Wood dust collection. Does anyone have any hints about using a shop vac to pick up saw dust?

They have the normal round pleated filter that goes over the motor plus they have sleeves to go over those. There are cloth ones, paper ones, foam ones. The foam ones are mainly for wet pick ups. You can also use a cut off pair of nylon stockings to go over the round main filter. That keeps out the fine dust and helps stops clogging.

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Shop vacs are maybe one of the most abused electric shop tools, like trying to use one to suck up standing water when a sump pump would be the right tool. Then there's the nature of the stuff to be collected. Big difference between actual "dust", like from huge amounts of sanding (or drywall sanding dust, soot, etc.) vs. "saw dust", where the particles are much larger, actually small wood chips. For most, using a hand brush or bench brush around the cutting tool, then a simple broom and a dust pan on the floor will get most of it. For bigger shops, putting together a dedicated collection system, dumping into a disposal container via pipes, is a better way to go.

You may also be using a vac that's just too small, but I doubt it. Try a brush & broom more often. It's really not much slower - and doesn't plug up.

I have an actual dust collector - not a shop vac. It cost $99.99 at Lowes. It uses two bags - one to collect the dust / chips and one as an air filter. It's big enough and strong enough to handle a table saw, panel saw and radial arm saw. It has never clogged. I don't know why people think a shop vac is an appropriate dust collector for a wood shop. If you have a big enough shop, you should get a "cyclone" type dust collector.

If it is a bona fide Shop Vac,then get the filter bags when picking up small particulate

I have a nice and quiet 6HP Rigid vac that uses a HEPA filter, you will need that along with the paper filter catch bag.

Hello

Only by installing a filter-less system with a central collector

Andy C

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