My Fein vac died after 10 years. I kept this hooked up to a little oneida dust deputy. I liked it because the sander plugged into the vac and both turned on at the same time. I know fein still makes this vac. Its about 400$. Not into the festool vac. Any other suggestions? bob

Thanks Gene. I have 2 vac systems set up. One for the air sanders and one for the electric. The fein was a nice quite vac. I saw somewhere that sears had a plug in thing for like 20$. I will have to do some more searching. bob

Bob:

 

I never really had the time to get my brain around it. But I had thoughts of one of those central vac systems for homes. I would think they have good power and what-not. Just mount the thing on a shop wall or rig up a rolling stand?

 

But I'm just a hobby guy and buy old canister type vacuum's that use bags. I usually find them in garage sales for $20.00. Use them till they stop and find a new one.

 

I buy all my vacuum bags from a local vacuum guy. He always teases me I should just build one using an old vacuum motor and a plastic container or a wood box that is sealed tight.

 

-Ace-

That thought has crossed my mind. When I moved out here in the country almost 30 years ago, our house had a sears central vac. I gave it to my stepdad, because he wanted to make a shop vac like you said. That thing sounded like a titan rocket! Loudest vac I ever heard. Even my stepdad thought it was loud and he was partly deaf. I got to have something that can run for hours at a time. Sometimes my sanding days get long. bob

See how much they want to rebuild it or the parts catalog for just a  new motor.  Might be cheaper!!

Bob.........I know your asking for a suggestion for a new vac, but have you considered a down draft table???? There is a hummm to the squirrel cage fan, but it is more tollerable to me than the squeele of a shop vac.........and one hockey sticks of a lot less expensive.

Mine is a particle board box with the fan mounted to exhaust to the outside of the box, with 2 sets of 3 stacked furnace filter. The top 2 filters are 8 merv and the lower filter is either a 12 or 13 merv rating.  The fileters are 16"X20". Then above them is the perferated sanding grid. Not only does it suck down the sanding dust.............it cleans my shop air beautifully. Oh ya....it is also my tablesaw outfeed table.

I'm including some photos.

New motor is 200+. Repairing is not worth it to me. To have them rebuild is way out of line. Thanks for asking though. bob

dragon1 said:

See how much they want to rebuild it or the parts catalog for just a  new motor.  Might be cheaper!!

Thats a great option Gary. It will be something I look into. All of my electric sanders have hookups for dust collection. I was thinking it was easier with the hose connected to the small oneida dust thing. I wish I had more room. My shop is 32 by 96 and filled to the brim. I have always liked the downdraft tables though. bob

Gary Heltemes said: