Hi I have a Shopsmith (I sound like I’m at a group therapy session LOL). I bought the standard SS dust collector. I’m curious how full one lets the clear bag get before replacing it, or at least emptying it? I probably have the bottom 8 inches full. Just wondering when I should replace it?

So, is this the one with the short bag on top and 3   2 1/2 ports on the bottom?

                        

Yes. I guess the older models had a 4 inch port behind the Shopsmith emblem on the front,nbut the new ones don’t.

Sorry, Artie, I can't help you with this issue.  I have one, but not enough current to run it.  So, I have never connected or run it.  Hope to one day soon. 

 

38 minutes ago, Artie said:

Yes. I guess the older models had a 4 inch port behind the Shopsmith emblem on the front,nbut the new ones don’t.

You should probably empty the bag. The bags only need to be replaced if they get torn.

The top felt bag is the bigger issue. It gets packed with sawdust and the airflow suffers. You can fluff the bag to knock off most of the "cake" and then use a small brush (I use a $ store 1 inch brush) to clean the housing inside. I use one of these at work, I'll take a picture Monday and post.

 

1 hour ago, Wichman3 said:

You should probably empty the bag. The bags only need to be replaced if they get torn.

The top felt bag is the bigger issue. It gets packed with sawdust and the airflow suffers. You can fluff the bag to knock off most of the "cake" and then use a small brush (I use a $ store 1 inch brush) to clean the housing inside. I use one of these at work, I'll take a picture Monday and post.

 

Thank you.

here are some pics:

Yup, that’s what mine looked like Sunday. I was using the dust collector to clean up the bench after some sawing, and accidentally sucked in the yellow plastic insert lock on a scroll saw. So I had to remove the bag to see if the insert survives. It didn’t (more on the way, from e-bay). I figgered if I had come this far, might as wel take of the top and clean the whole durn thing.

Artie I tend to empty mine at about half full. For some reason they tend to be less efficient above that. I use Husky 6mil contractor trash bags and do not reuse them. Dumping them out just seems to create another dust cloud. 

Paul

9 hours ago, Masonsailor said:

Artie I tend to empty mine at about half full. For some reason they tend to be less efficient above that. I use Husky 6mil contractor trash bags and do not reuse them. Dumping them out just seems to create another dust cloud. 

Paul

It did!

Ahh, love rural living. My DC is vented to the great outdoors. But, it's not hooked to either Shopsmith. They get the special treatment. 

Edited February 4, 20215 yr by Gene Howe

Like  you, Gene, I pull that bad boy out and let it fly.  But, it is a good idea to wear a mask because your lungs just doesn't like all that dust.  Learned that the hard way.  

Since this post still comes up on search I wanted to add that shopsmith forums advise against cleaning the upper felt bag - apparently the build up is how the bag achieves the stated micron filtration level. Cleaning it out will increase the particle size that gets through

On 6/1/2025 at 3:19 PM, Guest Robaz said:

Since this post still comes up on search I wanted to add that shopsmith forums advise against cleaning the upper felt bag - apparently the build up is how the bag achieves the stated micron filtration level. Cleaning it out will increase the particle size that gets through

It depends on what you have the DC collecting; dusty operations like sanding or sawing, absolutely ( that's what we were using it for at work ), but if you are collecting chips ( planeing  or turning ) then you would prioritize airflow over filtration, and a prefilter is generally a poor idea as it will drop the airflow even more.

I have a (Jet) dust collector that had cloth bags above and below.  I heard the same thing about not cleaning them.  But the bottom bag was a pain to take off and get back on.  A few years ago, I got a Wynn filter for the top and it came with a clear plastic bottom bag.  I like it much better.  I had to make a "donut" as a transition from the filter to the unit, but it was not a problem.

 

A significant advantage was that I made a Thien pre-separator for a 30 gal garbage can.  I empty that about every 6-8 weeks, depending on what I'm doing and I still don't have more than a few inches in the plastic bottom bag.