Dust
Dust
Brad,
The Mini, and its application as part of the conversion lid, acts as a "prefilter". It removes larger chips and dust, and a portion of smaller particles. I don't think its designed to remove, oh, 95% of half micron dust, but it will keep some, maybe 50 or 75% out of the filter. If you couple the Mini with a CleanStream (HEPA) filter on the vac, then you'll have a clean airstream leaving the vac. The addition of the Mini doesn't preclude you from cleaning the filter, just extends the time between cleanings.
If the dust you're making is similar to drywall mud dust, then the Mini will keep some of it out of the filter, but not all.
Given your specs and requirements, its not clear to me if this sort of thing will meet your expectations, though it may. If its a water sort of filtration system you seek, the wife has a Rainbow for her house vac. It is, however, up there in the ballpark you quoted, a grand or more. But you might be able to find a decent used one, or one any local dealer might have taken in on trade. They work well, but do require that whatever is being vacuumed must be able to be wetted and thus trapped by the water bath. For example, fine plastic dust might not get captured by the Rainbow's water bath.
Other than that, I'm out of suggestions for you. Though one might think getting the conversion lid and then acquiring the vac from Home Depot, if it doesn't meet your requirements, then you've got to find another use for the combo, home shop or garage cleaning for example.
Depending on where you are, you might be able to find a current CV customer who has a Mini and might agree to a short trial. Might be worth asking. I'm in the southern part of SC, close to Hilton Head and Savannah, GA, for example.
Regards,
DWD