I use my shop vac a lot on site; the pleated cannister filters will last a while. Secret is to wash them, not just bang them out til the rim bends.
I never seem to wash them when I have time to let them dry – what to do?
AHAH! today
Slip it over a 4-5″ inlet on the shop vacuum system (I pulled the one off of the planer)
Turn on the system; dry as a bone in ten minutes. No more mold in the winter!
Forrest
Getting the details right for a wall assembly with the control layers to the exterior and lots of drying potential.
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Replies
Nuther tip ( that is a good one) is to slip a panty hose leg over the filter and knot it off, keeps most of the gunk offa the pleats.
Go head, you all, run with it.
Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"
"Boy, you got a panty on yore haid"
Raising Arizona
Forrest
>>>slip a panty hose leg over the filter
Cool... now my wife won't need to wonder why I'm always buying panty hose....
Pfffftttt.....
Scott.Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.â€
Back when I was freezing my butt off at -30deg one of the old guys on the crew never seemed to be cold. While the rest of us were stomping our feet and stuffing our hands under our armpits, he just kept working.
He wore pantyhose under his long underwear.
Gord
Hahahaha. Great. Keep 'em coming..... Maybe FHB will have a feature on guys wearing PH on the jobsite...hey, I'd buy it!!!!
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.â€
Edited 11/12/2007 11:42 pm by Scott
What about buying a spare so the one being warshed can dry?
"I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
Use the other panty hose leg.
Oh, you nean a spare FILTER..doh!
I can see it now, "Now quit hanging your stuff all over the shop"
I forget what movie I am referring to, but it was a guy in a bathroom systimatically taking delicates off the shower rod, while telling his wife in a well cadenced tone of voice.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"
Maybe FHB will have a feature on guys wearing PH on the jobsite
I can see the tool review now....Best Overall!...Best Value!You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
an old trick but a good one.. I have been wearing the PH under my union suit for a number of years..... keeps me warm and keeps me in touch with my feminine side :).... just need to find a bigger wife so as to avoid awkward moments at the store.
james
"just need to find a bigger wife so as to avoid awkward moments at the store."ROFLOL! Good one.Bill
You know what they say about hairy legs, the pantyhose never slips down.
One size fits all, or so I thought. Those trim top ones can really shed the pounds.
False eyelashes are amazing! I too was forever getting dust in my eyes...
And I thought that silicone was for caulking tubs...
Billy
back in the 70's joe namith used to do an commercial for "mantyhose", i guess they didn't take off.
One size fits all, or so I thought. Those trim top ones can really shed the pounds.
Gordsco-
as to the sizing I was thinking more of tights... they are pretty warm but not as sheer as PH.. they also do not stretch and return to shape as well as PH.. so you have to get a size that fits you. I needed something to keep me warm as I was outside working the shipyard on cold steel.... Knowing nothing about womens sizes I had to ask a clerk at Nordstrums to help me with that, was a strange day that one.. me standing in the Philadelphia Nordstrums in the lady's dept ( with my Overalls/work clothes on ) trying to get her to get me a pair of tights that would fit me......
james
James,
30 years ago when I was 18 and a laborer on a motel project, I was freezing MAO. The jobsite was a huge concrete slab beside a highway on the prairie. It was January, always windy, and the temperatures were a daytime high of -25 to -35 F.
An old plumber named Joe told us young fellows he was always warm because he had panty hose under his long underwear. A couple of days later I was walking by the lunch shack when I heard the older guys roaring as Joe was telling them about the pantyhose.
I never wore pantyhose again...
Unless I was in drag.
Gord
I only started wearing them after the wife found them in the truck!
ROFLMAO!!!
Oh man tha tlast sip of beer came ou my nose!
Gord
The best long underwear you can buy is silk - LLBean, REI, etc. sell them for made for men as well as women (I would expect a pair cut for men would be a little more comfortable in the "front" than women's pantyhose).
They feel real strange the first time you put them on, well everytime you try them on, unless you're into that sort of thing, but they are warm as well and they breathe much better than flannel or cotton.
You got it. Silk is great, sexy too :-)
I use a filter bag along with the round filter, just dispose of and replace the bag as needed.
You get double filtration, to boot.
I keep about 3 filters on the shelf. When one is ready for deep cleaning, I knock out the heavy crud then blow it out with an air nozzle. Then drop it in a five gallon bucket and let it soak in soapy water, maybe a capful of bleach if I've been vacuuming rodent or bat droppings. Swish it around a bit, then let it air-dry for a few days on the shop window sill. While it's drying, I use one that's already been cleaned. I have in a pinch put a damp one back in the unit, just let it run for a few minutes without vacuuming anything. Like you said, it's usually dry in short time.
I always blow it out with my compressor air blower. Works great, and doesn't destroy the rim of the filter.
Buy a second shop vac.
Use one, to clean the filter of the other.
It does -not- just up and clog up the filter on the second vac, just like that...
And you are pulling the dust and crud off the filter in the opposite direction it was put on, instead of just pulling it on through the filter, or washing it into the filter.
I took a round plastic trash can that was shot, cut the bottom off and the top down to fit inside a 16 gal vac. Slit it lengthwise to fit the diameter of the vac and fasten the overlap together. Cut relief for the vac inlet and now you line the inside with a trash bag.
The old can keeps the liner from being sucked in. Pull the old trash can frame out when you need to toss the bag. A new bag in, install the frame, and you're ready to go.
Got it - cool idea!
Forrest
It's not an original idea of mine, there is a commerical one available and I saw it years ago in FWW or FHB tips.
Good idea, or you can just get the disposable shop-vac bags, and you will never have to clean the filter.
I like my shop vac- it make 4.5 HP on a 110 volt outlet, 14 ga cord. It is very efficient. Made by ridgid. Maybe that technology could solve all our energy problems.
Cleaning filters is simple -- leaf blower
I use disposables on a Porter Cable vac and get spoiled until I have to pay the $3.50 per bag again. That and this Sears vac does rougher stuff that could puncture a paper bag.
Edited 11/16/2007 11:25 am ET by cynwyd
That was one reason I didnt buy the Porter Cable vac, the bags were too much and not available everywhere. Yeah, if your vacuuming big chunks your setup is fine. I just got tired of eating dust when I dumped it and cleaning the filter. The Shop vac bags are about two bucks a piece and worth it IMO. Harbor Freight has some cheapo's, but their smaller and not quite as strong. A filter cover might work good with your setup, like someone else mentioned.
The H Depot's around me don't sell the PC bags in the general store but do offer them in the rental centers.
I never thought of looking in the HD rental section for the PC bags. Its strange that they rent the PC vac, but dont sell them in the store.
I have had the Shop Vac for a decade. I have a backup filter, but have been able to blow out the filter with an air hose, and then vacuum it repeatedly. It still works great. It does make a lot of noise and the metal body seems to attract static.
I bought the Ridgid 6.5 HP model last year, with the metal body, for about $169, and found it to be more powerful and very quiet. Aslo, I have not had the same static shocking problems.
When I decided to get the PC drywall sander last year because of some anticipated work, I went all the way for about $850 to get the vac too. It is by far the best vac I have ever owned. It is quiet, powerful, and maneuverable. The accessory kit is a must-have, and should really have been included with the vac, considering the price.
That Porter Cable vac sounds like it works pretty good. How do you like the sander? Does the vac catch all of the drywall dust? I might have to rent one just to try it out. A lot of money to put out, but if it saves alot of time it would be worth it.
There is a learning curve of about a day's work, maybe two - at least there was for me.
The first thing to know is that there is a speed control on the handle. I would always work at the lowest speed practicable. I found out that the hard way.
Run it slow until you have the technique down. Don't try to do areas that don't suit themselves to the sander.
Use the coarser grits very carefully! Don't use too much pressure.
When you lift the sander off of the surface (wall or ceiling) to change direction, stop to think, or whatever, remember that it is still spinning. When the head is not seated flatly against a surface, the vac cannot pick up the dust that is being removed.
The first time I used it, I was running at full speed. I think I had about an 80 grit on the head. Whenever I lifted the head to change direction, the room would be showered with particles. It was a real mess.
Eventually, I learned to adjust the speed and the grit so I could sand very smoothly with very little effort and virtually no dust spraying into the room.
There are some sanding pads available that have a velcro-on-foam connection to the sanding pads. This has worked much better than I expected. Paper changes are easy without unbolting the whole assembly to change a grit. It has also turned out to hold up pretty well.
I get all my parts through Amazon. There are no local suppliers within a reasonable distance.
There is a directional knack to using the sander. Once you have that mastered, smooth surfaces are pretty well guaranteed.
Having said all that, I think that there is no comparable product on the market. The results are awesome if you let the tool do the work. This product is not for use by an idiot, IMO.
That Porter Cable vac sounds like it works pretty good. How do you like the sander?
I wanted to try one so I rented it to do ceilings in a Habitat house last summer. It worked like a dream. Next year I will buy one instead of renting. I sanded the ceilings and walls in the kitchen and dining and living room in about 1.5 hours ....and with no dust. Its a beautiful thing!You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
Marv, I talked to a painter yesterday who tried the PC sander and he said the same thing, works great! I will have to put that on the want list, especially since I hate sanding and drywall dust. Do you know if the sander would work with a shop vac, or is it designed to work with just the PC vac? It might be a little easier to plunk down the 5 bills to start out with. Thanks.
Do you know if the sander would work with a shop vac
Yes I think it will work with any shop vac. The main thing with the PC vac is the good bag (doesn't blow dust in air) and the vacuum is switched to the sander. That is when you shut off the sander, after 30 seconds, the vac shuts off. I looked at the directions for my shop vac and I can order special bags for drywall dust. I thought of just buying the wand also.You get out of life what you put into it......minus taxes.
Marv
Marv, No need to order the shop-vac drywall dust bags. They are available at most lumber/hardware stores right by the shop-vacs. I use them all the time and they are a little spendy. I think they are about $10 for a 2-pack, but worth it IMO...because like I said before, I hate drywall dust. They are yellow and they also have the regular dust bags that are white and a little cheaper. They seem to be pretty strong, I havent broken one yet.
Ditto on Wood4rd's post. I use the yellow bags in my basement shop all the time. Keeps the air clean
I have three CleanStream pleated filters and use pre-filter bags that I toss when it's time.
Never wait until they're full as they are not designed to be stuffed to the max.
The pleated filters I just blast with a water hose.
They are designed to handle being washed.
Pre-filter bags is the key but adds to the cost, but I don't go through many of them.
Maybe only two or three per year.
Also have a ShopVac brand pleated filter that's HEPA rated but I haven't tried that one.
The CleanStreams are just shy of being HEPA and they're fine for 99% of stuff I encounter.
Some good filter tips...thanks...
Not to steer away from panty hose but I just took my stiff shop vac hose to the vac shop and they hooked me up with an adaptor so I can run regular vac hose, wands and tools...way better than shop vac wands and tools ever thought of being.
I have an old tristar so I had them make me a 18' hose with an
adaptor for my shop vac so I can vac with either/or...shop vac for heavy ####;tristar batting clean-up...long hose is great on stair jobs.
BTW, I usually specify the project will be vacuum clean at the end of the day as I do lots of interior renovations.
I think it's a good marketing point(value added)and women love to see
a man vacuum...seriously...
silver
>>> I think it's a good marketing point(value added)and women love to seea man vacuum...seriously..
I agree, noticed that too. They often mention it how thrilled they are that I leave their place cleaner than when I started.
Bein the genius that I am, I hooked up a 20' sump pump discharge hose to my shop vac..man that non-smooth wall hose at 1.5" diameter will SING and SCREAM...LOL
Try it some time, I dare ya.Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks
"If you want something you've never had, do something you've never done"