Cannister Filters - Life Span?

[DavefromOttawaCanada]

Primirily because of height restrictions and their capacity to filter out the small stuff, I am serioiusly considering a cannister DC. My shop is small, so 1.5 HP will do. Jet and Penn State sell such DC's. The filtering material in both cannisters is a paper/cellulose product, with a 2 micron capacity. Bill's Cyclone & Dust Collection Research notes that "paper seems like a poor choice compared to more durable spun bonded polyester used in the cartridges on cyclones." An on-line store called House of Tools (Edmonton, Alberta) sells a 1 micron filtering cannister that employs washable polyester (cost US$200). To purchase a Jet or Penn State will result in added costs due to exchange rate, Canadian taxes at the border, etc. (estimated CAN$650) My question is, what will be the reasonable life span of a paper/cellulose filter that must be mechanically flexed in order to clean. Is it worth the money? Should I pay even more for the polyester model? Thanks in advance for all the sage advice!

Dave

[mstens]

I believe Jet estimates 5 - 7 years in a production shop. So far after a year there's been no reduction in apparant suckage (is that a word? ;) )