floor sweeper

[SteveeP]

Considering something like the attached pictures to help keep the shop floor clean. Getting mixed reviews on how they really work. Do they pick up dust & fine/small stuff or do they just create dust and move it around??
Anyone here use one of these? Do they work or should I just keep using the push broom?

Thanks Steve

 

[madison069]

Never had a floor nice enough to own one of those in a garage.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Why not just stick to a push broom ? Pick up a mop & bucket, give the floor a mopping after a project is done or once a week if you want the place **** and span. Some hot water and Simple Green should cut most of anything left over from a project.

 

[Kaizen]

Those cause a mess. You didn't say how big the shop is. Or what you mostly clean. I'd stick with brooms for most items.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ray-CA]

I bought a used Roomba and when I'm done for the day I hit "start" then walk out. You do have to pick/sweep up the bigger chunks but it does a pretty good job and even gets under the tool boxes and cabinets (saves me from having to bend down or move things.)

Once every 2-months or so I'll give it all a good sweep/mop but the Roomba does a pretty good job.

Ray

 

[rburke65]

That's a good idea! Never bought of using a Roomba......thanks.

 

[VWTim]

Considering something like the attached pictures to help keep the shop floor clean. Getting mixed reviews on how they really work. Do they pick up dust & fine/small stuff or do they just create dust and move it around??
Anyone here use one of these? Do they work or should I just keep using the push broom?

Thanks Steve

I've used a similar type at a Boeing facility a couple years back, Rubbermaid maybe? It worked excellent and did not make a mess. Picked up misc dust and grinding debris easily.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Sweeping compound, a broom and a dustpan...

Tommy

 

[vettex2]

I just use a blower

 

[glmron]

Get a few of these to run around the shop, they are self cleaning and keep the mice away.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I bought a used Roomba and when I'm done for the day I hit "start" then walk out. You do have to pick/sweep up the bigger chunks but it does a pretty good job and even gets under the tool boxes and cabinets (saves me from having to bend down or move things.)

Once every 2-months or so I'll give it all a good sweep/mop but the Roomba does a pretty good job.

Ray

What kind of debris do you have on your floor ? metal grindings, saw dust or just dust/dirt ?

 

[ChaseDE]

for leaves and dirt i use the leaf blower, super fast and easy

i use one of those wide microfiber push brooms like they use on gym floors otherwise, then just shopvac the pile and broom.

 

[James-W]

I have a Racedeck tile floor so I use the push broom and the shop vac most of the time. Once in awhile I will use the air compressor hose and blow dust out the overhead door, but I do that mostly in good weather, not in the Winter when it is really cold out. I mop the floor when it gets dirty, but I do mostly woodworking so the floor doesn't get all that much dirt on it.

 

[rlitman]

Get a few of these to run around the shop, they are self cleaning and keep the mice away.

I've tried those, and mine must be much less effective than yours.

The grey model I have isn't useful for much other than impersonating a couch cushion, leaving hairballs in unexpected places, and waking you up when it needs to be recharged.

The brown model I had made an ok floor sweeper. You'd have to put your foot on it, it would clamp on to your boot, and then you could sweep the floor. Though I'll admit that this gets tiring quickly, and a broom is more effective. Then one day I had to take it in for service, and they were unable to fix it.

The replacement black model doesn't sweep, and doesn't keep mice away either. Though it does chase the grey model.

Never had a floor nice enough to own one of those in a garage.

My garage floor is such a mess that I haven't had enough open floor space to even use the push broom in years.

 

[mbatarga]

I've got an inexpensive version of the push sweeper. Got it from a neighbor's garage sale. It does a fair job of sweeping sawdust and small chips (on a smooth epoxy floor.)

At a home show in town - a vendor had some rather expensive versions (some motorized) that were >$600 or so? not worth it to me. Deluxe version I think was >$2000. The nicer units had both rotating brushes as well as a single long brush roller like a vacuum - they did a great job. He was demoing them picking up sawdust, woodchips - even soda cans.

 

[j-guenth]

We had one of those with one front broom and a rear broom. Worked well except when you stop you still had to manually pick up dirt left by the rear broom. If you can pick one up cheap it is well worth it.

 

[Hchrist]

Get a wife! Um, second thought, DON'T get a wife. [emoji16]
Seriously, you guys are too funny, "shop floor sweeping". I mean that's too much. My sides are aching I've been laughing so hard. I just can't picture the irony of some dude actually sweeping the shop floor. That kills me. [emoji16]

Galaxy S4, Slimkat
If I wasn't married I'd quit fishing

 

[bwringer]

How big a shop, what do you do in there, and what's the surface?

It's hard to beat the old-fashioned way: sweeping compound and a good push broom. Unless, of course, the place could be measured in acres. Sweeping compound keeps the dust down and makes sweeping go a LOT faster. Depending on the surface and what you usually spill, there are different formulations.

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

What kind of debris do you have on your floor ? metal grindings, saw dust or just dust/dirt ?

And what Roomba model?

 

[Empty Pockets]

Broom & Dust Pan, every once in a while, I break out the shop vac

 

[BearsFan315]

same here.. have two floor brooms, one soft one hard bristles...

every so often break out the ridgid and vacuum up floor, debris, and cob webs

 

[vettex2]

Re: floor sweeper --- ridickulous

Get a wife! Um, second thought, DON'T get a wife. [emoji16]
Seriously, you guys are too funny, "shop floor sweeping". I mean that's too much. My sides are aching I've been laughing so hard. I just can't picture the irony of some dude actually sweeping the shop floor. That kills me. [emoji16]

Galaxy S4, Slimkat
If I wasn't married I'd quit fishing

I hear you loud and clear.

 

[SteveeP]

Thanks for the couple useful replies that actually answered my question. Should have known better. Surface is 36'X26' smooth concrete (no paint/coating/etc), material being picked up/cleaned is the typical garage debris - sand, mud, leaves, etc. Obviously if there is a bigger mess after a project I sweep/vacuum/etc.
Was just trying to find out if this option was less dusty than sweeping with a push broom.

 

[Hchrist]

Ouch[emoji15]

Galaxy S4, Slimkat
If I wasn't married I'd quit fishing

 

[sberry]

My floor isn't super smooth and I may need to work on it some more. I suspect it was never set up right from the factory or was dealer assembled.

 

[SteveL]

I always thought it would be cool to have one of those Zamboni type machines that you see being used in large department stores or big box stores. Uses a little water and sweeps at the same time. Have no idea of the cost as I've never had a big enough floor to justify looking in to it. I typically use a leaf blower in the garage and a shop vac in the basement shop. And once or twice a year will pressure wash the garage floor but that requires moving everything out to the driveway which can sometimes be a daunting task in itself.

 

[Pathfinders]

If dust is the issue, buy some sweeping compound. The stuff is great.

 

[jives]

I use a 3' squeegee. Very smooth surface. Works really well, even without water.

 

[Ck1]

I have a push sweeper like in the op photos. It's from northern tool.

It works pretty good to sweep up a lot quickly. I do have to go over it twice most of the time and it does throw up a lot of dust. I still use a push broom for smaller jobs.

 

[Ray-CA]

What kind of debris do you have on your floor ? metal grindings, saw dust or just dust/dirt ?

Pretty much a bit of everything. Blown in leaves, cat hair, etc. Not a lot of saw dust since that work gets done in the front garage.

Ray

 

[Ray-CA]

And what Roomba model?

Not real sure. It was a $20 craigslist buy. I did have to buy a new battery though.

Ray

 

[M35A2]

I have had one of these for about 20 years, mine is McCulloch brand but looks like Shopvac makes it now. Light, powerful and so easy to use, you wife can do it

 

[NOZZLEMAN]

We work a little bigger floor... about 10K SqFt & use a floor cleaning machine. It's a 110V unit about 30" wide with about a 8 gallon water tank. We got it used for about $400 and it is a champ at keeping the dust down with the water. It is a pain with the extension cord but in a shop you size it should be great. It's a great vacuum to pick up water on the floor as well.

Good Luck