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Shop Vac storage ideas for small garage?

bbrages

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Sep 25, 2024
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One of the things that I can't seem to find a good spot for in the garage is my Shop-Vac. I don't like the really small ones because IMO they don't work as well if they have narrow tube diameters. But it's kind of a bulky tool that is hard to store. What do you do?
 
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MileHighRover

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I've had this one for 19 years. Has a 1 7/8 inch hose. Not a 2 1/2 inch but better than a 1 1/4 hose. Been a wonderful vac. Love that it's ready to go. Just unwrap the hose and turn it on. The cubby under the vac stores your attachments.

Craftsman wall vac

e1dddf4ae8b65_50679f6d-5029-43c1-8a9a-dd0e4e260dcd.jpg
 

rharman

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SoCal
I've kept just in front of the bench when not in use and then move it out of the way while I'm working.

Since I recently got rid of some things that were stored under the corner of my L-shaped bench, I plan on locating it permanently under there and piping it out to the edge of the bench with 2" ABS - about a 10' run. I have some connection fixtures from an old Craftsman extension tube set that will mount permanently on the end of the bench. I've had a wireless remote for the vac for years. Should work out well... I hope.
 

johnre

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Portland, OR
I previously burned out two plastic vacuums; they lasted about 10 years each and suffered the same motor bearing failure. This time around I got one with a 400-hour motor rating that was US made, and comes equipped with a bracket for vertical wall mounting, along with accessories. It all looks like this:

1732605792664.png

I keep mine mounted up high on the wall, out of the way, so it isn't underfoot. You do need to keep space above it so the bags can be changed; 12" is more than enough.

It has a 50' hose, which is kept on a wall-mounted hose hanger provided with the unit. Again, I can't stand a loose hose underfoot all the time that I have to dodge to avoid being stepped on.

Vacuum accessories are mounted on a homemade panel in the middle of the hose.

And I did add my own electronic remote start on the nozzle end, so I don't have to walk back and forth to the vac unit to switch it on an off.

One disadvantage is that the motor ends up at head height and is pretty loud, so I just have to remember not to switch it on when I'm standing next to it.

Overall, it's an excellent solution.
 
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Nick Rivers

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Mar 19, 2024
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261
Location
USA
Got 4 shop vacs. Keep the main one under the workbench and to the back wall. The hose is hanging near the front inside leg. I put a cheap HF on/off footswitch in the front corner. The others are attached to my table saw and in the work shed for a lathe. One is only for outside work and is in the garden shed.
 

Kaizen

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New England
I just want to know what everyone does with all the hoses and ends and tubes. I have a bunch and man they are pricey now. Take up sooo much space.
 

rharman

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Apr 22, 2012
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I have the same vacuum as above and like it quite a bit. IMG_1126.jpeg
Please pay no attention to the dent on the bottom. I definitely did not drop it on the garage floor when I was installing it.

I always gaze at the Rockler hose reel when it goes on sale. I just don't have any free space on a wall to mount it where it would be easily accessible. Cabinets and ladders always in the way.
 

MileHighRover

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I always gaze at the Rockler hose reel when it goes on sale. I just don't have any free space on a wall to mount it where it would be easily accessible. Cabinets and ladders always in the way.
I've had the Rockler for a couple years now. Very nice reel. They've gone up a fair bit since my purchase. I'd like to get another one for my main garage.
 

Joe Reed

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Aug 31, 2005
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Cordova TN
I mounted mine to the end of a cabinet and loop the 30' hose up and over a plastic garden hose hanger. I can just pull the hose down to use it nearby, or reach up with one of those grabber things and take it off the hanger if I need the full lenght.
 

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the shifty jesus

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I use my little ryobi cordless for enough things now that the big boy gets stuffed in the shed and only comes out once or twice a year when needed.
 

MileHighRover

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I've heard good things about them but a 30 foot hose isn't that great. And given the design you couldn't replace it with a 50 footer. But if 30 feet works for you, I'd say it's a good option, albeit a bit expensive. The wall mounted Craftsman I posted earlier is like $120. Replace the short hose with something longer and you'll be around $200 all in. And it's a wet vac as well.
 

isb cornbinder

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Nov 3, 2010
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Pacific South West, BC, Canada
I included a built-in vacuum when we built the garage. I use an EZ FLO The shop has three inside connections and one in the carport.
I bought a swimming pool vacuum hose to get the extra length. I found this 30 foot hose at a garage sale for $20.
An interesting fact. A vacuum cleaner pump moves sir and creates a low pressure area behind the pump. The ambient air pressure in the room blows replacement air into the vacuum hose and can take dirt with it. A vacuum does not ****, it blows.
 
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jsd245

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Jun 19, 2024
Messages
45
I've been using the prolux. Really good. Love that it's wet/dry. I just need a longer hose to reach all corners of my 40x60 shop.
 

runwhatyabrung

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Sep 1, 2013
Messages
166
Location
Ottawa Canada
look up Vacmaster VWM510 . Real handy with the wireless remote on the wand, so you can use any hose on it (like pool cleaning one) and get a really long hose. I mounted mine on a wall, but there was someone that had fabricated some brackets and mounted it up at ceiling Had seen it in a youtube video for small shops (of course cannot find it anymore)
 

RMERR

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Mar 22, 2017
Messages
429
Location
Northern CA
I've had this one for 19 years. Has a 1 7/8 inch hose. Not a 2 1/2 inch but better than a 1 1/4 hose. Been a wonderful vac. Love that it's ready to go. Just unwrap the hose and turn it on. The cubby under the vac stores your attachments.

Craftsman wall vac

e1dddf4ae8b65_50679f6d-5029-43c1-8a9a-dd0e4e260dcd.jpg
I've got two of these also, no free wall space for them though. I keep one under my drill press and one near all my belt sanders and wheel machines. The hangers and attachments stay under a work bench at the back of the shop. Decent power for most jobs yet small enough to park out of the way or move around if I need to.
 

Vinny

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Jul 14, 2011
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Simi Valley, CA
I previously burned out two plastic vacuums; they lasted about 10 years each and suffered the same motor bearing failure. This time around I got one with a 400-hour motor rating that was US made, and comes equipped with a bracket for vertical wall mounting, along with accessories. It all looks like this:

1732605792664.png

I keep mine mounted up high on the wall, out of the way, so it isn't underfoot. You do need to keep space above it so the bags can be changed; 12" is more than enough.

It has a 50' hose, which is kept on a wall-mounted hose hanger provided with the unit. Again, I can't stand a loose hose underfoot all the time that I have to dodge to avoid being stepped on.

Vacuum accessories are mounted on a homemade panel in the middle of the hose.

And I did add my own electronic remote start on the nozzle end, so I don't have to walk back and forth to the vac unit to switch it on an off.

One disadvantage is that the motor ends up at head height and is pretty loud, so I just have to remember not to switch it on when I'm standing next to it.

Overall, it's an excellent solution.

What kind of work are folks doing with this vacuum? I'm not a production shop, but do a fair amount of wood workers (table saw, band saw, jointer, etc.) That I'd like something to get the chips with, but don't want a big dust collection system.
 

isb cornbinder

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Pacific South West, BC, Canada
Kicking mine around.
Were you the guy walking on Kitsilano Beach? There were the usual footprints in the sand and the mysterious drag mark between the foot impressions. Two elderly residents from an assisted ling near the beach spied the impressions in the sand. One Granny said WTH? The other said, "I saw it first."
 

Lumpy102

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Aug 26, 2012
Messages
207
Location
Ontario Canada
What kind of work are folks doing with this vacuum? I'm not a production shop, but do a fair amount of wood workers (table saw, band saw, jointer, etc.) That I'd like something to get the chips with, but don't want a big dust collection system.
Oneida makes some small cyclone dust collectors, some small enough to hook to your shop vac and fit on a 5 gallon bucket. I have a larger one (super dust deputy I think) connected to a 2 hp dust collector, makes it easy to keep the sawdust and chips gathered up.
 

johnre

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Dec 1, 2016
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Location
Portland, OR
What kind of work are folks doing with this vacuum? I'm not a production shop, but do a fair amount of wood workers (table saw, band saw, jointer, etc.) That I'd like something to get the chips with, but don't want a big dust collection system.
It's not for sawdust - they specifically say not to do this in the manual. It resides on the garage wall and this is only used for general garage cleanup, vehicles interiors, and the like.

For sawdust, I've got two systems, depending on what kind of air volume needs to be handled:
  1. A Delta 1200 CFM dust collector, with a 5" ductwork loop permanently installed around the shop perimeter, with 4 each 4" drops. It's for table saw, jointer, lathe, belt sander, spindle sander, mitre/bevel saw, and drill press.
  2. A Festool CT 15 portable HEPA dust extractor on wheels, for the scroll saw and all hand tools with a dust port.
There is overlap on using these two, and a small job in category (1) might not see me fire up the big Delta; I just clean up afterward with (2). Yes, I know, I hold my breath, OK? :)
 
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