Shop vac exhaust question

[gjz30075]

Hi all,
I'm doing a lot of sanding on my car and trying to keep the dust issue down. What I find is, that everytime I turn on the shop vac to clean up a paint dust mess, the exhaust port spits out a big cloud. Makees even a bigger mess. A clean filter minimizes this but it doesn't take long to blow out the cloud again.

So, my question is: is it worthwhile to capture the exhaust with a clamped on bag of some sort? This is a 20some year old Shop Vac and maybe not the most efficient, as the dust seems to come out of every seam this thing has on the top piece that clamps on the can. Do newer shop vacs (generic) contain the exhaust better?

Thanks!

 

[MoonRise]

Couple of ways to address the 'cloud of dust in the vac exhaust stream' :

- if possible, direct the vac exhaust 'outside',

- if it's not possible to direct the vac exhaust outside, then you -might- be able to rig up a secondary filter 'system' on the exhaust stream,

- or for (mostly) stationary use, buy or make a 'cyclone' stage for the vac to (help) drop out most of the dirt/dust/chips/junk before it even gets into the vac filter [ something like this http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2021015/26326/Oneida-Molded-DIY-Dust-Deputy-Cyclone.aspx ]

- but probably the easiest is to just get a vac with a filter that doesn't spew (much) dust in the first place.

Related to that last item (the vac+filter combination), I think the BEST ~$30 (IIRC, that was the price when I bought the filter) I EVER spent was on a Gore CleanStream filter for my vac. Filters well, works wet OR dry, (gently) blow it off when it gets a bunch of dust on/in the pleats or just (gently) rinse it off with a hose/faucet and then shake off the big water and maybe (gently) blow it off a bit and then just run the vac for a little while with the (barely damp) filter in place to finish drying it off (so I don't have wet/damp filter turn into a moldy filter).

Oh, the other thing for dust and sanding is to wet-sand when possible. No dust that way, just 'sludge'.

 

[gjz30075]

I like the system you posted by woodcraft. If I understand how it works, I'm guessing it's 'in series' with the intake of the vacuum hose? ie, the top port is connected to the vac hose and the port just below it, (perpendicular to it) then connects to the vac port on the vacuum?

 

[ludakris04]

are you using a bag in the vac? I have found that using a bag in there instead of it just dumping in the can cuts down on dust and what-not considerably. They sell many sizes at Lowes/HD... It also extends the life of the filter

 

[LeonardY]

I use a one from Clearvue. It works great. It's a cyclone seperator . The goes-inta is on the side and the goes-outa is on the top. The concept is like the Dyson. Not only does it contain the fine dust it keeps the suction at a high rate. The only thing that bothers me is I'm now dragging around an empty 16 gallon shop vac.

 

[Graham08]

I have had good success using the bag as well. It makes a huge difference in filter life, too, especially when you're dealing with something like drywall sanding dust.

The only downside is you can't use it as a wet vac without removing the bag.

 

[58Yeoman]

You can buy a paper or cloth filter that fits over your existing filter, and is held on with a plastic ring which slips over the paper/cloth. It seems to help the older vacs. Of course, the newer vacs use the removable bags, which is much better.

 

[gjz30075]

Thanks guys. Sounds like a new shop vac is in order. My current one is pretty old and its design is simply a cage that is surrounded by a foam filter(cylinder type) which is covered by one of those blue paper filters held on by a plastic slip ring. No bag involved here.

 

[ishiboo]

Thanks guys. Sounds like a new shop vac is in order. My current one is pretty old and its design is simply a cage that is surrounded by a foam filter(cylinder type) which is covered by one of those blue paper filters held on by a plastic slip ring. No bag involved here.

You can put the bags over that I believe. That's still how Shop Vacs are built. Don't get rid of yours unless you need a bigger one.

The paper "air cleaner" type filters are better, but plug up faster. I've heard great things about the dust separators others have mentioned.

 

[Charles (in GA)]

Newer vacs such as the Sears and Rigid use a pleated paper filter. The best replacement for them is a Gore Cleanstream washable, reusable filter that is good for fine dust, just hose it and it is clean.

Charles

 

[Daniel Dudley]

If you have an extra hose, run the exhaust out the door.

 

[wssix99]

Thanks guys. Sounds like a new shop vac is in order. My current one is pretty old and its design is simply a cage that is surrounded by a foam filter(cylinder type) which is covered by one of those blue paper filters held on by a plastic slip ring. No bag involved here.

This is a fine design. Your issue is that your particles are too small for the vacuum.

If you get a shop vac that is rated specifically for drywall dust, you should be fine. (Your current shop vac instructions will probably have disclaimer that its not to be used on fine and drywall dusts.)

You are probably OK to keep your current vac and then get a small drywall vac for those special jobs. I have one of these for the purpose and its great. Eureka no longer makes it, but I think DeWalt sells a similar cordless model:

 

[VHF]

For drywall dust cleanup on a remodeling project I used both the yellow Shop Vac bags (about $15 for a 2-pack) and a special pleated filter that was designed for fine dust. The combination seemed to work pretty well--no clouds of dust when switching on the Shop Vac.