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I’ve got a nasty job to do. I need to remove a drop-ceiling that is fabricated from 4×8 sheets on a 2×4 frame that has loose-blown cells over it. I don’t trust the thing to hold me while doing this, so will have to do it from ladders and scaffolding from below. I would like to somehow suck out the cells as I go to minimize the mess.
Is there some way to configure a sears shop vac (the kind with the pleated paper filter) to suck it in the vacuum port and blow it out the exhaust port? Does the filter need to stay on to protect the motor from dust?
Steve
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steve... shop vacs usually clog ..
look for a cellulose blower that is reversible.. they're out there...
*If you take the filter off, you suck all the junk into the motor. I don't think it would have enough suction anyway.You could use a two-bagger dust collector, using plastic bags for the bottom bag, though. Still time consuming, but the stuff has to be contained somehow, no?
*I have often thought about this problem and how I would deal with it the next time I was faced with having to cleanup or move blown insulation. My best plan, though untested yet, is to retrofit a shop vac motor and tank cover onto a large drum or trash can lined with a plastic bag. You would essentially be replacing the existing small volume tank with a larger one. Try it out and let us know if it works!
*The only thing that comes to mind is one of those separator things that you use with dust collection systems. Put it on a garbage can, and let it fill up. It would have to be emptied frequently, though. I'm pretty sure the insulation would just plug up the blower on your shop vac. Some shop vacs use the exhaust air stream to cool the motor, so that would obviously be a problem. Guess you could try it on a small amount and see what happened.
*Here's an idea - your leaf blower/vacuum. It's designed to have things pass through the impeller. Your shop vac ain't.Or use this as an excuse to buy a 2hp dust collection system...did
*I had to do the same thing when I remodeled last year. Moving/disposing of the blown-in insulation was, without a doubt, the worst part of the job. After trying to rake it, vacuum it, push it and blow it; I ripped out part of the ceiling and let it fall into tarps. I then threw it all away and reinsulated with batts.
*Steve,I have used Boss hogs idea with a shop vac, and five gallon bucket to suck out a grease trap many time. I would think blown cellulose would be easier. I would use a drum or large metal garbage can as a collector. Just cut two holes in the lid, the size of your shop vac hose. you will need two sections of hose,but it should work. At least if you over fill the collector with insulation it won't stink up your shop vac like grease trap sludge does,yuk! You might want to seal the garbage can lid with some foam tape, to make a better seal.Dave
*some carpet cleaning companies have big scale disaster clean-up equipment.Here in Ann Arbor there's a company with a truck mounted 'vacuum cleaner' with a 100 cubic foot bag on it. They can suck up just about anything you need, in 100CF increments. If it was my project, that'd be one job I'd outsource to them!In fact, you could probably save the bags and blow the cellulose back in when you're done (but that stuff is so cheap I'd probably rather blow in fresh stuff and avoid any concern about loss of borate treatment, or whatever, from all the handling).
*Steve,There you go trying to suck and blow at the same time again.Couldn't resist.I'd go with the leaf bagger myself.Gabe
*If you have a dust collector you could rig something up, it would definatley move enough material
*Steve,a shop vac easily will take care of cellulose insulation, but it's a slow process. You have to clean the filter every time you empty the vac. I vote for the leaf bagger too. Or go heavy duty and rent the cell blower.GO