1,200 CFM sounds impressive. Here's why it might not protect you.

Airflow: the spec that misleads more buyers than any other

Airflow - measured in CFM (cubic feet per minute) or litres per second - is the figure most prominently quoted in dust extractor marketing and spec sheets. And for some applications, it is genuinely important. But for fine dust control, it tells you surprisingly little on its own.

Here is why: airflow figures are measured under open conditions with no resistance. The moment you add a fine filter, a longer hose run, or a narrow tool port, airflow drops - sometimes dramatically. A system claiming 1,200 CFM in a test lab may deliver a fraction of that when connected to a real workshop setup.

 

The key insight: Airflow is like speed. Static pressure is like torque. An extractor with high airflow but low static pressure is like a car that can reach 100mph on a flat road but stalls on a hill. For fine dust work - where air must be pulled through filters, ducting, and narrow ports - an extractor needs enough pressure to maintain useful airflow against that resistance. That combination of airflow and pressure doing real work is what Air Watts measure - and it is a more honest guide to real-world performance than either figure alone.

 

The article introduces Air Watts: a combined measure of airflow and pressure that gives a much more honest picture of real-world extraction performance. It is the standard used in vacuum cleaner testing for exactly this reason - and it belongs in woodworking specifications too.

 

→ Read the full article: Airflow - Critical or Confusing?

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