Shop-Vac filter question

[Ed62]

Shopvac.com is running a special now. You can get what is called the ultra-web cartridge, 2 for $20.19 with free shipping. I called Shop-Vac, and asked what particle size it would capture. I was told 3 microns.

They also have a hepa filter (not on special) for $44.59 each, plus shipping of $7.67 to my neck of the woods. So that's over $52.00 for 1 filter. I read somewhere that these filters do not clog like the regular filters. Give them a tap, and the sawdust just falls off into the tank. This sounds like a super big plus since I never get close to a full tank when I have to clean the filter.

Does anyone use either of these filters? Pros? Cons?

The Shop-Vac is my only means of collecting sawdust. Which of the above would you recommend?

Ed

[jziegler]

Get the Clean Stream HEPA filter for Shop Vac. Amazon has one for $25. I think that HD sometimes carries them as well. I have the Ridgid cleanstream, and it does clean off a little better than the other filters do, but it does still get clogged from lots of dust.

Jim

[dbhost]

Another vote for the Clean Stream HEPA. Shop Vac is WAY too proud of theirs... My Ridgid came with the Ridgid HEPA filter, had it not, I would have bought the Clean Stream.

HEPA filters are pretty much material like GoreTex, simply tap the filter and the stuff falls out, mostly...

I have had to rinse mine out once so far... Let it dry for a couple of days before using it, and the vac will once again nearly suck the hose inside out.

[Ed62]

Thanks for the help. Just ordered one from Amazon.

Ed

[sweensdv]

Another vote for the Clean Stream HEPA filter. Although when you clean the filter, I'm not sure you would want to tap the fine dust from the filter back into the vacs tank. If you did that, the next time you turned the vac on all that fine dust in the tank would just be sucked back up into the filter.

[dbhost]

Another vote for the Clean Stream HEPA filter. Although when you clean the filter, I'm not sure you would want to tap the fine dust from the filter back into the vacs tank. If you did that, the next time you turned the vac on all that fine dust in the tank would just be sucked back up into the filter.

Uh, good point. I should mention that I tap mine into a bag in the trash can to reduce how much dust gets around. Also you will want to do this OUTSIDE... It's amazing how big of a plume this puts out...

I made the mistake of rinsing mine in the kitchen sink when it got too clogged. It took me like 30 minutes to rinse everything out of the pleats, and in this cold weather, 2 days for the filter to dry...

One thing you will want to look into if you are using this for dust collection, is a Thien Cyclone (shop built, beats the tar out of the commercial offerings...)

I have one and LOVE it... I am needing to build a stacking rack / box of some sort for it that will allow me to easily move it around and take up less floor space. Seriously considering the carpet lined box approach as a noise muffler.

[pelligrini]

I made the mistake of rinsing mine in the kitchen sink when it got too clogged. It took me like 30 minutes to rinse everything out of the pleats, and in this cold weather, 2 days for the filter to dry...

You can really cut down the drying time if you have a sweater/shoe rack for your clothes dryer.

[LCHIEN]

You can really cut down the drying time if you have a sweater/shoe rack for your clothes dryer.

Just close off one end of the filter then stick the end of a hair dryer into the other open end of the filter.

[herb fellows]

I hang mine on an improvised 'clothesline' above the furnace.

[LinuxRandal]

Always check around on price. I found mine for my Fein vac at Lowe's for around $21.

It has been a great improvement but I am wondering if anyone has used one of these with ash, like from a fireplace. (particularly if any may have still been warm)

Thanks

[Tom Slick]

Ultra-web is an excellent filter media. It is used in large industrial dust collection.

I'd buy the 2 for $20 in a heartbeat.

[jhgrady]

Ed,

Do you have a link to the 2 for $20.19 deal

Thanks,
John