A horizontal dust collector includes a plurality of elongated filter elements in a horizontally-oriented array, each filter element connected at one end to a tube sheet, and at an opposite end to a support plate. The one end of each filter element is fitted with a substantially rigid coupler having an insertion portion, a peripheral, outwardly facing groove adopted to receive a mating edge defining an aperture in the tube sheet, and a radially outwardly extending flange axially behind the annular groove for engagement with a filter element assembly tool. A tool is also provided to facilitate installation of the filter elements within the dust collector.