Replies

1. 
   ChipTam | Dec 07, 2005 09:55pm | #1

   Don't know how old your vacum is but I bought a Sears shop vac about 10 years ago.  It was so noisy I rushed out immediatly and bought a mufler for it (about $10 at Sears).  It helps a bit (especially with the very high pitch noise) but don't expect miracles.

   ChipTam

2. 
   Dazz | Dec 07, 2005 10:12pm | #2

   Replace it with a Ridgid from Home Depot?? :) I've had great luck with that brand, far superior to the ShopVac brand I used to own.  Still more noise than I want to hear for any length of time tho.

   One thing I did in my woodworkin' "shack" was to build a closet on the outside of the bldg; I put the vaccuum out there, ran the hose thru a hole in the wall. I plug the machine into a remote-controlled dust collector switch (eg, Long Ranger), and now I can turn it on/off from anywhere in the shop. Having a wall between me and the vaccuum greatly reduces the noise, to a level that's not at all objectionable. 

   The only caveat I have at this point: don't leave the remote switch unit powered on when you leave the shop (or unplug any appliance from it at least). I came home one day and found my vaccuum running ..... something (probably a lightning storm) had triggered the remote unit on, and the vaccuum must have been running for some time, because it was really hot in that closet- could have started a fire had I not discovered it. Now I always unplug it from the remote switch when I leave. 

3. 
   EF | Dec 07, 2005 10:24pm | #3

   What size and shape is the air outlet? Sears usually makes it so you can't use other companies parts but Ridgid makes/made one for their vac's: it is round 2.25 inch OD and ~2-2.125 inch ID, sold at HD. It helps, and it kicks the air flow up at a 45 degree angle so it is not blowing up more dust.
   Edward

4. 
   DonC | Dec 07, 2005 10:41pm | #4

   Thanks for the reply. I went to Sears web site and found the muffler they sell. It is advertised as 25% reduction. I guess this is better than nothing.

1. 
   bleubassplyr | Dec 07, 2005 10:48pm | #5

   I don't think I'd recommend buying another shop vac if yours works fine. Go for the muffler. I would think the next money you spend on dust collection should be a dust collector.There are more old drunkards than old doctors.  Ben Franklin