Axminster AP170E Dust Extractor
The Axminster Professional AP170E is a mobile dust extraction system manufactured by Axminster Tool Centre Ltd, designed to provide fine dust filtration for professional workshops and dedicated home workshops. The model designation "AP170E" indicates its Professional series classification and its 170-litre waste capacity, positioning it as a mid-range extractor suitable for multiple machine connections.
The extractor is characterized by its cartridge filter system rated at 1 micron with 100% capture rate, which significantly enhances its capability compared to traditional bag-based extractors. This advanced filtration enables the AP170E to handle fine dust from sanders in addition to the larger chips and shavings produced by planers, saws, and thicknessers. The unit features dual airflow ratings of 1,200 m³/h with 100mm hose connection and 2,250 m³/h with 175mm connection, providing versatility for different extraction requirements.
As part of Axminster's Professional range, the AP170E is designed for small professional workshops where continuous extraction is essential for maintaining air quality and workshop cleanliness. The machine requires a 16-amp electrical supply with a C-type circuit breaker recommended for safe operation, reflecting its industrial-grade motor specifications.
Technical Specifications
Power and Electrical Requirements
The AP170E operates on 230V single-phase power and requires a dedicated 16-amp electrical circuit for safe operation. The machine's power consumption necessitates proper electrical installation, with Axminster strongly recommending consultation with a qualified electrician to ensure the C-type circuit breaker is correctly specified. This electrical requirement distinguishes the AP170E from lighter-duty extractors that can operate on standard 13-amp domestic circuits, reflecting its professional-grade motor capacity and sustained operational capabilities.
Airflow Performance
The extractor delivers maximum airflow of 1,200 cubic metres per hour when connected via 100mm diameter hose, which is suitable for most individual woodworking machines including table saws, router tables, and planers. When utilizing the larger 175mm inlet connection, airflow increases substantially to 2,250 m³/h, providing sufficient extraction capacity for multiple machine connections or machines that generate higher volumes of waste material. The dual inlet configuration allows workshop owners to optimize extraction performance based on their specific machine requirements and hose routing constraints.
Filtration System
The AP170E features an extra-large cartridge filter with a rating of 1 micron at 100% capture rate, representing a significant advancement over traditional cloth bag filtration systems. The cartridge's increased surface area ensures that overall airflow is maintained even as fine particles are captured, preventing the performance degradation commonly experienced with bag filters as they become loaded with dust. This filtration specification makes the AP170E suitable for extracting fine dust from sanders, orbital sanders, and other tools that produce particles in the respirable size range, in addition to handling the coarser waste from cutting and planing operations.
Physical Specifications
The extractor incorporates a maximum bin capacity of 170 litres, providing substantial waste collection capability that reduces the frequency of emptying operations during typical workshop sessions. Large capacity plastic waste sacks capture the chippings and shavings, with quick-release straps designed to simplify the bag changing process. The mobile chassis features steel rear wheels and front castor wheels, combined with a comfortable tubular handle that facilitates easy movement around the workshop despite the unit's substantial construction.
Impeller Construction
The AP170E employs an alloy impeller as part of its extraction mechanism, which reduces the risk of sparking compared to steel impellers. This safety feature is particularly important when extracting from machines that may inadvertently process materials containing metal fasteners or when working with certain timber species that can generate static electricity. The careful matching of the motor, impeller, and housing design results in an efficient extraction system capable of handling waste from almost all machines in Axminster's Professional specification range.
Key Features
Cartridge Filter Cleaning System
The AP170E incorporates a top-mounted crank handle for filter cleaning, allowing operators to maintain filter performance without removing the cartridge from the machine. This manual cleaning mechanism enables the filter fins to be wiped clean during operation or at the end of work sessions, extending filter life and maintaining consistent suction performance. The ease of filter maintenance distinguishes cartridge systems from bag-based extractors, where cleaning typically requires removal and physical shaking or replacement of the filter bag.
Mobile Design and Accessibility
The extractor's mobile design prioritizes workshop flexibility and ease of positioning. The combination of steel rear wheels and front castor wheels provides stable support while allowing the substantial unit to be maneuvered easily around workshop equipment and positioned optimally for hose routing. The comfortable tubular handle offers good leverage for moving the extractor, even when the waste collection bag approaches its 170-litre capacity. This mobility is essential in workshops where the extractor must service multiple machines or where floor space constraints require equipment to be repositioned regularly.
Dual Inlet Configuration
The AP170E accommodates two distinct hose diameter configurations, with connection capabilities for both 100mm and 175mm diameter extraction hoses. This dual-specification design allows workshop owners to match hose size to specific machine requirements, with smaller machines typically served effectively by 100mm hose while larger planer-thicknessers and wide table saws benefit from the increased airflow capacity of 175mm connections. The ability to switch between these configurations without requiring different extraction units provides significant flexibility in workshop planning and machine configuration.
Fine Dust Capability
The 1 micron filtration rating with 100% capture distinguishes the AP170E from chip-only extractors and enables its use with sanders and other fine dust-generating tools. The cartridge filter's extended surface area means that this fine dust capturing capability is maintained without the significant airflow reduction that would occur if attempting to use fine filter bags on a standard chip extractor. This dual capability eliminates the need for separate extraction systems for different tool types in many professional workshop applications.
Integrated Safety Features
The machine's alloy impeller construction reduces spark risk during operation, providing an important safety margin when extracting materials that may contain hidden metal components or when working with species prone to static buildup. The requirement for a 16-amp dedicated circuit with C-type breaker ensures the electrical installation provides appropriate overcurrent protection matched to the motor's characteristics. Quick-release straps on the waste collection system allow rapid bag changes while minimizing operator exposure to collected dust and debris.
Applications
Professional Workshop Extraction
The AP170E is specifically designed to fulfill the extraction requirements of most small professional workshops, where reliable dust control is essential for maintaining air quality, ensuring regulatory compliance, and protecting expensive workshop equipment from dust infiltration. The combination of adequate airflow, fine dust filtration, and substantial waste capacity makes the extractor suitable for daily professional use where extraction systems may operate for extended periods. The Professional series designation indicates design and construction appropriate for regular use in commercial or trade environments, distinguishing it from hobby-grade equipment with more limited duty cycles.
Multi-Machine Connectivity
The extractor's dual airflow ratings and flexible hose connection options enable it to serve multiple workshop machines effectively. Workshop owners can connect the AP170E to table saws, planers, routers, sanders, and thicknessers, either through dedicated connections to individual machines or via blast gates that allow selective connection to whichever machine is currently in use. The 2,250 m³/h maximum airflow when using 175mm connections provides sufficient capacity for short duct runs serving multiple machines, making the AP170E suitable for modest ducted extraction systems in addition to direct machine-to-extractor hose connections.
Fine Dust Operations
The cartridge filter's 1 micron rating specifically increases the potential use of the AP170E to include sanders alongside traditional chip-producing machinery. This capability is particularly valuable in furniture workshops and joinery operations where sanding operations generate substantial fine dust that must be captured to maintain acceptable air quality and prevent dust settlement on finished surfaces. The maintained airflow despite fine filtration ensures that orbital sanders, random orbit sanders, and belt sanders receive adequate extraction velocity to capture dust at source, rather than allowing it to become airborne in the workshop environment.
Cabinet and Furniture Making
Cabinet makers and furniture manufacturers benefit from the AP170E's combination of fine dust capture and substantial waste capacity. The large 170-litre bin capacity accommodates the substantial waste volumes generated during cabinet construction, while the fine filtration handles the dust from sanding and finishing operations. The mobile design allows the extractor to be positioned optimally for each phase of furniture construction, from initial dimensioning and joinery work through to final sanding and assembly. The Professional-grade construction ensures the extractor can maintain performance throughout full working days of sustained operation.
General Woodworking Applications
The AP170E serves effectively as a general-purpose extraction solution for woodworkers working with both solid timber and manufactured boards. The combination of rigidly built construction and careful matching of motor, impeller and housing results in efficient chip and dust extraction across diverse woodworking operations. The extractor handles the varying waste characteristics of different timber species and manufactured materials, from the long stringy shavings produced by hand planers to the fine dust generated when cutting MDF or machining hardwoods. The mobility and flexible connection options allow the AP170E to adapt to changing workshop requirements as projects and machine setups evolve.