Shopvac madness

[Acuratechva]

Ok, this is actual madness, like MAD MAD madness

Had my six Gal Ridgid for years, but during black Friday gave in, and picked up that big shiny thing. ***** like a mofo, love it.

Now here is the problem. So i got to wash the filter.......damn thing falls apart in my hands like toilet paper.

Not exaggerating at all, its done! Toast! Nothing left! Mushy-squishy-mushy!



My Ridgid had same filter almost 3 years! Hosed it off under pressure several times per year, it finally did brake, except it was the rubber ring that gave out.

On the up side Lowes did give me a new filter after i cried like a little baby.


So please, tell me, WTF! Are there any aftermarket filters out there? For example my little Milwaukee m18 vac filter is indestructible, its some sort of fiberglass something material.

 

[bp460]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gore-Cle...id-and-Craftsman-Wet-Dry-Vacs-09093/100236884

 

[Bcom]

I didnt think the filters were suppose to be used when sucking up wet things. The filter is only there so dust doesnt get into the motor

 

[apickle]

I have never had one of those filters last more than a year. They are just paper, so I expect water would ruin them.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

 

[pstemari]

ISTR Shop-Vac making a foam filter that could be used wet. The paper filters are definitely not washable and bit too be used when vacuuming liquids.

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

 

[willjogervais]

I didnt think the filters were suppose to be used when sucking up wet things. The filter is only there so dust doesnt get into the motor

100% accurate, supposed to remove them before using as a wetvac

 

[Acuratechva]

100% accurate, supposed to remove them before using as a wetvac

See here is where both you guys didnt read what is said. I dont use paper filter for water extraction.

I use water for rinsing it out which has worked great with other paper filters. A single drywall job will render a filter useless and it wont come out with banging it on a wall. Which is where water rinse with a hose comes in.

A filter per year is reasonable expectation. But it sounds like most you do is vacuum the car, otherwise youd be looking at a filter every month...you do the math

 

[Acuratechva]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gore-Cle...id-and-Craftsman-Wet-Dry-Vacs-09093/100236884

Thank you i'll pick it up and try!

 

[willjogervais]

I hope you find something that works. I own three different shop-vacs, and I would never use water to clean their filters. ever. If youre using it for cleaning up after drywall have you ever tried using compressed air? I use mine on my farm for, what I think, more than most people do, especially during harvest. Unless they have gotten wet, I have almost always been able to clean them out using air, as long as u don't blast 175psi directly into the cheap little paper filter.

 

[willjogervais]

It looks like the filter bp460 linked is for your rigid/craftsman vac but maybe you can find the same thing for your shopvac. Please post it if you do!

 

[Acuratechva]

Yeah i'll be giving a HEPA version of all of them a try.

I wouldn't have a fit over it if other brands(Ridgid) were as bad , but for a 100$ vac to come with a 100% disposable filter is unacceptable...

 

[jd_1138]

I have a little 2.5 gallon Craftsman shopvac and the filters are pretty resilient. I don't use water on them though. I just shake them out in the garbage and beat them on the ground.

 

[bp460]

CleanStream makes filters for several different vacuum brands. I have been using their filters for several years. They are fantastic.

http://www.cleanstream.com/

 

[DHCrocks]

Use bags, so much cleaner and easier to empty and it keeps the drum and primary filter clean. If you have fine dust they make drywall bags which are yellow in color. the regular ones are white.

 

[Wanna Ride]

i didnt think the filters were suppose to be used when sucking up wet things. The filter is only there so dust doesnt get into the motor

SMH. Did you even read what he typed?

 

[cajunfirehawk]

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Gore-Cle...id-and-Craftsman-Wet-Dry-Vacs-09093/100236884

Wow, almost $35 for a filter, a lot of us paid just a lil more than that for the entire shop vac on black friday deals...

 

[CJM8515]

Filter..filter? My old rigid I got as a gift the filter croaked and fell apart eons ago. I havent bothered with one since.

 

[Bcom]

SMH. Did you even read what he typed?

Yes i read what he typed. Water is water to me. If the shopvac aint suppose to **** up water with the filter in it because it can destroy the filter,then why would washing the filter under a sink be any different? To me the filter isnt suppose to get wet at all so washing it would destroy it as well in my eyes.

 

[Dirtydan69]

Use bags, so much cleaner and easier to empty and it keeps the drum and primary filter clean. If you have fine dust they make drywall bags which are yellow in color. the regular ones are white.

I ALWAYS use a bag in my shop vac. Especially comes in handy when I'm in a customers house and on first start up the vac DOESN'T blow dust everywhere. Especially when the customer is standing 5 feet away. As for filters I usually bang them out in the garbage can. Works pretty good. I personally wouldn't expect a paper filter to rinse/wash out. Do you rinse your paper towels?

 

[Acuratechva]

I ALWAYS use a bag in my shop vac. Especially comes in handy when I'm in a customers house and on first start up the vac DOESN'T blow dust everywhere. Especially when the customer is standing 5 feet away. As for filters I usually bang them out in the garbage can. Works pretty good. I personally wouldn't expect a paper filter to rinse/wash out. Do you rinse your paper towels?

You dont want to know....




As far as bags go they are great, but expensive and till let dust through.

Of-course you can get that yellow bag. But it takes away from the suction power. There is considerable trade offs, which is where being able to set water hose to those tiny water pick setting and wash it off comes in.