I have a 1 yr old craftsman shop vac and use it only for cleaning my shop. Today, I had to stop, remove the filter cartrage twice and knock the dust off. There is good power, but it seems to me that every particle of dust goes straight to the filter............and plugs it off.

Are all shop vacs so prone to filter plugging, or do I have a lemon????

Other than that green thing.

I've had a craftsman shop vac that I bought 30 years ago that's still going strong. The only thing I don't like about it is the noise. The filter does get clogged up fast but I think that's what it's supposed to do. I would build a separator and that will extend the life of the filter and It won't clog nearly as fast.

John .........I can-not hook up to a seperator cuz I pull it around my shop, vacuuming the floor and nooks and crannies. A seperator would be a hinderance...........I'm think'n.     But, yes, I know what your talk'n about.

I probably have 2 choices!!!

1) clean the shop more often and there won't be so much dust.

2) or bite the bullet and beat the cr*p (dust) off of the filter when it plugs.

You didn't mention the paper/cloth filter that goes around it for fine dust.  The regular filter is just for heavy stuff(wood chips, stones, etc.).  The paper/cloth filter that goes over it is for sheetrock dust, fine wood sanding, etc.)

 

Use a blowgun and blow out the dust from the filter.  By the way, there's also a foam filter for wet stuff that will help if you put it over the regular filter.

What paper/cloth filter???? I didn't get one with my vac.

Nope, I wouldn't use my compressor to blow the dust out of the filter. I learned long ago that you can damage the filtering medium in the filter. I'll shake, tap, and beat it out..............gently.

dragon1 said:

You didn't mention the paper/cloth filter that goes around it for fine dust.  The regular filter is just for heavy stuff(wood chips, stones, etc.).  The paper/cloth filter that goes over it is for sheetrock dust, fine wood sanding, etc.)

 

Use a blowgun and blow out the dust from the filter.  By the way, there's also a foam filter for wet stuff that will help if you put it over the regular filter.

Keep the air pressure at around 50-60 psi and it will do a great job of blowing out any dust.  Also, keep the tip moving.

 

Blowing it at 100 psi WILL have a tendency to eat through the filter especially one that is rotted or moldy and old.

 

Used to be they gave you all the accessories when you bought it but now they make you pay for every freakin thing.

 

Mine used to come with:

 

canister filter

Paper/cloth filter with holding band, sheetrock and fine dust

Foam filter for water

Naaa!!!              I'll play it safe and beat the dust out.      Besides............I got better control of the dust cloud. :-)

Hey mike.............you never did respond on that care pkg.

 

dragon1 said:

Keep the air pressure at around 50-60 psi and it will do a great job of blowing out any dust.  Also, keep the tip moving.

 

Blowing it at 100 psi WILL have a tendency to eat through the filter especially one that is rotted or moldy and old.

 

Used to be they gave you all the accessories when you bought it but now they make you pay for every freakin thing.

 

Mine used to come with:

 

canister filter

Paper/cloth filter with holding band, sheetrock and fine dust

Foam filter for water

Funny...I gave up on shop vac's a while ago. I have a couple canister vacuums (the kind you vacuum the carpet in your house) that take filter bags. Garage sale specials they are. When they burn up I toss them in the trash, replacing the motors are about $50.00 . I use them for sucking on my small RO sanders and vacuuming the shop floor of fine dust. I just keep an eye out for them. Usually spend less the $25.00

I remember cleaning my shop vacs filter by rolling it like a bowling ball in the grass. Works pretty good and you don't get covered in dust.

I use dry wall dust filter bags in all my shop vacuums.  Yes it is more expensive than using and cleaning filters but It sucks almost as well when full as when empty.  When it does get full I just toss it out.  No huge dust cloud.

+1 on the filter bags.  Keeps them working and no filters to clean.

 

I have seen people slip pantyhose over the pleated filter. This makes it easy to knock the dust off but doesn't  reduce the frequency of cleaning.

  There is a "Brand X" out there worth looking in to.... Look up "Dayton".      We have a bunch of these shop-vacs at work.   The hoses are not the best, but the vac itself is hard to "kill".     I know, because I've tried my best to do so.   Believe me, dust from ground up, hot plastic is far worse than anything you might have in a woodshop.     They also make some real good motors, and even fans.  

Greg.............is this filter bag sold at sears????? Is it a bag that goes over the present filter or a replacement??

Greg Coleman said:

I use dry wall dust filter bags in all my shop vacuums.  Yes it is more expensive than using and cleaning filters but It sucks almost as well when full as when empty.  When it does get full I just toss it out.  No huge dust cloud.

Steve............As in the Dayton motor people????

steven newman said:

  There is a "Brand X" out there worth looking in to.... Look up "Dayton".      We have a bunch of these shop-vacs at work.   The hoses are not the best, but the vac itself is hard to "kill".     I know, because I've tried my best to do so.   Believe me, dust from ground up, hot plastic is far worse than anything you might have in a woodshop.     They also make some real good motors, and even fans.  

Richard..............I don't have a better half............so pantyhose is not available to me. And before ya suggest it......I ain't gonna go buy some.

Richard McComas said:

I have seen people slip pantyhose over the pleated filter. This makes it easy to knock the dust off but doesn't  reduce the frequency of cleaning.

here's a pic for the paper that goes over the filter and the foam sleeve that goes over the filter.

 

Sears also has these bags

but they only fit 2 sizes of vacuum.  probably has a different tube inside to grab onto this bag.  these are good for fine dust too.

I have a crapload of extra hose on my vacs so I can not only put it by a window but I leave the filter off when sucking up fine dust and put the extra hose on the exhaust and run it out a window and let it get the dust out of the house permanently..  Works great for doing floors as there is a lot of fine dust everywhere.

Gary here's a link at to a universal filter bag that fits all wet/dry shop vacs:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM1709131301P?prdNo=17&blockNo=17&blockType=G17

It looks like they carry a few different types.

I believe that's the one.  We get our Shop Vacs from them through Grainger.    We had some Craftsman ones( lasted maybe a month) one or two from Lowes ( junk, don't even bother)   but those made by Dayton last.     We have two of their big 12 gal. ones in my department.    Hoses are too soft, and break too easy, but the vac itself won't die.   We took another two off thier roll-around bases, fixed them up with a 55 gal drum on wheels, and have two "Wet-Vacs" from all the oil, anti-freeze spills we have around those molding machines.    Most of the fans are also from Dayton. 

Gary Heltemes said:

Steve............As in the Dayton motor people????

steven newman said:

  There is a "Brand X" out there worth looking in to.... Look up "Dayton".      We have a bunch of these shop-vacs at work.   The hoses are not the best, but the vac itself is hard to "kill".     I know, because I've tried my best to do so.   Believe me, dust from ground up, hot plastic is far worse than anything you might have in a woodshop.     They also make some real good motors, and even fans.  

Thanks John.

 I bookmarked the site and will check with the local sears to see if they can get me one.

John Michael Dillen said:

Gary here's a link at to a universal filter bag that fits all wet/dry shop vacs:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_SPM1709131301P?prdNo=17&am...

It looks like they carry a few different types.

Steve............I googled  dayton and they have a whole slew (bunch) of vacs. From back pacs to high dollar machines.

I also book marked that site for future reference. Thanks.

steven newman said:

I believe that's the one.  We get our Shop Vacs from them through Grainger.    We had some Craftsman ones( lasted maybe a month) one or two from Lowes ( junk, don't even bother)   but those made by Dayton last.     We have two of their big 12 gal. ones in my department.    Hoses are too soft, and break too easy, but the vac itself won't die.   We took another two off thier roll-around bases, fixed them up with a 55 gal drum on wheels, and have two "Wet-Vacs" from all the oil, anti-freeze spills we have around those molding machines.    Most of the fans are also from Dayton. 

Gary Heltemes said:

Steve............As in the Dayton motor people????

steven newman said:

  There is a "Brand X" out there worth looking in to.... Look up "Dayton".      We have a bunch of these shop-vacs at work.   The hoses are not the best, but the vac itself is hard to "kill".     I know, because I've tried my best to do so.   Believe me, dust from ground up, hot plastic is far worse than anything you might have in a woodshop.     They also make some real good motors, and even fans.