Replies

1. 
   nazard | Jun 23, 2008 05:26am | #1

   John,

   I don't think it is a good idea to wash the bags - something about building up a fine cake of dust on the inside of the bag that becomes part of the filtering process.  An aftermarket canister, rather than a bag, would improve both filtering and overall performance: the greater surface area of a canister's pleated filter will give your CFM a big boost.

   Best!

   -Jerry

2. 
   dgreen | Jun 23, 2008 06:03am | #2

   Did you use fabric softener?

   Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
   -- P.J. O'Rourke

1. 
   forestgirl | Jun 23, 2008 06:15am | #3

   "Did you use fabric softener?"  Bingo.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   dgreen | Jun 23, 2008 06:20am | #4

   Used to repair appliances years ago, saw a lot of burned out dryer elements because all the pores in the lint filter were closed with fabric softener. Made me wonder if that was the case here.Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. -- P.J. O'Rourke

1. 
   retired08 | Jun 23, 2008 06:38am | #5

   No, didn't use the fabric softener --- should I have? Seems my thought/theory about the fabric possibly getting clogged during the wash cycle may have some merit!! I'll keep watching this post for any other thoughts. All in all, is their agreement that in spite of the added cost a filter cannister is the best of all collection methods available to a small, one man shop? John

1. 
   dgreen | Jun 23, 2008 06:49am | #6

   I would not use softener. If you have a compressor you might try back blowing the bag. The cartridges are well worth the money in my opinion, more surface area and much better filtering.Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. -- P.J. O'Rourke

2. 
   davidbrum | Jun 23, 2008 04:58pm | #9

   Hi JohnUnless you want to pony up for a cyclone, you've got one of the best available DC systems. It will definitely work better with a canister filter. I have had good results with the spun poly filter from Wynn. If you want even better results, remove the 4" splitter on the inlet of your DC and go with 6" hose. Those improvements combined will easily double the suction of your DC.davidb

3. 
   retired08 | Jun 24, 2008 04:22am | #10

   Just my luck, I checked with Jet and they used to make a canister for my unit but based on the serial numbers it's now obsolete!! John

4. 
   nazard | Jun 24, 2008 05:53am | #11

   John,

   If you cannot locate an exact filter match to your DC, you can make a "donut" adapter to attach a different size canister. Piece of cake...uh, fried cake....

   Best!

   -Jerry

5. 
   forestgirl | Jun 24, 2008 06:31pm | #14

   There's one or maybe two other companies that make the cannisters.  Check around, there still may be one out there.  I'll do a quick search, see if I can help.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

6. 
   forestgirl | Jun 24, 2008 06:41pm | #15

   Bill Pentz has an article on his site that describes how he recommends doing the conversion to a cartridge filter, using Wynn Environmental cartridge filter.  Relevant information starts at Section G in this link.  I don't know if there's a simpler way to do it.  Will tell you, though, I love my Jet cannister model!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

2. 
   forestgirl | Jun 23, 2008 07:17am | #7

   I've read about that softener-induced problem, wondered if it was real.  I guess now I know!  (I use dryer cloths, but they probably do the same thing, no?)forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   dgreen | Jun 23, 2008 07:28am | #8

   It's easy to check, hold the screen up to the light and make sure the holes are open.Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. -- P.J. O'Rourke

3. 
   AZMO | Jun 24, 2008 06:33am | #12

   You know,  you just can't tell how the bag will come back from the Chinese Laundry. I wish I had your time on my hands.... and secondly if I even started to the washer with that bag I would be sleepin on the porch.

   Beat the stuffin out of it every time you change the bag and it works like a charm. Check your intake lines if you have reduced flow, maybe some sandpaper, plastic, cutoffs etc are stuck on the intake side of the impellers or in the impellers themselfs. I use a floor sweep, so bits bits of everything get stuck right at the intake. Starts to build up more bits and pretty soon you can tell nothing is moving like it used to.

   Tell me what you find, would like to know. AZMO

                     

   -----------_o

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   -------(*)/ (*)   http://www.EarthArtLandscape.com

4. 
   [email protected] | Jun 24, 2008 07:04am | #13

   When you was some fabrics, they tighten up, and shrink down in size.  Several mechanisms could have been involved.  The thread itself can loosen up and swell in diameter.  The length of the thread can shrink. 

   On the plus side, it now has smaller pores, and thus is trapping smaller particles.