In my shop I have a dual stage chip collector (trash can prestage) and I augment that capability with my Sears shop vac.. The shop vac gets used to do localized chip/dust collection and I also plan to use it with a direct hookup to my ROS. I have a sanding/grinding station setup in my shopt where I keep all my stationary type sanders and benchtop grinders and the shop vac gets used to collect the fine dust produced in this area. My question is this. I can purchase a HEPA filter for the shop vac. Do I REALLY need it?
I”ve had the shop vac for years and am still using the original filter. Until about a year ago, the shop vac didn’t get all that much use, but in the last year, it’s been used heavily in my woodshop. The original filter was cleaned last night and much to my surprise, when I got all the caked on dust off the filter, it looked like it was still in very good condition. I’m not seeing any dust come out of the shop vac when I use it and I’m not seeing significant amounts of dust settling on the equipment in the shop. The HEPA filter is 50 bucks. In the big picture if I need it I don’t have a problem spending the money, but 50 bucks is 50 bucks! Do I really need this HEPA filter? Thanks.
Jeff
Replies
"I'm not seeing any dust come out of the shop vac when I use it and I'm not seeing significant amounts of dust settling on the equipment in the shop." The most harmful dust is probably invisible to the naked eye. The stuff you can see isn't good for you either, but it's the really, really tiny particles that are the most serious health hazard (think oxygen bottle trailing along behind you). So, the "dust settling" test isn't terribly helpful.
Have you looked on-line for a lower price? I wouldn't be surprised if other retailers make HEPA filters that fit Craftsman, at a lower price.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
FG, you were right as usual. I was able to get a HEPA filter from Sears for about 1/3 less than the original price I quoted, $32 vs $50. Done!
Jeff
Cool! $50 sounded pretty steep to me. I bought one about 3 years ago, and couldn't remember how much I paid, but I was pretty sure I'd have balked at $50.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
At Sears I also bought a conversion hose that will hook up to my new BOSCH 5" random orbital sander. I bought THIS ROS after reading the FWW tool review of ROS's. Last night I hooked it all up and sanded my new woodworking workbench top, using my shop vacuum with the ROS. The vacuum's suction flows through holes in the sanding disc/pad and actually pulls the sanding disc/pad down onto the surface, making a seal. Before using the vacuum, I was astounded with the performance of the ROS with the HEPA filter canister it came with, I could see no dust escaping in the air in a previous test. Hooked up to the vacuum, I'm even more impressed with the dust collection, IF THAT'S POSSIBLE. I sanded for approx 30 minutes with an 80 grit pad and NO VISIBLE DUST WHATSOEVER, nor could I smell any dust at all. You have to break the seal to the table to pull the ROS off. You can feel the suction pull it down as you apply the sander. Amazing and completely effective. I was seriously considering the Festool setup using the Festool tool vacuum, but I can not see any difference in performance from what I have now, and the Festool I saw demonstrated. Only difference I see is the extra $300+ I saved still in my bank account!!Jeff
Wow, Jeff, that kind of suction's amazing. I've had a vac hooked up to my DeWalt sander for a couple years, and love how well it works. But it doesn't pull the sander down the way you're describing....forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Not sure about the DeWalt sander, how many holes it has in the pad, 5 vs 8 seems to be the two patterns I've seen, the BOSCH has 8, that may be the difference. Don't get me wrong, I don't have to warm up with 25 lb arm curls to control it or break her loose from the table (grin) but you definitely feel it suck down and come off. Love it....Jeff
The DeWalt has 8 holes (got some 5-hole paper I'll be giving away, LOL). As long as the suction doesn't put any stress on the motor, I think it's great!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I balked at buying a ROS for a long time. I don't want to spend my time sanding. The trick in my mind, is to keep everything sharp and cutting clean, so sanding is minimized or eliminated. The ROS does put a constriction on the vacuum, to much, I don't know yet. See first part of note?!...;->)Have a good one.
I have the same set up and I ended up adding an extra vent hole to the adaptor to the sander so there was less suction. Works even better. The only thing about my sears vacum is that it is very noisy.Troy
You added a hole to the adapter itself so that it sucks air, reducing suction at the sanding pad? Hmmmm.My shop vac is noisy as well, I wear ear protection when it's running...Jeff
Yes it seemed like I was putting to much strain on the motor of the vac and did not need that much air volume trough the sander. And yes I have to use the ear muffs.Troy
You could also wear a face mask for little money, or one of those jobs which blow air over the face. I am not trying to be funny but I would guess that you would have to buy a lot more than a HEPA filter to improve your lot, its not so much the filtration factor as the ability of the vac to deal with the volume of dust available to be collected.
My dust collection is puerile so I try to use a mask and leave doors open. I tried holding my breath without success.
Me too, when I woke up, I went out and bought the AOSafety 95190 NIOSH N95 woodworkers mask. Best investment I ever made in my health. It's comfortable, effective, and doesn't allow my safety glasses to fog up!! I highly recommend this mask and it's CHEAP too....
Jeff
Jeff,
Thanks for the recco on the AOSafety 95190 NIOSH N95...I had never heard of it until now, and after reviewing the specs online I'm going to run right out and get one.
Until today I had been considering the dual-cartridge mask from 3M that Home Depot sells. I've been using 3M's basic sanding mask along with my shop vac fitted with a HEPA filter. That combo worked Ok until my wife pointed out that the outside of the mask was reddish-yellow from all the sawdust I had stirred up...ugh.
Erik
You are welcome. I was so impressed with the mask and the cost, with the bird flu possibly coming and the mask's N95 rating effective for the bird flu virus, I bought one for every member of my family and a box of replacement filters for each mask, and put them all in a box 'just in case'. I buy mine from Amazon on sale. I figure if the bird flu never happens, I've got masks and filters for the rest of my woodworking life!! I don't have much money tied up in these either, so it's cheap insurance either way.
Jeff
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