Shop Vac Dust Collection

[FINER9998]

Anyone have any experience using a plastic trash bag as a liner inside of a shop vac? I use my shop vac as a dust collectionsystem for shop tools and would like to find a better way to handle what it picks up besides buying vacuum bags from sears. Any ideas welcome. i use a craftsman 20 gal shop vac.

[HVAC HAWK]

it will not work the vac will suck up the bag

you can use a foam cover over the filter or they have a nylon type bag that goes over the filter .you do not have to use sears stuff home depot or Lowe's has this stuff.

[Gofor]

We used regular plastic trash bags in commercial grade "shop vacs" where I worked. To make it work, you have to poke a hole in the bag where the hose comes into the cannister (you may have to tape it around the inlet if there is no inside nipple to slide it over). The edge of the bag goes over the edges of the cannister so the top seals it down when you clamp it down. Try to get as much air as you can out from between the bag and the cannister walls. When it gets full, remember to pull the bag off the nipple and that you have an open hole in the bag. we would through tape over the hole before tying the bag shut.
Vacs used to remove asbestos or other hazardous materials are requires to have these bags to contain the HAZMAT. Commercial companies (Tiger Vac is one) that sell the vacs usually have premade heavy gauge plastic bags already perforated for the inlet and with a self adhesive flap to seal it when its full. They are usually already marked with the HAZMAT warnings. Problem is they cost about $5 a piece so it isn't finanancially feasible for common waste.
The reason it works is because with the air inlet coming through the side of the bag, the atmospheric pressure on both sides of the bag inside the cannister is the same.

[HVAC HAWK]

gofor

thanks every time i tried it it did not work

i will have to try the way you do it

[maryjo]

My experience is if you put holes in the bag all the fine dust will blow out the hole... I had better luck just connecting the bag to the tool's dust port. This won't work on hand tools but works pretty well with my bandsaw.... Mary.

[papadan]

I can understand using some sort of bag for hazmat type clean up. But why would you use a bag in a shop vac for dust. Just empty the bucket when full. The foam cover over the filter will help keep the filter cleaner, longer. For shop dust I just shake out the filters and reuse them.

[Gofor]

maryjo: The only hole that gets put in the bag is where the vacuum hose comes into the tank, to bring the dust into the bag. You are correct, any other holes just makes a mess. That said, I did this where I worked, but at home for the table saw and sanders, etc, I don't usually go to the trouble, because you still have to get the dust off the filter, etc, and for me, working in my garage, its easier to carry the whole thing outside and let the dust fly and the sawdust just helps the lawn. If I had a basement workshop, etc, I would do it because its a lot easier to carry a plastic bag than a large shop-vac up stairs and thru doorways, etc.
HVAC HAWK: If you can't get it to work, I'll do it to mine here at home and try to get some pictures to illustrate. By your title I would guess it would come in handy on the job, too, if you are getting into fiberglass/plaster debris, etc. (and any "suspected" asbestos, etc). After bustin' your hump all day, anything that makes clean-up easier is a good thing.:)

[KenM]

My vacs wear pantyhose!:p
Pieces of pantyhose over the foam filters pre-capture the fines and keep the filter cleaner. Just frequently remove the dirty pantyhose and toss in the trash, and put on a fresh piece. For me it's much easier than cleaning the filter so often, but I do have to tolerate a frequent audit by the LOML, who is keeping a close count of her stash.:o
Oh, fishnet doesn't work too well, but look great.

[Gofor]

Do they come in orange to match my Ridgid vac? or should I go with basic black? I wouldn't want the colors to clash:D

[KenM]

Do they come in orange to match my Ridgid vac? or should I go with basic black? I wouldn't want the colors to clash:D
Well, you're not that far away. We are close to Clemson, so there's orange every *&^%$ thing! Be glad to send you some. ;-D
Ken

[papadan]

Ken, if I use your suggestion, my legs would get cold.:D :eek:

[KenM]

Ken, if I use your suggestion, my legs would get cold.:D :eek:
Ouch! That's a mental image I wasn't prepared for this morning! ;-D
(papadan's hairy, naked legs with goose-bumps!!)
K

[leer13]

Another way to tackle this is to use a garbage can as a cyclone.

You can either buy a lid or make your own using a lid purchased from a hardware store and some 2 inch tubing, a little lumber and a some smarts. I was goning to go this way, but found a great deal on a dust collector so I went that way instead.

[leer13]

Another way to tackle this is to use a garbage can as a cyclone.

You can either buy a lid or make your own using a lid purchased from a hardware store and some 2 inch tubing, a little lumber and a some smarts. I was goning to go this way, but found a great deal on a dust collector so I went that way instead.

Try this link for ideas:

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=30282&cat=1,42401&ap=1

[Mountaineer]

On my Router I use a shop vac, but it is connected to a metal garbage can. where the hose connects to the can, I filter with panty hose over the hose, then a hose from the can to the table. It makes a nice inline collector, and I can hold more dust until rhw can gets full. Also my Lab loves the dust and chips when I dump it in his dog lot.

[Lorax]

Just a word of unsolicited advice/information.
Sawdust probably isn't any better for your dogs lungs than it is for yours. Also some domestic woods and particularly some exotics, are highly toxic and not recommended for animal bedding. Just my .02 FWIW

[Mountaineer]

most is pine, but I removed it anyway.