articulating arm they offer right now, and can’t find a cheap knockoff yet…
Jack D
It’s attractive, but I wonder how much better than the dust deputy on a 5 gallon bucket it actually is. I use my shop vac in the shop almost exclusively for clean up, so it remains in place, as does my separator bucket (although they can be moved for longer reach), while I use longer hoses to reach where I need.
If I had money to burn, I’d consider this as an upgrade, but it’s not high on the list.
James Madara
When will ShopVac, Rigid, Milwaukee, etc., invent a vac with an integrated cyclone built in? Pulling around a bulky vac with an attached cyclone unit is cumbersome, to say the least.
Nathan
No they will make a actual HEPA rated and OSHA approved dust collector vac. Like the flex and DeWalt units 400 plus dollars
Saulac
Or a very low capacity but powerful to specifically used with these things?
Koko The Talking Ape
I was just thinking about that. I wonder if a largish cyclone could have a cylindrical filter in its center with the impeller on top, so it’s all one unit. The vac would BE a cyclone.
Or have a furnace-type filter mounted to the side of the cyclone where the air exits.
I don’t know why you wouldn’t want an integrated cyclone. It could even trap liquids and keep them from getting on the filter.
MM
The big industrial cyclonic filters and some of the better dust collectors–the sort you plumb in to your entire workshop–work exactly like that.
I agree, this is a good question though, why don’t more vacs include a cyclonic separator? There are a handful if I remember right. The Dewalt DCV501 has a cyclone design with how the air enters the dust chamber. Festool has a cyclonic device that stacks on top of their vac but it’s not that elegant of a solution since it still has hoses going between the two units.
Mike McFalls
All I have to say is anyone spending $250 on this should not be complaining about the price of any Festool tools
BigTimeTommy
The people who buy stuff like this and Festool products think they better craftspeople because they overspend on brands that overcharge people who are overly eager to part with money. Think it’s too expensive? They think you’re just too bad at your job to be able to afford it 😉
Big Richard
I see this selling quite well amongst the leather apron wearing “influencer” types with their walls of Woodpecker gizmos. I honestly think it will sell better because it is expensive, they will think it is inherently better than other products. A sort of velben good, the more it costs the more people want it.
That’s not to say it it isn’t a decent collector, I’m sure it is.
BigTimeTommy
Not only does overcharging make people want it more, it makes them unwilling to objectively judge the product they just bought.
It might be a great dust collector, but it doesn’t have to be because people are mindless animals 🤷♂️
Stuart
Shop aprons provide functional purpose.
Artisan leather shop aprons provide feel-good purpose for those that can afford them. Artisan leather shop aprons purchased just so an influencer can flex on social media are a waste of money. To each their own.
I own some Woodpeckers tools, most from back when Sears ran occasional sales and some were rebranded under Woodcraft’s Pinnacle brand.
Woodpeckers has more and more “tools you could build yourself but don’t want to” specialty products. Some treat them as flex purchases too for whatever reason. But that doesn’t mean their core tools are more flash than function.
The Mullet doesn’t have much flash. It’s not a feel-good-about product.
It has the perception of a more effective design, and the price is not that much more than other neat-turn key cyclonic separator solutions.
I tried Jet’s 4” separator, and while it looks the part, I cannot recommend it. If there’s enough interest, I’ll try this one too – a purchased copy if I have to.
ToolGuyd encourages me to try products at both ends of the cost spectrum.
I have found that there are roughly equal amounts of high and low priced products that don’t deliver performance or functionality proportional to their cost.
Stuart
Do some people buy Festool and other premium tools because they have money to burn and want to flex about it online? Absolutely.
Some pros and DIYers have been buying Packout to be fashionable. Does that mean there are no functional benefits there too?
Someone once told me they bought a Milwaukee cordless power tool combo kit to be able to punch off a hole on their “man card.”
People spending more than they need to is nothing new.
The Mullet has a distinct design that looks to avoid common problems. If the price is the only thing you can find wrong with it, that’s a good thing.
I have found that most Festool critics have never used their tools. The same happens with Woodpeckers, Milwaukee Packout, and other premium-priced brands and products.
Some critics do give off a “I can’t afford it and will try to make everyone else feel bad about their purchases” kind of attitude, just like some loyal tool users and fans tend to be overly self-justifying.
BigTimeTommy
“I can’t afford it and will try to make everyone else feel bad about their purchases”
This is one of my favorite strawmen from the conspicuous consumption crowd. The only way to counter this argument is to gloat about how much more money I make than the conspicuous consumer, which makes me the jerk.
I know you have a conflict of interest with people who prefer to spend their money wisely but come on, man.
Stuart
The problem is that there are often two polar opposites.
In each group, there are well-informed and experienced tool users, and less experienced tool users.
I really like my PB Swiss hex keys. I don’t use them exclusively and don’t recommend them without qualifications. But they work extremely well for my purposes, better than other brands in most cases.
If I talk about PB Swiss, someone will chime in about how might they suck and are overpriced. Have they ever used them? No, they’re citing a YouTuber who might have their own motives and who showed off unscientific testing.
I try to remain objective and fair.
With Festool, if you observe internet arguments for long enough, the line tends to be drawn between “their tools are a step above” from users, and “Festool is overpriced plastic” from non users.
I have purchased Festool tools and tested others, and can tell you that some provide benefits and others don’t.
But the way internet arguments devolve, those in favor have “drank the green koolaid” or are self-justifying, and those against cannot afford it.
I have come across many narrow-minded tool users over the years. One commentor insisted for years that cordless tools suck and were garbage. And then they bought a Dewalt cordless miter saw one day and they changed their tune.
Yes, pricing is an important factor. But does it do anyone good to say this so one for the leather shop apron and Woodpecker tool wall influencers? What about the functionality?
Is this a functional upgrade compared to lesser dust separators?
I have no “conflict of interest with people who spend wisely.”
I have issue with narrow-mindedness.
I understand that constantly ranting about pricing might make you feel good, but who does it help?
I’m not in the market for a $200+ dust separator, but I am happy to see i) innovation in the space, and ii) USA production by what looks to be a new small business.
What would you buy instead? What would you recommend instead? What do you think about the design?
But no, you’re instead trying to score some internet points by ranting about Festool, influencers, and social media flexing. No? Then what are you trying to get from your constant negativity?
Stuart
To be clear, the same applies to anyone who insists premium pricing is the only option.
No, Packout – and modular tool boxes of all kinds – are not must-haves. Not everyone needs top of the line brushless tools. Some pros *do* use Ryobi tools. And so forth.
GZ
“This is one of my favorite strawmen from the conspicuous consumption crowd.”
Your entire string of comments itt is just asserting your superiority over people who buy high-end tools. Criticizing a given product on its own terms is great; your unsolicited “insights” into the hearts and minds of Festool customers contribute nothing of value to this (great) website.
I hate influencer BS as much as anyone, and the BS typified by your comments– barging in, loudly announcing that YOU’RE nobody’s fool– is just the other side of the exact same coin. I find genuinely depressing that this particular flavor of moralizing has made its way to TOOL BLOGS of all places.
Please stay on topic. Or at least be funny.
BigTimeTommy
@GZ
That’s not at all what I’m doing. Sounds like my comments tickled someone’s insecurities. Feel free to close your eyes and scroll by my comment next time you see my username.
As for Stuart, I’m far from the only person consistently mentioning things being overpriced. Why do you get especially upset about me doing it?
Stuart
@BigTimeTommy
Here’s your original comment:
“I feel this is unjustifiably expensive” is an opinion. “The people who buy stuff like this…” is an attack on others’ opinions.
I can’t tell if you simply resent those who buy premium tools or are trolling and trying to start arguments.
You’ll find similar attitudes in all topics. I’ve known a couple of vegans and vegetarians. I respected their personal choices, and they respected mine. There are also the more self-righteous vegans and vegetarians who will make a big stink about how all meat eaters are foolish and wrong.
If someone tries to say anyone who doesn’t buy Festool tools or artisan shop aprons is bad at their job, I’ll push back on that just the same.
Jack D
Cheers, Stuart!
Shane
Fortunately, buying a tool is not a zero sum game. Regardless of which dust separator you buy you will get a result that varies with performance, project or space. I have a dust rite separator by Rockler. Not the cheapest or the most expensive but seems to do a satisfatory job for me. Maybe the Mullet is a game changer but without some side by side comparison, you just can’t know. I think it’s a fair metric to compare when making a high end purchase and Mullet should provide something like that. Also, you have to consider the “made in the USA” factor in pricing. If they have great customer support that knows the product and you can talk to them on the phone, there is definitely added value with that. Making value judgements by what people buy/use, turns a tool discussion too personal for me. I try to stay objective. Sometimes it’s really difficult.
As far as influencers are concerned, you know their soul has already been bought by products before you push play on their video. Personally, this is the reason that I don’t watch influencer videos at all. I know that I am not getting a balanced or objective opinion. Marketing is built around deception and questionable claims and it’s harder than ever to get a TRUE comparison. Personally, I don’t own any Festool or Jet or other premium brands. I have some red and yellow, older Craftsman power tools for the most part and they all perform brilliantly when properly tuned. I don’t consider my shop as a showroom to impress others with my high end tool collection.
Chris
Cost and having to empty the awkward design are pretty big negatives for me.
I wonder how good that seal is when you tighten the thumbscrew down on the hose?
Seems like you would push it out of round. I have those same ridgid hoses on my shop vacs and use duct tape to seal them from leaks.
I guess another big negative is the train design. Now I’m pulling an object that has double the footprint with hard connections.
josh
I know they seem hard to empty, but it’s not that bad. Just open the hole and shove your vacuum nozzle to the bottom and turn on the vac. 🙂
In all seriousness, I roasteed these guys over the hard to empty design when it came out, but I also collapsed a bucket last time I tried a deputy on a home drywall project. probably could make a fitting for the emptying hole to dump out dust, but the dewalt version seems to cover that issue better.
John
I have two Dustoppers on 5 gallon buckets, $50 each, they do the job, easy to connect, easy to empty. I have the 10 gallon blue Rockler Dust Right Separator, under $100, good capacity, good suction, super easy to empty. I also use a Dust Deputy which is around $100 full kit has the best suction of my systems, easy to empty. All these connect to any standard vac port instantly, interchangeable, no fuss. All these together are in the same price range as only one Mullet, that’s kind of crazy.
Mike
A novel American made item will be more expensive. These are not being manufactured at scale in China. I saw the product release a few weeks ago and was intrigued. It is less expensive than the Jet model that has not be well reviewed. It is also less expensive than the comparable Oneida version. Weight is just 7.5 pounds but I do wonder how annoying it is to empty. People can and will DIY almost anything so there is usually a cheaper way to accomplish the same task but I feel like this is fairly priced based on the market.
James+C
I added a little platform on top of my vac for the dust deputy / bucket to sit on. That way the separator doesn’t take up any more valuable floor space than the vac. Plus, it’s now tall enough to drape the 20 hose over it and keep that from getting in the way.
I think two of the big reasons why people don’t have full-size dust collectors are their cost and a lack of shop space. This product doesn’t really mesh with that.
JT
I did the same, except it’s slightly precarious and more function than form. I added a 1/4″ tube and fittings connecting the bucket to the vacuum feed PVC pipe. This allows for the use of an 8 gal trash bag in the dust deputy. I need a viewport on top but otherwise it works great. Having to dump something out isn’t what I want.
Nathan
I readily admit my hf dust cyclone on bucket was like 55 or so. And my trolley diy was probably another 50 all in. So I’m around 100+my time of getting similar function
Use a better cyclone. Ok 150 in. But it probably took me an entire 8 hr period of getting everything and then assembly. So my time is — per hour. This would technically be cheaper on that math sheet
Had it existed in 21 I might have bought one.
charles
even if you’re not willing to admit it, time is money. any diy option has time involved. this looks like a durable plug and play option. not in my immediate future but if I were shopping for a separator it would be close to the top of the list.
Bonnie
Seems that the primary target audience for shop vac cyclones are already the folks willing to spend more time rather than more money.
Stuart
Shop vacuum filters do tend to clog fast with fine dust. But even if you have a dust extractor, such as Festool, the bags are part of the filtering solution and have a relatively high replacement cost. Separators can make sense with any portable vacuum.
Personally, I dislike the added footprint and hindrance to portability.
A W
I have an Oneida Dust Deputy that I DIYd to a 5 gallon bucket plus a small wooden dolly. It worked great at first, but the bucket I had chosen was the weak point and cracked after about 10 hours of use.
I haven’t made the time to rebuild it with a better bucket and I can see the appeal of something that is built for long term use.
Stuart
This happens a lot. I have also seen a lot of lid failures.
A W
Oh yeah, the lid cracked also.
Chris I
That’s exactly what I have done. No bucket issues. What bucket did you use? I built a rolling cart that I found plans for online but mod’d to fit my DeWalt shop vac.
Big Richard
The DeWalt 6 gal poly version is 15% off for prime day, down to $85 – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B096N4478C
It has been in my cart for a long time, finally gonna test it out.