What's the best way to clean the felt bag of a DC?

[ryan.s]

I have the 1 micron felt bag that comes with the delta 50-760 and was wondering what the best way to clean the felt thoroughly. I've already filled and emptied the plastic bag twice and have periodically shaken the felt to release some of the chips and saw dust. I was thinking possibly blowing the exterior of the felt bag with an air compressor but this method seems like it would take forever. Any suggestions? What do you guys that have DC's with felt upper bags normally do to clean them? TIA.

[sweensdv]

I just slap mine around a little bit with a spatula to shake loose the big chunks. I suppose you could get a little carried away and turn it inside out, hang it over a clothes line or railing and beat it like an old rug. The latter method would certainly require the wearing of a respirator.

[Knottscott]

A cannister filter and plastic lower bag! Honestly, I never did find a "good" way to clean the felt.... it's just a messy job.

[ryan.s]

A cannister filter and plastic lower bag! Honestly, I never did find a "good" way to clean the felt.... it's just a messy job.

I guess there are different schools of thought on the ease of cleaning canisters versus bags. Some seem to say canisters are harder to clean than the felt. Never mind that I said that, don't want this thread to go off topic.

[whitecobra]

The simplest answer is you DO NOT

Part of the filtration comes form the small build up that is in the felt
The felt itself is NOT sufficient to create the 1 micron you suggest you are getting
That number comes from a THIN "film" covering the holes in the fabric

So to answer your question simply shake it and whatever easily falls off is all you need to remove

Of course you could call Wynn Environmental and talk to Rick or Dick and get a filter cartridge that you will be able to clean the way you want but that is a different thread
Your 1 micron is most likely enough filtration for home use
Dr D

[ryan.s]

The simplest answer is you DO NOT

Part of the filtration comes form the small build up that is in the felt
The felt itself is NOT sufficient to create the 1 micron you suggest you are getting
That number comes from a THIN "film" covering the holes in the fabric

Interesting, never thought to consider that. Is it common knowledge that the filtration is helped by some build up? It would be interesting to read up on this some more, any links?

Thanks,
Ryan

[LCHIEN]

Interesting, never thought to consider that. Is it common knowledge that the filtration is helped by some build up? It would be interesting to read up on this some more, any links?

Thanks,
Ryan

that's pretty commonly mentioned, when talking about felt bags, that the filter cake is what makes the cut.

That's one more reason why i think pleated filter canisters are a better deal all around.

[Turaj]

Ryan

I have had the same DC for over 2 years now and like others said I just shake it a bit (usualy when changing the lower bag) to reduce that film but not entirely clean it! I have not had any problem with air flow being reduced! HTH

[Russianwolf]

what they are saying is very true. I noticed the first couple times I used my DC that if I poked the bag dust would come out. After using it for a while, a poke doesn't get anything out. She's caked up and sucking the air clean.

[Tom Miller]

Where the "cake" is really building up, I grasp the outside of the bag and collapse the bag until the inner surfaces are touching each other, then rub the two surfaces together.

I might do this every several days, and then I'll do a more thorough job of it before changing the lower bag.

For a while, I was taking off the top bag, turning it inside out, and shop vac-ing the inside. I haven't been doing that lately.

Regarding the cake build up doing the filtering, and how that compares to no cake -- there's way more speculation out there than real data, so I hesitate to add to it.

Regards,
Tom

[Bob Bassett]

Every once in awhile I shove the felt bag down into the lower bag and then turn on the DC. That keeps the cake to a reasonable thickness for me.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Man I am really in the mood for cake after reading this thread.

[ryan.s]

A lot of good info guys, thanks.

I guess what orginally prompted the question is that when the DC unit was new the upper bag used to stay in the cylindrical shape even when the DC was turned off. After emptying the lower bag twice I noticed that when the DC is off now the upper bag collapses now and no longer keeps the cylindrical shape which made me think there is too much build up on the felt.