Durability of DC Plastic Bags?

[LarryG]

I'm about to order Wynn Environmental's filter conversion kit for my HF 2HP DC, and am wondering how durable the plastic bottom bags are. I live out where I can legally burn my sawdust, so I anticipate being able to reuse any given bag a couple-few times as long as it's not made of Saran Wrap. How thick are these things? Do wood chips knock holes in them?

Three bags come with the kit; should I go ahead and order more (three pack for $10), to save money on shipping later?

Alternatively, is there another source with bags that are better/cheaper/more durable/whatever?

Thanks much, in advance ...

[Tom Miller]

Since my DC is in the entry way to my shop, my concern is that I'll inadvertently snag a hole in it sooner or later while passing by. So, I use the much cheaper lawn-garden bags, and put a 30 micron DC bag over that for protection.

Regards,
Tom

[LCHIEN]

i got my bags from Penn State, they're 7 mil bags (quite thick) and were like $15 for ten.
They're quite durable I've never had a moment where i thought I had to be careful with them. So far I've only filled on bag 3/4 full and I pitched it. My ten bags should last me a few years.
If I tried to empty them and reuse them, I'be be looking at a real dusty mess, upon trying to reattach it. So that's how I came to the decision to just pitch them when full.

[MilDoc]

Get the Penn State bags. THEY FIT! Or, if you want some of the bags from Wynn, I'll sell you my leftovers real cheap - they don't fit well and are a PITA to put on!

As for reusing, I guess I do a lot more planing / jointing, 'cause I've filled one 2 1/2 times so far. If you're careful with putting it on and taking it off and don't puncture the bag or tear the top, they can certainly be reused (the PS bags, that is).

[LCHIEN]

Get the Penn State bags. THEY FIT! Or, if you want some of the bags from Wynn, I'll sell you my leftovers real cheap - they don't fit well and are a PITA to put on!

As for reusing, I guess I do a lot more planing / jointing, 'cause I've filled one 2 1/2 times so far. If you're careful with putting it on and taking it off and don't puncture the bag or tear the top, they can certainly be reused (the PS bags, that is).

they've gone up to $22 for ten.
http://www.pennstateind.com/store/dcpb740.html

7 mils thick, quite heavy duty. Most garbage bags are 1-2 mils.

[Brian G]

According to the Wynn Environmental Site, you can get 10 bags for $10. I don't know what shipping would be. These are 4 mil bags.

I lean toward agreeing with Paul, although I have not used the PSI bags. I'm glad he chimed in, because I've been wondering how they fit. The Wynn bags are a tight fit for the HF. You have to slightly stretch the bag all around to get it to fit, which risks holes from over-stretching. A few rare earth mags help hold the bag in place while you tighten the strap.

I have not had a problem with any holes in the Wynn bags, but my DC isn't in much of a puncture potential zone. I need to order some bags soon; I'll probably choose PSI. I'll accept giving up the extra $1 per bag in exchange for less annoyance in putting them on.

Tom, have the lawn/garden bags ever burst from the inflation pressure?

[MilDoc]

Brian - thanks for the tip about using rare earth magnets! Never thought of that ... should make it even easier with the PSI bags! And they are much easier to fit.

[Tom Miller]

Tom, have the lawn/garden bags ever burst from the inflation pressure?

Since the bags are a little larger than the DC bag that I put over them, there's no danger of bursting.

I just noticed that they're the "construction" or "contractor" bags, or whatever. At 3 mil, I think they're slightly tougher than lawn/garden.

I didn't really do this to save $$, so much as to save the hassle of ordering bags online, when I can pick these up at HD or Menards.

Regards,
Tom
[added later: forgot to mention the upside to the cheaper/easier to buy bags is that there's absolutely no motivation to try to re-use.]

[Knottscott]

I'm sure it depends on the structure and the thickness, but my Wynn bags have been holding up fine....several cycles each.

[Kristofor]

I bought a 60 or 100 pack of 3mil drum liners from HD for maybe $12 or so. I ended up making a fabric "sleeve" to go around the clamp that secures the bag since it felt like that could cut the plastic (but it never did).

I liked these since they were another ~16" longer than the HF DC is tall so there's extra capacity if the unit isn't moved. If it is, the bags would have to have extra material "above" the clamp. The Penn State DC I originally used was mounted on a lower arm, so the extra volume there compared to the stock bag was REALLY nice.

I suspect they are reusable, but apparently I make more than my fair share of waste, and my garden/compost heap isn't large enough to accommodate the 6+ bags I filled last year. I had to haul them to my grandparents place to dump them. Since I only did that once I had 2 or more to bring I ended up tying them off then tearing into them to empty, and hence never bothered reusing them

[LarryG]

Thank you, everyone.

I think I like Tom's solution, partly for economy and convenience, partly for the reason Loring mentions. Using an ordinary plastic bag inside the stock cloth bag would allow me to just throw the filled plastic bag onto the brush pile and set it afire, without the two-county dust cloud that always ensues when I empty out my cloth bag.

Like Paul I do a fair bit of planing and jointing; haven't really kept track but at a guess I'd say I have to empty the bottom bag every two or three months.

[jhart]

I also have been using the .3 mil "contractor" bags. easy to get on, relatively cheap and I usually have them on hand as I use them all the time for cleaning up.

[Kerf]

I have been using the contractor's bags from HD inside the stock bag of my HF DC for 2 years with no problems.
When I replace the plastic bags I never notice any kind of leakage.

[LarryG]

These "contractor's bags" that a couple folks have mentioned sound like the hot setup, but I'm not familiar with them. Home Depot ... got that much. Are they in the cleaning supplies department? Brand name? Any scars, facial hair, other identifying characteristics?

[Kerf]

These "contractor's bags" that a couple folks have mentioned sound like the hot setup, but I'm not familiar with them. Home Depot ... got that much. Are they in the cleaning supplies department? Brand name? Any scars, facial hair, other identifying characteristics?

From the HD Website:



Selected as "Strongest Bag for Yard Clean Up" by Good Housekeeping on Good Morning America! THE heavy duty bag for contractor, commercial, and home use. Tear- and puncture-resistant. 42 gal., 32 count, black, 33 in. x 48 in., 3 mil.

• Selected as "Strongest Bag for Yard Clean Up" by Good Housekeeping
• THE heavy duty bag for contractor, commercial, and home use.
• Tear- and puncture-resistant.
• 42 gal., 32 count, black, 33 in. x 48 in., 3 mil.

Internet/Catalog #100063659
Store In-Stock SKU # 690969