I Would like to hear from anyone that has a Portacable shop vacuum. I have the oppertunity to purchase this unit with all accessories at a good price but know nothing about this unit. Have read good reports on the Fein but have heard nothing about the Portacable unit.
Thanks:
The Old Timer
Chandler AZ
Edited 7/19/2002 2:13:11 AM ET by The Old Timer
Replies
I don't know much, but shop vacums are ShopVacs. They invented 'em, and unless you want to go to a certain dealer every time you need a part or filter, I would stick to the common brand. There are various hose sizes which might be a concern if you are trying to connect directly to a tool. The cost between the "sports car" vacums and the common ones would probably buy a lifetime supply of ear plugs if you're after the low decibel thing.
Edited 7/19/2002 3:15:37 AM ET by schlempkin
Edited 7/19/2002 3:17:12 AM ET by schlempkin
You have a good point to ponder, was looking for something that I can run with the garage open that will not drive the neighbors nuts. have porter-cable random orbit sanders, belt sander, biscuit jointer etc.
Thanks:
The old Timer
I have the same problem about driving the neighbors nuts. I went ahead and bought a Jet 1100 Dust Collector and use bell reducers to get it down to 1-1/2" then I ripped the hose off of my incredibly noisy shop vac and connect up to my ROS, CMS and my RAS. I would estimate that it is about 1/3 as noisy as a shop vac and certainly much more efficent. There are smaller models also.Steve - in Northern California
Steve:
That is an excillent idea, I think I will try that one and just keep my old Craftsman vacuum for general clean-up operations. The shop vacuum is so noisy that it drives me nuts also when sanding. When the heat here in Phoenix area subsides sometine in October, I will also build a down draft table for sanding. The wife told me that if I put anything else in the 3 car garage, I will need to get a new house with a 4 car garage that I can fill up just as fast.
Thanks:
The old Timer
Just had to buy a new shop vac for our two man cabinet shop. I went with a Rigid from Home Depot , partly because they're near the shop, and secondly they have a lifetime warranty. I had an older one that a friend lent me that sounded like a Boeing 747 taking off. THis new one (6 horse / 16 gal.) is so much quiter.
And it sucks, literally. Pretty good machine for just under $100.
I like the Rigid also, get the muffler it really helps!
Thanks guys, I am going to get the Ridgid as Home Depot is just 21/2 miles from the shop and parts are available there.
I would add my support for the Rigid. I bought one a few months ago and am very happy with it. Powerful, sturdy, and has a lifetime warranty.
Although, these days, we never know whether Home Depot will be the next corporate scandal and their lifetime warranty is gone.
I went for the Fein a couple of years ago and have not been sorry. Yeah it was expensive, but over the long run the sting of purchase fades very quickly. The advantages of the Fein over regular shopvacs are 4 fold: strong suction, 58 dB quiet, filtering efficiency and bypass cooling The filtering efficiency relates directly to health - it's not the dust you can see that's plugging up your lungs. The Fein filters down to 1 micron. All my sanders hook up just fine to the euro hose with a little duct tape to match the od on the tool to the hose. The by-pass cooling really comes into play when using it as a source for vacuum clamping boards like the one from Carter. Since the motor is cooled seperately you can use all the vacuum to hold parts to the board by wrapping plastic around the tapered, slotted hose fitting. Really helps with small parts and the RO sander.
One more point. I tried reducing the hose down and using my 2 hp DC with a sander. Way too much restriction, it wouldn't even inflate the bag. Couldn't be very efficient.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Well, I guess I have a decision to make. I have heard lots of praise for the Fein and the guys that have one love it. If I have to pay for a little more quiet, it shure would make the wife happy. She said that when I turn on that Craftsman it sounds like a jet plane has landed in the garage.
I have a 2HP dust collector but have also experienced the result of trying to hook up a small hose to it. It just does not work. It also seems a shame to me to be running a 2HP motor just to get rid of the sanding dust from the random orbit sander.
I would like to thank all the guys that gave me there opinion concerning the shop vacuum. One of the things that make woodworkers such great bunch of guys and gals is the way we share information.
Once again Thanks to all:
The Old timer
HAVE 4 VACUUMS. 5HP RIDGID WITH MUFFLER DEDICATED CABINET SAW. 6 HP SHOP VAC FOR ROUTER TABLE FENCE & GENERAL CLEAN UP. 2 2 1/2 SHOP VACS- 1 DEDICATED TO CHOP SAW WITH OTHER FOR USE WITH HAND HELD SANDERS-BISCUIT JOINTER-DRILL PRESS-SCROLLSAW & BENCH SANDERS. YOU MENTIONED QUANTITY NOISE WHILE USING SMALL SANDERS-ETC. TRY THE 2 1/2 H/P SHOP VAC QSP R RIDGID 3 H/P WITH MUFFLER.. BOTH VERY MOBILE & QUIET AND HEPA FILTER AVAILABLE.
IF THESE ARE NOT THE TICKET CONSIDER MOVING NEXT TO AN AIRPORT!! YOU WILL NEVER HEAR ANOTHER COMPLAINT FROM WIFE & NEIGHBORS ABOUT THE VACUUM NOISE AGAIN**OPTION 2-MOVE NEXT DOOR TO ME. I LOST ABOUT 30% HEARING IN VIETNAM ON A SNIPER TEAM** JUST KEEP PLENTY OF COFFEE ON HAND**
GOOD LUCK**
Hey Sarge:
I know what you mean, I was a firefighter for 32 years near Chicago. With sirens, air horns, and all the other noise associated with firefighting I have depressed hearing also. Especially in the left ear. As far as moving next to you, that may not be a bad idea. Just think. You can run your vacuums while I have the belt sander running. We would drive all the neighbors away then take over there garages for a super shop. AS far as the wife goes, she makes more noise then the vacuum when she is mad at me. It seems like I am always in trouble. Thank heaven for the shop. AS for the coffee, the pot is always going in the shop, used to live on the stuff at the fire house.
Take care Sarge and keep well. I have nothing but the greatest respect for you guys that were in Nom.
The Old Timer
Chandler AZ
Edited 7/23/2002 12:23:36 AM ET by The Old Timer
Heh, I don't much worry about the neighbors; they make more noise with their yard tools, particularly those God-awful gas blowers. I got one of those old Craftsman suckers too. Sounds like a C130 reversing it's jets on a short runway! It doesn't make dust, which is why I still have it. Filter plugs up something awful, though.
Dave
Sorry about the hearing loss, but there's no need to yell hear. (ALL CAPS is yelling in email land) :)John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Thanks for tip on computer etiquette. I've been woodworking ever since I walked into Highland Hardware here in Atlanta in the mid 70's; but my experience with computers started about 5 days ago. It took me about an hour to figure out how to enter a message! I'll try not to make same mistake twice.
My apology to you and everyone that caught the blunder. Sorry guys and gals!! FREE southern barbeque this Sunday as a token of your tolerance of a complete computer idiot.. Hey, Delta is ready when you are! If you get in late, I'll leave the porch light on for you.
P.S. I'm struggling with this computer: but this site seems to be worth the battle.
My wife liked my Fein so much for the hardwood floors she asked for one for her last birthday. So I got her the Mini-turbo for the house.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
I hope that's not all you gave her! LOL...Steve - in Northern California
John,
you said " All my sanders hook up just fine to the euro hose with a little duct tape to match the od on the tool to the hose."
From a novice: are you saying that the Fein does not have a standard size hose? Would this be different from a Shop Vac or Rigid?
It's a little bigger than US hoses which seem to be standardized. I'd say it's a Euro standard size but the only thing I have to go on is my Bosch sanders and it doesn't fit them either. A couple of wraps with duct tape on the tool connection and the Fein supplied rubber coupling works like a champ.John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Luckily it's Ridgid, a division of Emerson Electric, that offers the lifetime warrenty.
Michael
Fourquarter,
I did the same and your right it really sucks. However, whatever goes in has to come out (Murphy's 5th law of unintended consequences), a dust strom was created with the exhaust.
I'm going to put a jet or something in the garage and pass the hose into the basement where my tools are. That will take care of the noise and the exhaust issue.
Edited 7/23/2002 8:18:30 AM ET by BG
I have not had any experience with the OC machine, however, I recently greatly improved the performance of my old Shop Vac.
I was shopping for a new machine when I decided to try one of the GoreTex filters.
When I first bought the machine years ago, it worked pretty well, except for the dust that always came out the exhaust port. I just bought a GoreTex filter for about $25 and the machine works better than new. There is no dust coming out of the exhaust port and the vacuum level is much greater than before. Note that I have not scientifically measure the before and after performance, but it has quite noticeably improved.
$25 for new machine performance.
Mike
TOT,
I have the Porter Cable Vac with automatic tool turn on.
I find that feature is really helpful. I keep it connected to my orbital sander, so as soon as I start the sander trigger the Vac starts right up.
The PC vac has various features a lesser vac won't have.
Such as motor bypass so if the hose gets clogged the motor won't burn out. Also a handle that lets you knock dust off the filter without opening up the machine.
It is a well built intelligently thought out Vac. I'm sure the Fein is the same way.
That said, Craftsman has a gizmo you can plug into an outlet and then plug your vac and a tool into the gizmo and the gizmo activates the vac anytime you turn the tool on.
Pretty neat and only 20 bucks.
Good Luck!
Tom
Hey IronDog:
You were the guy I was looking for. I have the oppertunity to pick up the PorterCable vacuum for a very reasonable price. Would like to hear from you again, How long do the vacuum bags last, How noisy is the vacuum. Since I have all PorteCable tools, I thought I should get the vacuum.
Thanks for your help:
Thanks:
The Old Timer
Hi Old Timer,
ummm, actually I changed my mind. The Porter Cable Vac is awful! Don't buy it!!
Now where was this great deal on one that you mentioned???
Just Kidding!!
I don't know about the noise. Between the vac and the sander it's too much noise and I always wear hearing protection. My hearing is a bit depleted as well! I'm sure the PC website could tell you the sound level rating. Wood working is loud period. Wear hearing protection! Protect what you have left. My 2 cents.
I have'nt replaced the filter yet. I'm sure it's not cheap but it seems to work well.
But, anyway. If you have a good deal on one I'd say go for it.
I don't know what level of woodworking you're at but I'm sure you'll want some sort of dust/chip collector as well at some point.
But that's another thread.
Best to you,
Tom
Hey Tom:
Thanks for all the information, I have a 2HP dust collector and a central dust collection system. I use the vacuum for the Biscuit jointer, belt sander and random orbit sanders. My old Craftsman is getting ready to hit the dust so I found a place that was selling the PorterCable for just under $200.00. I understand that it went for much more then that.
Retired from the fire department (near Chicago) seven years ago and spend as much time as I can in the shop. Just made a set of cabinets for a resturaunt, helps pay for the tools.
You take care and thanks for all the info.
The Old Timer
TOT,
I enjoy the conversation.
Glad to hear you're making some bucks doing woodworking.
That's always a nice compliment.
Thank you as well for your public service as a firefighter.
I think we went through a lot of years in this country ignoring what people like yourself were doing for the common good.
Don't get too wrapped up in the business side!
Enjoy your retirement.
Tom
don't buy without looking at festool vacs... very strong & quiet. auto start etc..
I made a roomy wheeled cart/enclosure for my old Craftsman vac out of plywood. I tacked R15 insulation on all the sides and lid. Only holes are for the hose and power cord. It cut the noise down by about 50%, plus I don't accidentally pull it over, or pull the hose or top off. I can still take it out to use it elsewhere in the house, but got a small 2 gal one, good enough for most chores.
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