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The way I tackled this when dealing with drywall dust was to attach a 15 foot hose to the exhaust port and stick that out the window so no air or dust was recirculating In the house
Your neighbors must love you. A water vault works better so does using a fine particular dust bag. That added hose reduces you vacuums power and runs the fine dust through the vacuums impeller, wears it out much faster.
I'm 40 now but when I was in my 20s learning my trades working for other people the man I learned drywall/painting from wasn't big on masks and shop vacs. My lungs ache constantly due to how much crap I breathed in. Take care of your lungs. I can't stress this enough.
You are so Right. Sorry to hear about your condition, have you ever been screened for lung cancer? Also, the No 1 cancer is....... 1. Lung (1.8 million) 2. Colorectal (0.9 Million) 3. Liver (0.8 Million) Lung Cancer is 2x the second most deadly
@@onenikkione Nope. Never been checked. I have so many health problems as it is and most of them are from work with the exception of Lyme disease/ fibromyalgia. For that one, I’m still not entirely sure which it is. I tested positive for Lyme years back but a tested negative the second time a few years back and fibromyalgia runs in my family but the only way to confirm it is to run several tests to rule everything else out which I can’t afford.
We are new homeowners and last year bought a house built in 1880. It had a very old fireplace which was unusable due to the unlined chimney; because of this we assessed the best solution was to have a gas fireplace installed. But before that could happen, we needed to clean out the ash trap that had at least a 100 years of compacted ash. It took my husband and I a weekend to remove over 30 lbs of ash, (using our new shop vac and multiple HEPA filter bags. Yes; first we started from the fireplace and worked down. They we had to go to the basement ash return and work up). It was a messy job; but made much less messy with the proper tools and filters. Thank you so much for this informative video. Thanks to you we had the proper tools for the job and were successful in our mission. Now we have a beautiful/functional fireplace for pesky Minnesota winters!
@The Honest Carpenter Ethan, I utilize a wet towel over my exhaust on my shopvac to catch any fine particulates that happen to pass through my HEPA filter cartridge. I just strape it down with some bungees and make sure to keep it damp. Great for working in an occupied residence.
Im glad that someone is going to make it big by being honest at something. Too many people getting their success from corruption and taking advantage. Never lose this honesty from your endeavors.
Always used a nutone hepa vac since I got my lead safety certifications 20 years ago! They are expensive and impractical but didn't have any other options for a long time! Since then I have come up with a few different options water filtration being the best! Used a two stage separation chamber to catch the bigger stuff, then water filtration for the third chamber! Keep s the dust from getting to the final filter and the weight from being to much for the main bulk of the material! Its kind of cumbersome and awkward but keeps my "Older" homes I work in more safe , and easier to clean up at the end of the project! Got the idea from the rainbow vacuum cleaner! Basically a cyclone system co.bined with a rainbow vac!
Many years ago I think I read in Consumer Reports or some other publication that rainbow vacs did not filter out particles even though rainbow claimed it worked. Of course maybe your system is effective, but I remember thinking how much work vacuuming had been for someone I had known in the late 80's who had purchased the expensive rainbow vac and hauled the heavy machine around her house vacuuming daily to improve conditions for her young children who suffered from asthma.
I've been preaching the use of barrel liners AND use of pleated filters at the same time for yrs. I've even figured out methods to retrofit barrel liners in older shop vacs that weren't designed for them. Thanks for explaining HEPA bags and their purpose.
Are you saying the barrel liners are better than non-barrel liners? My vacuum only has non-barrel liners available. Have you by chance figured out how to use a barrel one on a small 4 gallon vac?
@@themikeroberts Are you talking about the paper filter that goes over your pleated filter and is usually held in place by a friction ring? Yes, that's better than just using the pleated filter. What I was talking about is converting older shop vacs that didn't come with barrel liners, to barrel liners. Most times it can be done. No way I can tell you without yours in front of me.
Bought a 16 gal. Rigid at a Black Friday sale. Will get the bag set too. Catching fits cleaning drywall dust at a rehab vacation home. This is exactly what I need. I'm frugal, but this is a convenience I'm willing to pay for because I do not use it routinely. The slide to cover the opening is a good feature. I have 2 older model canister vacuum cleaners in which I use HEPAs. They make a world of difference for allergies. TKS!!!
I learned to add 2 pieces of duct tape onto the outside of filter bag to reinforce it where the debris hits the bag as it enters it. This keeps the sharp objects from tearing the bag and defeating its purpose.
Another thing I’d recommend is using a broom and dust pan for big loads of easy to get crud. It will save your bags and filters and the fine particles will not be essentially throwing a ton of particles into the air like the blower on your vacuum would.
I made my own system where everything goes into a large 50 gallon barrel and then goes to the shop vac. Basically a diy and larger version of the dust rite system by rockler. Works great and don't have to worry about filling up my shop vac. Getting the hepa upgrade for my ridgid is a no brainer. And the money pit continues...
This was a great video - keeping our lungs safe is often overlooked by DIYers. Please do more videos like this - for healthy lungs, but also knees, and lower back.
I started putting one of these bags in my shop vac and it was such a blessing. Clean and no mess. I got mine from Amazon but saw that Walmart sells them too. Though you cant use it in wet mode., Its a must have!!!
I have never heard of the filter bag before. Thank you. I have a dust cyclone but don’t use that all the time for other uses. I notice my machine gets covered with particles. Can’t wait to try this!
Hi . I want you to know I’m a lung transplant recipient. And this is great news for me . And others.as I’m still able to do work with my 3m respirator. Boy it gets sweaty! This information will help keep me and others safe. Thanks
I also added a poor mans dust cyclone before my shop vac that I got from woodcraft. (Supply your own 5 gal bucket). Works great. Less replacement bags to buy.
I call these people morons. This is the reason why they are blue collar workers in the first place. Many years later they can't figure out why they have so many health issues. 🙄 Not all blue collar workers are this way. Some are really intelligent people. However, it has been my experience that the dumb ones outnumber the intelligent ones.
Yes, a healthy person usually feels that they can shake off and recover from these lung, eye and hearing threats without issue.....until you reach 65 or 70 years old and find out your functioning at a 90 year old level.
Hi, the inside bag option is not bad but I would think it reduces suction a lot. What I do... is use an old T-shirt and a couple elastic bands to cover the pleated filter. This extends its life and I tap the filter out periodically. children's T-shirts are a bit better because they fit better but not necessary. one large band at the top and a small band to tie off the neck and sleeve openings. or you can sew that shut, you get the idea 😁
Yes, this is a surprisingly little-known truth. I went through same learning frustration. Another revelation to me was when I added a dust deputy cyclone to that setup. Now my bags/filters last waaaaay longer.
I have a 9 gallon rigid 18 V vacuum right from the get-go. I placed a HEPA filter and a HEPA filtration bag on it and I haven’t looked back at the original filter. I can clean and do very fine work and not have to worry about the particles getting into the air and into my lungs.
If you’ve never used an air filter these are great. th-cam.com/users/postUgkx_dppjvjF8BYEmPSDTcgCUdRsgWYLXNHN I ended up with three after starting out with one. The noise level depends on the 1-3 settings with how hard you want the machine to work. You can also upgrade the filters and get one better for pet hair and smells which is a must have in my home. I noticed the air seemed lighter and easier to breathe when running the machine for the first time. Works great every time. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much. I've really been confused about my shop actually bags etc. You explained so clearly and it really hit me as far as the danger of tiny particulate matter being blown back into our breathing space. Really a great video. You also emanate honesty, decency and character.
Get a 25 foot pool hose, put your vac out side, hook up the pool hose to your vac leave vac out side, bring pool hose inside. Cheap, easy, no dust in the house.
Doing it this way, The dust ends up in your homes vents and finds it way back into your house and then your $10,000 air conditioning system is affected.
I used a similar method some 20 years ago on my large Sears craftsman vacuum. But I put a smaller vacuum bag (less expensive) over the pleated canister held and in place at the top with a large rubber band; and I also put a hepa cloth bag over the exhaust and that has been working for me. I’m 77 and still active in sports and in my workshop. Thanks for confirming my safety idea that as a lazy handyman and Mr cheap o, I found this solution on my own some 19 years ago…after I realized how expensive those replacement pleated canisters cost and how quickly they get clogged.
I have used HEPA canister filter from Rigid for few years to pickup drywall and ciment dust. I highly recommend the 20~30$ investment in such filter. And I regularly clean the filter with compressed air to restore the sucking power.
I've had one of the Craftsman 16 gallon shop vacuums for over 20 years. Use mostly in the outdoors on the cement pad. These machines run just fine without a filter.
Everybody probably already knows this, but adding a cyclonic separator inline before the shop vac will greatly extend the life of your shop vac and its filters. I use Rockler's and it makes a huge difference (probably would not use it for cement, I use it for wood chips and sawdust).
Amen 🙏🏼!!! If you only use a 5 gallon bucket and have it connected to your planer , keep an eye on it cuZ the bucket fills up really quick & then gets into vacuum & clogs filter
@@frankking1466 Frank, I had this EXACT scenario happen to me when I was helping my friend plane a bunch of reclaimed oak. Luckily I had an extra shop vac filter bag on hand.
@@Grauenwolf I actually bought a HEPA filter for the shop vac just recently. I haven't noticed any huge difference in performance for the price, honestly, but I felt like it was the right way to go.
Rebuilt an old Chevy . Not much, but I did use a little filler, just enough to fry my shop-vac's motor. Expensive lesson and have used a filter bag since.
I never even knew these bags existed for the shop vac. This will be a great edition to my diy dust collector. Thanks for the heads up and another great vid.
I never considered using both the pleated filter AND the bag. I always thought it would inhibit suction too much but I really appreciate you pointing this out!
Wow, thanks...great info! For some reason I've always thought the filters in these shop vacs (all brands) are HEPA compliant. In addition, I've never thought about where the exhaust air comes out of it until this video. Since the air has to go through the cylindrical filter...that means it exhausts thru the grillworks on the center top cover. No wonder that there always seems to be very fine dust particles on the top cover. Hey, I love my shop vacs in the garage for quick clean ups instead of having to use a broom. I'm sure they're very much appreciated in a shop as well, but they sure give a false sense of security for your lungs!
After watching this video and a few others, I bought a 12 gallon Rigid with the hepa filters. Such a big difference!!! Thank You again for your help and insights!!!
I see many alternatives listed here to your solution. I believe they do not take into account the average homeowner wants an effective solution that is easy to install. The price of the filter and bags is around $50. That's an excellent cost for a highly effective system in an average household. Thanks again for your advice HC.
I have been running a Ridgid 6.5 hp wet/ dry vac for 20+ years. It is a tool I rely on daily with the budget filters that Ridgid sells. I have used that vac for things that would make you cringe. Best tool ever! As far as all the particles, well I'm pretty old and never planned on living forever anyway...
Seems like adding a seal to the motor enclosure and where the top of canister fits would add to the bag and Hepa filter improvements. I moved from a "improved" Craftsman Vac to a Festool Vac years ago and feel the difference is worth the $.
My good friend, a professional carpenter, introduced me to shopvac bags. Amazing, I can vacuum up all kinds of dust, even drywall dust and the outlet air is clean :)
Not only do I always use a filter bag, but also use a Rockler Dust Right dust separator that significantly prolongs the longevity of each $6 fillet bag that would otherwise get clogged and filled up very quickly.
They're also great for picking up water, which is why I typically leave my filter off the thing. I have a big 2hp dust collector for sawdust/chips, etc. that I modified so that instead of the exhaust going into a big 70 gallon bag, it now exhausts through a straight pipe through the back wall of my garage. No filtration needed.
I use a “Herky Filters” reusable felt bag in my 14 gallon Ridgid and a CleanStream Hepa filter. Both are reusable and washable and have lasted me two years of moderate use and still going strong. I even tested it a while back by vacuuming up some fine powder that reacts to UV light and room stayed clean. Herky filters bags cost like $32 and are reusable and washable. I think the cleanstream reusable and washable filter costs like $35 or so. Much better deal than using those green hepa bags and filters.
I always put a bit of 🌊 water in the bottom of my shop vac. Water seems to help collect the dust and keep the dust inside of the vac instead of having it blasted all around the room.
How often is it washed and sanitized? A recipe for musty stinky germy moldy ..... Try to convince someone that wants the convenience of a wet vac to pick up a pet mess and think the job is done when they move the wet vac back to wherever it was stored and let it get rancid. I'd just use a rag and go to the sink.
Other options, get more hose, put it on the exhaust port and stick exhaust hose out a window. Or, put the entire vac out side, use extra hose to reach where needed, quieter too. Also, after cleaning filter and changing bag (do this outside), start the vacuum once while outside. It will emit a puff of dust, only then take inside to use.
Wish I could do that with my dust collector but it would pull all the conditioned air out of my shop in about two minutes. I am building a closet around it to block noise and force the expelled air to pass through hi merv HVAC filters before coming back into the shop
My shop vac has noticably MORE suction when I don't use filters. So, I do what you suggest, and use a long suction hose with the vac outside. The larger waste is still collected inside the vac.
Excellent video, thank you! I started using a shop vac 2 days ago and thought of not bothering with the filter & bag (I suspect this is common) in order to save time/effort.. But just realised I'd be completing a lot less projects with the additional time spent in the hospital in the long run 😅
I have about 50' of hose. Depending on the job I either keep the base close to a window or door and have an exhaust hose made up of one or two segments, and a long vacuum hose for the work. The alternative is a short vacuum hose and drag the base around with a longer exhaust hose. I like this guy's idea but it still doesn't catch everything. We have a dog that sheds a lot and you can smell the dander through any filter, those oils become vapor in the vacuum process. Test it with a few drops of perfume and a brand new hepa filter. It will instantly fill the house (for better or worse.) With an exhaust hose there's no smell.
@@soritessoreites1207 I can't hit you on the head with the math but it is. Resistance in the path from atmosphere in to out, the motor is in the middle instead of at the end. Normally vacs are run with no resistance on the exhaust, but here is the exception. Total resistance throttles the airflow and dirt as well.
I keep a couple extra filters and clean them when they get dirty. First I use compressed air, spraying it along the pleats, then I use water and never direct the stream straight into the pleats but along the pleats. Washing from the inside helps to keep it clean inside. Then I set them out or inside where a dehumidifier is and dry them out. This is the same method used to clean the CAT filters at my work for 36 years.
In my experience, using a cyclone dust separator hooked up to a shop vac is by far the best way. Even the bag stays cleaner so just imagine the vacuum’s filters. Dust disposal is also way more manageable and practical.
I made a homemade "cyclonic" separator with two 5 gallon buckets and a "thien" baffle. Shoddily assembled with orange buckets, hot glue, tuck tape, flexible vac hose and 2 in pvc piping and the bottom of one of the buckets cut into a baffle. I connected it to my 12 Gal Ridgid that has a bag and the 3 layer blue filter Only the finest even makes it into the bag. Contrary to fearmongers, plenty of ultra fines get trapped in the separator, not just big chips.
I made a cyclone dust separator too & didn’t even have to go buy anything for it!! Had pvc kickin around, had a 5 gallon bucket, some hot glue and even had some caster’s thanks to my hoarding/collection techniques!!!😊…I Frankenstein’d it & it works amazingly. Everyone says the bucket tips over & yes it did. So why not screw bucket to a piece of plywood/melamine/osb that’s a cpl inches bigger all the way around and throw some casters on it, mine hasn’t tipped yet!!! 👌🏼
@@donbushek Considering the types of dust I vacuum, I should clog my filter AND have stuff ejected in the back after the vacuum IF the assumption that these separators only collect chips and large particle sizes. The fact that the bucket is caked with extremely fine powder below the baffle, that my vacuum inside is not, and the filter remains clean tells me I do trap a lot of very fine particles BEFORE the vaccum. Without the separator, the filter gets caked very fast even through a bag.
I've used blue painters tape to tape a couple towels to the end that blows the air out. I also take an extension piece and put the towel over that, then I can just remove it when I don't need a filter.
I do it just as recommended here in your video. But I also added the Home Depot Duststopper for about $60 including pail (cyclone lid for 5 gallan pail) By adding the duststopper it takes forever to fill my Hepa rated bag. I am talking year plus. An in that time I will dump about 20 full five gallon pails of wood chips and fine saw dust. Cyclones are supposed to act as a first stage filter for large particles and wood chips from say a planer, but I find it collects 99% of everything, only 1% (and it is all fine dust) gets to the bag. I also saw some other comments about reduces suction. Not if you buy the right vaccum. I have the Ridgid 16 gallon and it is a beast. With hepa bag and filter, plus the Duststopper in play, I have plenty of suction for my table top planer and jointer, as well as jobsite table saw, bandsaw, and tracksaw, sander, etc. Zero complaints. Not as convenient as a ducted, blast gated, dust collector, but not nearly as expensive either:)! And I will agree that it reduces measured suction, but what counts is does it collect the debris, and the answer is yes. It is like saying, well if you turn on the AC your going to use more gas when driving your car, that's true, but you will be a lot cooler:)!
Very well put, Garry! 😁 I got the dust stopper too, as opposed to a larger cyclone. It’s already doing it’s job, I just left it for the dust collection video. Great to hear yours is working so well! Home Depot really has a killer line of vacs and dust management tools.
@@TheHonestCarpenter I just went through a very dusty basement remodel with my Ridgid shop vac + a dust deputy. I also had a bag + HEPA filter on most of the time. I did try the dust stopper early on and it was great for pulling up gravel when laying pipe under the concrete floor but wasn't quite as good as the dust deputy for fine dust. I really do not like how tall the dust deputy is but still use it regularly. I'd probably be happier if I stayed with the dust stopper. Even with these 3 layers of defense I'd get fine dust all over inside the vac which is quite frustrating. They don't design these to be very easy to clean - its just a maze of plastic support structures. If you vacuum up something that doesn't smell great (burned sawdust from a router) you will saturate the bag and filter and will smell it for days. I wish there was a better solution but for the price it is hard to beat what Ridgid has to offer. Pair that with a single-button wireless remote and it's a pretty sweet setup.
This is an excellent video, Ethan! I was wondering if you'd cover HEPA filters and you did!! A lot of people don't get to that. Be aware that your Ridgid shop vac HEPA set-up can leak and the only way to verify it is not leaking due to a breach in the filter or incorrect seating of the filter is to conduct a challenge test. This is normally done with vac's that are used to vacuum asbestos and lead containing dust to ensure that the HEPA filtration is working properly. As someone who has worked in the Haz Mat field, I've seen HEPA equipped systems fail the challenge test. Another good thing to do is to wet dusty materials to keep the dust levels down. 👍👍👍
For over a year now, I’ve had difficulty finding filter bags, I assume something related to COVID. So this summer I was looking for a brand new vac. I couldn’t find bags for my 2 pretty old Fein’s, none for 2 fairly new Stanley’s, And Shop Vac bags have been out of stock at Lowes forever! I had seen good performance out of my employee’s Rigid, but not a single size/model came with a desposeable bag! I discovered that Stihl made a shop vac and it is awesome. Still, the store I bought it from didn’t stock replacement bags. Thanks for your work!
Honest Carpenter, thank you thank you thank you 🙏🏾 you are educating the people about harmful vacuum exhaust products 🕊 the SAME thing happen with non-HEPA home vacuums, too 😵
Great Video. I've been doing it right. 1 trick that I use to clean out the Shop Vac Filter Pleet's is use a Portable Mini Leaf Blower!!!! WORKS GREAT for blowing off the Saw's & Tools of debris before putting them away too. Many uses and my Mini Leaf Blower uses the same Rechargeable Battery Packs as my Drill, Impact Driver's, Grinders and Circular Saw so I suggest trying out a similar setup.
Good point about using a pre-filter to preserve the main one, but even using bags as designed, a cyclonic dust separator is a better pre-filter than a bag, or any pre-filter that uses a fibrous or physical filtering medium. All physical filtering media block the air flow to some extent, by sticking obstructions (the filter media fibers) in the way of the air flow to catch the particles. This does filter out particles, but it also slows the air flow, causing the motor to have to compensate by speeding up (if it can, and losing 'suck' if it cannot) and potentially burning out early. A cyclonic dust separator also pre-filters, but without using obstructive filter media. It causes the airflow to make a cyclonic turn on the way to the filter, which the air molecules can follow a lot easier than the dust particles can, causing them to drop out into the bucket, and sending on much cleaner air for the main filter to screen. And it does this pre-filtering without hindering the air flow (well, perhaps imperceptibly, but a lot less than physical media does).
If only Miele would make a Shop-Vac their vacuums are divine meaning before they went and made that ridiculous thing called a non-bag vacuum of the bane of existence.
For someone who already has a shop-vac, adding a filter bag is a cheap and easy hack that will save cleanup time and remove a percentage of particulates. If upgrading to a cyclonic separator was as cheap as a filter bag, it would make a great option.
its not imperceptible , i measured a loss of 7 inches water lift and about 25 cfm using a dust cyclone, i tried this with several different brands and several different wet dry vacs, still its worth it usually , but i like my miter saw dust chute to have the most suction possible
@@mainsource8030 What about with the extra filtering as described? I'm curious if you also tested that, and if so, whether it caused a greater loss than the cyclonic action did?
We have two big dust collectors, vents, exhaust fans, duct work, and a pick up truck just for sawdust. Plus four big shop vacs and a Festool vacuum cleaner system which attaches to our festools.Also, two fresh air respirators, and other masks for painting cars. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣And nobody is using them! I couldn’t resist telling you! And we use some of the vacs the wrong way, but on job sites in peoples homes we used the Festool vacuum. Just forgive me and let me rejoice over my past. It was so much fun. I may talk myself into finishing some benches or making some birdhouses. And you know, it really is important to avoid breathing a lot of dust. Thank you for the helpful video. I really liked it.
Thank you. This is ANOTHER very useful video by The Honest Carpenter. I'm taking your advice TODAY! When it comes to your health and safety the cost isn't really a debatable point.
One thing to keep in mind is that your body also filters the air you breathe. The reason small particles are so bad is that they can get very far into your lungs and get stuck. In the case of exhaust from vehicles, this means carrying carcinogens deep into your lungs. Obviously what you are vacuuming important to how dangerous the dust is.
Always good to control and limit the bad stuff going into your body as best you can, but also remember that your body is incredibly efficient at expelling toxins and foreign objects. Lungs are pretty incredible. Again best to limit and avoid, but in most cases limited exposure is nothing to lose sleep over.
I just the same shop vac and use a filter and bag, plus a special filter for fine dust. Plus I wear a mask when dealing with drywall dust. But then again I read the instructions lol
Wow I really appreciate the advice! It's crazy how you cover the most basic concepts which people like myself, who have been in the trades for a few years now, didn't know. Thanks again!
I just bought myself the Ridgid HD1600 and the HEPA filter to upgrade from the filter it came with. I just had no idea about the bag I could also use to catch the dirt im vacuuming. Thanks to you and this video, I'm getting one tomorrow.
I use an old t-shirt or pillow case over the filter when doing maintenance on commercial dryers and use a hose on the exhaust hose like someone else mentioned. It extends the life of the cartridge significantly.
When you get the bag slice open the side of the bag and roll the edge and bulldog clips it back up, it makes it easy to empty the bag and get many more uses from it.
For drywall I use the dust deputy, then a drywall filter bag, then a HEPA filter. Without the drywall filter bag, the HEPA filter would still fill up after a while, even though the Dust Deputy would take about 95% of the sanded compound. With the bag, it's a lot longer between having to swap out or clean the HEPA filter for a fresh one.
I have a wireless Ridgid 3 gal shop vac that used their 18v batteries. I put a HEPA filter into it, but it does not have a compatible bag. However, I saw a great tip where somebody was also putting a cheap Multi-fit filter over the HEPA filter. It keep large particles from getting into the HEPA filters pleats and it makes it easier to clean and extends its life. not as good as a bag but probably the next best thing.
Look and learn from the internet! Most of us have graduated to a cylone of some sort. I too still have a Hepa filter, but it usually lasts about 10 years when I have forgotten to keep my 5 gallon bucket from emptying. Now that is savings I can use in another way!
The bags are cheaper than the filter, but not much I’ve reused the bags by cutting it open and reseal it I rely on an N95 mask and use a spare hose connected to the exhaust port to blow dust outside, not in the room you’re working in
I added an old sock over the exhaust pipe on our ShopVac. Amazing how much particulate matter/dust just blows out the exhaust. Those specialty dust bags are pretty expensive @ $18.00 for just two bags.
@@meabobthanks! that brought a smile to my face ...I hope that was a spell check insertion of the word "pantyhose" when typing or dictating the word "hose" as I'm trying to picture myself with the stockings coming to my knees and then the panties (with no thighs or hips) I would look really funny & I expect you'd be laughing at me too
THANK you for that great advice. I WILL follow it. Now, I've got a little something for you. It sounds like you have SHEETROCK on all your walls and ceiling. It makes for a rough understanding conversation. If you will put "Beaver-Board" is the old name for it. Or drop panel acoustic tiles onto your ceiling, that will cure most of your sound problems. TV and radio Stations, Band Rooms, etc have square acoustic panels with 400 holes in each one in a grid pattern. That will make your voice sound so much clearer and will be easier to understand conversations in that room. Thanks for your advice. I Will follow it. Bill, from Tn. 🇺🇸
This was EXTREMELY useful information. I was in the process of trying to vacuum up cement dust and was hesitant and not sure to rely on the filter that came with it, as it blows dust from the exhaust side of the vacuum. Thank you very much!
To clean the cartridge quick I simply take it outside and hit it with the leaf blower, racking it across the pleats. As long as your not down wind it works great, cartridge looks almost brand new and works like new.
Wow, thanks for opening my eyes to a problem that has always been in my shop. I'll start using the bags again. I stopped a while back thinking that when I added my cyclone to the shopvac system everything would be fine. The cyclone does work well but I have always had that fine covering of smaller particles all over my shop. I'll pay more attention, thanks to your explanation. You are amazing.
I keep one for large debri and one for small fine stuff. Your old home vacs had the right idea.. Bag it. 3rd smaller one for doing light weight or liquid jobs.
Another excellent video, Ethan. You scored on two critical points… One, I use that exact same rigid shop vac., and two, I am a lifelong Asthmatic and this will make my time in the shop much more enjoyable! Thank you.
Awesome advise. Thanks for the scientific info. I have been using this for years and they’re excellent and A MUST HAVE. Keep up the great channel my friend!
This will sound silly, but besides the internal bags (whether paper or HEPA), I just cover the air-outlet with a HEPA bag and it catches any excess dust out back... yes, it blows up like a balloon, but it catches anything that sneaks through... and yes, we need to catch debris/dust in the front, not just for us, but to save the motor - so I use HEPA bags inside usually. Just saying, if you're doing some extra dusty (concrete, plaster, etc) clean ups, the outlet bag helps. 😉
Never knew the filter bags existed. Just installed a bag in my ShopVac and it is amazing how clean it keeps the inside of the vac. Not to mention getting rid of the exhaust dust.
Something I did not know, luckily a year ago we bought a ridged because we needed a shop vac and we like home depot. I will have to look out for the filter and bags set. Thank you very much. cheers.
Having a rather steep driveway, I simply roll the clogged filter down the drive, leaving a trail of sawdust in its path. Repeat as needed. Usually just one or two rolls gets it done while I safely watch from a distance. For my dust collection system, I use a cyclone to keep chunks out of the blower, then it all gets discharged outside, no filters to mess with.
Attic dust is a whole different beast, Michael. Especially with the blow-in insulation used over the years. Next time the bag+filter (and a good mask) will work wonders for you! 😄
Thanks for the info. But, I only use my shop vac right now for picking up water spills and I take out all my filters when doing this. I have other sealed Vacuums for picking up dust and dry particles on the floors of the basements and other places.
Another great video. I did hear about this before but just never bought the filter bags. I like the idea of the HEPA filter. I'll be looking into those.
I purchased a pleated HEPA filter many years ago and it clogged up really quick. I didn't know about cyclonic gizmos back then so I wrapped it in a t shirt which helped immensely.
Great video. I will have to look into those kits. At one point I had bought a bag filter for my Rigid Shop Vac but it didn't fit right. I had a 16 gallon unit but the blower detached to become a leaf blower and I think that was what was different. I don't have that shop or vac any longer so I can't check. Anyways what I did was use a Hepa filter and a cyclone dust separator and that eliminated almost all the dust I was generating (from sanding fiberglass) I think all 3 would work fantastic together as the bag and the filter would last a very long time with the separator collecting the big debris and most of the fine dust leaving the bag and cartridge filter to only have to collect the little bit of dust that got by.
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The way I tackled this when dealing with drywall dust was to attach a 15 foot hose to the exhaust port and stick that out the window so no air or dust was recirculating In the house
Life hacks
Thank you for being my neighbor, jerk.
I use the rigid muffler, works like a charm
Yeah, me too, with the long exhaust hose outside
Your neighbors must love you. A water vault works better so does using a fine particular dust bag. That added hose reduces you vacuums power and runs the fine dust through the vacuums impeller, wears it out much faster.
46yr old. Finally learned how to properly use a shopvac. Thank you.
I'm 40 now but when I was in my 20s learning my trades working for other people the man I learned drywall/painting from wasn't big on masks and shop vacs. My lungs ache constantly due to how much crap I breathed in. Take care of your lungs. I can't stress this enough.
You are so Right. Sorry to hear about your condition, have you ever been screened for lung cancer?
Also, the No 1 cancer is.......
1. Lung (1.8 million)
2. Colorectal (0.9 Million)
3. Liver (0.8 Million)
Lung Cancer is 2x the second most deadly
I agree completely
I had to quit carpentry at 25 from developing asthma
@@onenikkione Nope. Never been checked. I have so many health problems as it is and most of them are from work with the exception of Lyme disease/ fibromyalgia. For that one, I’m still not entirely sure which it is. I tested positive for Lyme years back but a tested negative the second time a few years back and fibromyalgia runs in my family but the only way to confirm it is to run several tests to rule everything else out which I can’t afford.
@@MotherAlgorithm I’m sorry to hear that. I had asthma as a child. It sucked and still bothers me sometimes.
We are new homeowners and last year bought a house built in 1880. It had a very old fireplace which was unusable due to the unlined chimney; because of this we assessed the best solution was to have a gas fireplace installed. But before that could happen, we needed to clean out the ash trap that had at least a 100 years of compacted ash. It took my husband and I a weekend to remove over 30 lbs of ash, (using our new shop vac and multiple HEPA filter bags. Yes; first we started from the fireplace and worked down. They we had to go to the basement ash return and work up). It was a messy job; but made much less messy with the proper tools and filters.
Thank you so much for this informative video. Thanks to you we had the proper tools for the job and were successful in our mission. Now we have a beautiful/functional fireplace for pesky Minnesota winters!
You can also knock off the dust from your filter using an orbital sander (without any sanding pads). The vibration will get most of the fine dust off
@The Honest Carpenter Ethan, I utilize a wet towel over my exhaust on my shopvac to catch any fine particulates that happen to pass through my HEPA filter cartridge. I just strape it down with some bungees and make sure to keep it damp. Great for working in an occupied residence.
Great idea. Thank you
Thank you! So many smart people out there …
Nice,,, a reverse swamp cooler :D
I used this method as a stop gap but the rag dried out almost instantly. Works well for a quick vacuum
Great idea, what kind of towel did you use?
Im glad that someone is going to make it big by being honest at something. Too many people getting their success from corruption and taking advantage. Never lose this honesty from your endeavors.
Always used a nutone hepa vac since I got my lead safety certifications 20 years ago! They are expensive and impractical but didn't have any other options for a long time! Since then I have come up with a few different options water filtration being the best! Used a two stage separation chamber to catch the bigger stuff, then water filtration for the third chamber! Keep s the dust from getting to the final filter and the weight from being to much for the main bulk of the material! Its kind of cumbersome and awkward but keeps my "Older" homes I work in more safe , and easier to clean up at the end of the project! Got the idea from the rainbow vacuum cleaner! Basically a cyclone system co.bined with a rainbow vac!
Many years ago I think I read in Consumer Reports or some other publication that rainbow vacs did not filter out particles even though rainbow claimed it worked. Of course maybe your system is effective, but I remember thinking how much work vacuuming had been for someone I had known in the late 80's who had purchased the expensive rainbow vac and hauled the heavy machine around her house vacuuming daily to improve conditions for her young children who suffered from asthma.
I've been preaching the use of barrel liners AND use of pleated filters at the same time for yrs. I've even figured out methods to retrofit barrel liners in older shop vacs that weren't designed for them. Thanks for explaining HEPA bags and their purpose.
Are you saying the barrel liners are better than non-barrel liners? My vacuum only has non-barrel liners available.
Have you by chance figured out how to use a barrel one on a small 4 gallon vac?
@@themikeroberts Are you talking about the paper filter that goes over your pleated filter and is usually held in place by a friction ring? Yes, that's better than just using the pleated filter. What I was talking about is converting older shop vacs that didn't come with barrel liners, to barrel liners. Most times it can be done. No way I can tell you without yours in front of me.
@@TheReal1953I wish you’d make a video just to explain the details.
@@gedionsamuel2256 Love to, but vids aren't in my bag of tricks.
Bought a 16 gal. Rigid at a Black Friday sale. Will get the bag set too. Catching fits cleaning drywall dust at a rehab vacation home. This is exactly what I need. I'm frugal, but this is a convenience I'm willing to pay for because I do not use it routinely. The slide to cover the opening is a good feature. I have 2 older model canister vacuum cleaners in which I use HEPAs. They make a world of difference for allergies. TKS!!!
I learned to add 2 pieces of duct tape onto the outside of filter bag to reinforce it where the debris hits the bag as it enters it. This keeps the sharp objects from tearing the bag and defeating its purpose.
Another thing I’d recommend is using a broom and dust pan for big loads of easy to get crud. It will save your bags and filters and the fine particles will not be essentially throwing a ton of particles into the air like the blower on your vacuum would.
I made my own system where everything goes into a large 50 gallon barrel and then goes to the shop vac. Basically a diy and larger version of the dust rite system by rockler. Works great and don't have to worry about filling up my shop vac. Getting the hepa upgrade for my ridgid is a no brainer.
And the money pit continues...
Greg you can tell who is too lazy to use a broom.🤣
@@thomashajicek2747 Aha, so that's what the shop vac "muffler" is for, TIL.
If I am using a broom I first throw down some damp sawdust or failing that lightly spray the floor with water from a spray bottle
@@duster. | Smart!
This was a great video - keeping our lungs safe is often overlooked by DIYers. Please do more videos like this - for healthy lungs, but also knees, and lower back.
I started putting one of these bags in my shop vac and it was such a blessing. Clean and no mess. I got mine from Amazon but saw that Walmart sells them too. Though you cant use it in wet mode., Its a must have!!!
I have never heard of the filter bag before. Thank you. I have a dust cyclone but don’t use that all the time for other uses. I notice my machine gets covered with particles. Can’t wait to try this!
I wondered if someone was going to mention the Cyclone... love those things!
Hi . I want you to know I’m a lung transplant recipient. And this is great news for me . And others.as I’m still able to do work with my 3m respirator. Boy it gets sweaty! This information will help keep me and others safe. Thanks
I also added a poor mans dust cyclone before my shop vac that I got from woodcraft. (Supply your own 5 gal bucket). Works great. Less replacement bags to buy.
Spreading safety knowledge is commendable, although most mechanics I know laugh at my concern for lungs, eyes, and ears.
I call these people morons. This is the reason why they are blue collar workers in the first place. Many years later they can't figure out why they have so many health issues. 🙄 Not all blue collar workers are this way. Some are really intelligent people. However, it has been my experience that the dumb ones outnumber the intelligent ones.
Yes, a healthy person usually feels that they can shake off and recover from these lung, eye and hearing threats without issue.....until you reach 65 or 70 years old and find out your functioning at a 90 year old level.
Hi, the inside bag option is not bad but I would think it reduces suction a lot. What I do... is use an old T-shirt and a couple elastic bands to cover the pleated filter. This extends its life and I tap the filter out periodically. children's T-shirts are a bit better because they fit better but not necessary. one large band at the top and a small band to tie off the neck and sleeve openings. or you can sew that shut, you get the idea 😁
Yes, this is a surprisingly little-known truth. I went through same learning frustration. Another revelation to me was when I added a dust deputy cyclone to that setup. Now my bags/filters last waaaaay longer.
Dust deputy is a game changer. I tell everyone about this thing
Wow!!!
This may be the most useful video I have seen on TH-cam since the last century.
I have a 9 gallon rigid 18 V vacuum right from the get-go. I placed a HEPA filter and a HEPA filtration bag on it and I haven’t looked back at the original filter. I can clean and do very fine work and not have to worry about the particles getting into the air and into my lungs.
If you’ve never used an air filter these are great. th-cam.com/users/postUgkx_dppjvjF8BYEmPSDTcgCUdRsgWYLXNHN I ended up with three after starting out with one. The noise level depends on the 1-3 settings with how hard you want the machine to work. You can also upgrade the filters and get one better for pet hair and smells which is a must have in my home. I noticed the air seemed lighter and easier to breathe when running the machine for the first time. Works great every time. Highly recommended!
Thank you so much. I've really been confused about my shop actually bags etc. You explained so clearly and it really hit me as far as the danger of tiny particulate matter being blown back into our breathing space. Really a great video. You also emanate honesty, decency and character.
Thank you, Marci! 🙏
Get a 25 foot pool hose, put your vac out side, hook up the pool hose to your vac leave vac out side, bring pool hose inside. Cheap, easy, no dust in the house.
Doing it this way, The dust ends up in your homes vents and finds it way back into your house and then your $10,000 air conditioning system is affected.
I used a similar method some 20 years ago on my large Sears craftsman vacuum. But I put a smaller vacuum bag (less expensive) over the pleated canister held and in place at the top with a large rubber band; and I also put a hepa cloth bag over the exhaust and that has been working for me. I’m 77 and still active in sports and in my workshop. Thanks for confirming my safety idea that as a lazy handyman and Mr cheap o, I found this solution on my own some 19 years ago…after I realized how expensive those replacement pleated canisters cost and how quickly they get clogged.
I haven't tried the bag but I always use the HEPA filter for my shop vac(rigid ). I use it as my home vacuum and it works great.
I have used HEPA canister filter from Rigid for few years to pickup drywall and ciment dust.
I highly recommend the 20~30$ investment in such filter.
And I regularly clean the filter with compressed air to restore the sucking power.
I've had one of the Craftsman 16 gallon shop vacuums for over 20 years. Use mostly in the outdoors on the cement pad. These machines run just fine without a filter.
Everybody probably already knows this, but adding a cyclonic separator inline before the shop vac will greatly extend the life of your shop vac and its filters. I use Rockler's and it makes a huge difference (probably would not use it for cement, I use it for wood chips and sawdust).
Amen 🙏🏼!!! If you only use a 5 gallon bucket and have it connected to your planer , keep an eye on it cuZ the bucket fills up really quick & then gets into vacuum & clogs filter
@@frankking1466 Frank, I had this EXACT scenario happen to me when I was helping my friend plane a bunch of reclaimed oak. Luckily I had an extra shop vac filter bag on hand.
@@Grauenwolf I actually bought a HEPA filter for the shop vac just recently. I haven't noticed any huge difference in performance for the price, honestly, but I felt like it was the right way to go.
Rebuilt an old Chevy . Not much, but I did use a little filler, just enough to fry my shop-vac's motor. Expensive lesson and have used a filter bag since.
I never even knew these bags existed for the shop vac. This will be a great edition to my diy dust collector. Thanks for the heads up and another great vid.
Its worth its value in gold. I won't even use my vac without one now, thats how much easier clean up and safety has become
? I dont know how u cant know about a bag. Its the cost that discourages people
I never considered using both the pleated filter AND the bag. I always thought it would inhibit suction too much but I really appreciate you pointing this out!
Use a sock works fantastic
@@MG-cd9ek Expand please,so you mean a pre filter?
@@wolfgangzrx nope just a sock. Works perfectly fine nothing else is required
@@MG-cd9ek Do you mean use a sock over the filter , in place of the filter or something else? Thanks
@@wolfgangzrx over top where the filter would go
Wow, thanks...great info! For some reason I've always thought the filters in these shop vacs (all brands) are HEPA compliant. In addition, I've never thought about where the exhaust air comes out of it until this video. Since the air has to go through the cylindrical filter...that means it exhausts thru the grillworks on the center top cover. No wonder that there always seems to be very fine dust particles on the top cover.
Hey, I love my shop vacs in the garage for quick clean ups instead of having to use a broom. I'm sure they're very much appreciated in a shop as well, but they sure give a false sense of security for your lungs!
After watching this video and a few others, I bought a 12 gallon Rigid with the hepa filters. Such a big difference!!! Thank You again for your help and insights!!!
I see many alternatives listed here to your solution. I believe they do not take into account the average homeowner wants an effective solution that is easy to install. The price of the filter and bags is around $50. That's an excellent cost for a highly effective system in an average household. Thanks again for your advice HC.
I have been running a Ridgid 6.5 hp wet/ dry vac for 20+ years. It is a tool I rely on daily with the budget filters that Ridgid sells. I have used that vac for things that would make you cringe. Best tool ever! As far as all the particles, well I'm pretty old and never planned on living forever anyway...
Seems like adding a seal to the motor enclosure and where the top of canister fits would add to the bag and Hepa filter improvements. I moved from a "improved" Craftsman Vac to a Festool Vac years ago and feel the difference is worth the $.
My good friend, a professional carpenter, introduced me to shopvac bags. Amazing, I can vacuum up all kinds of dust, even drywall dust and the outlet air is clean :)
Not only do I always use a filter bag, but also use a Rockler Dust Right dust separator that significantly prolongs the longevity of each $6 fillet bag that would otherwise get clogged and filled up very quickly.
They're also great for picking up water, which is why I typically leave my filter off the thing. I have a big 2hp dust collector for sawdust/chips, etc. that I modified so that instead of the exhaust going into a big 70 gallon bag, it now exhausts through a straight pipe through the back wall of my garage. No filtration needed.
I use a “Herky Filters” reusable felt bag in my 14 gallon Ridgid and a CleanStream Hepa filter. Both are reusable and washable and have lasted me two years of moderate use and still going strong. I even tested it a while back by vacuuming up some fine powder that reacts to UV light and room stayed clean.
Herky filters bags cost like $32 and are reusable and washable. I think the cleanstream reusable and washable filter costs like $35 or so.
Much better deal than using those green hepa bags and filters.
Just got a new Shop Vac brand 4 gal 5.5 HP vac at Lowe's. Are the Herky Filters compatible with my model? Thanks.
I always put a bit of 🌊 water in the bottom of my shop vac. Water seems to help collect the dust and keep the dust inside of the vac instead of having it blasted all around the room.
How often is it washed and sanitized? A recipe for musty stinky germy moldy ..... Try to convince someone that wants the convenience of a wet vac to pick up a pet mess and think the job is done when they move the wet vac back to wherever it was stored and let it get rancid. I'd just use a rag and go to the sink.
Other options, get more hose, put it on the exhaust port and stick exhaust hose out a window. Or, put the entire vac out side, use extra hose to reach where needed, quieter too. Also, after cleaning filter and changing bag (do this outside), start the vacuum once while outside. It will emit a puff of dust, only then take inside to use.
Wish I could do that with my dust collector but it would pull all the conditioned air out of my shop in about two minutes. I am building a closet around it to block noise and force the expelled air to pass through hi merv HVAC filters before coming back into the shop
My shop vac has noticably MORE suction when I don't use filters. So, I do what you suggest, and use a long suction hose with the vac outside. The larger waste is still collected inside the vac.
@@padraics Possibly pass the air thru a heat exchanger and out?
this is a way better solution and one people could actually use... no one is going to stick with those bags past 1 or 2 uses, too much inconvenience
Excellent video, thank you!
I started using a shop vac 2 days ago and thought of not bothering with the filter & bag (I suspect this is common) in order to save time/effort..
But just realised I'd be completing a lot less projects with the additional time spent in the hospital in the long run 😅
I have about 50' of hose. Depending on the job I either keep the base close to a window or door and have an exhaust hose made up of one or two segments, and a long vacuum hose for the work. The alternative is a short vacuum hose and drag the base around with a longer exhaust hose. I like this guy's idea but it still doesn't catch everything. We have a dog that sheds a lot and you can smell the dander through any filter, those oils become vapor in the vacuum process. Test it with a few drops of perfume and a brand new hepa filter. It will instantly fill the house (for better or worse.) With an exhaust hose there's no smell.
Thanks
That's because HEPA isn't designed to capture smells. Use an activated carbon filter if you want to rid of organic compounds.
longer hoses are nice but there are flow losses and you wont have as much suction.
@@Kurt1968 Flow loss is not an issue when the hose is on the exhaust side.
@@soritessoreites1207 I can't hit you on the head with the math but it is. Resistance in the path from atmosphere in to out, the motor is in the middle instead of at the end. Normally vacs are run with no resistance on the exhaust, but here is the exception. Total resistance throttles the airflow and dirt as well.
I keep a couple extra filters and clean them when they get dirty. First I use compressed air, spraying it along the pleats, then I use water and never direct the stream straight into the pleats but along the pleats. Washing from the inside helps to keep it clean inside. Then I set them out or inside where a dehumidifier is and dry them out. This is the same method used to clean the CAT filters at my work for 36 years.
In my experience, using a cyclone dust separator hooked up to a shop vac is by far the best way. Even the bag stays cleaner so just imagine the vacuum’s filters. Dust disposal is also way more manageable and practical.
I installed a separator almost a year ago and can easily say it was one of the best thing I've done to the shop all categories.
Does using a dust separator reduce the cfm of the vacuum.
@@pck9465 In my honest experience, it actually increases the suction. No data though, and maybe it’s because of my hose setup.
Some people have used a pool filter " sock " to put around the filter . And when it gets too dirty , just to throw away and replace it .
I made a homemade "cyclonic" separator with two 5 gallon buckets and a "thien" baffle. Shoddily assembled with orange buckets, hot glue, tuck tape, flexible vac hose and 2 in pvc piping and the bottom of one of the buckets cut into a baffle. I connected it to my 12 Gal Ridgid that has a bag and the 3 layer blue filter Only the finest even makes it into the bag. Contrary to fearmongers, plenty of ultra fines get trapped in the separator, not just big chips.
I made a cyclone dust separator too & didn’t even have to go buy anything for it!! Had pvc kickin around, had a 5 gallon bucket, some hot glue and even had some caster’s thanks to my hoarding/collection techniques!!!😊…I Frankenstein’d it & it works amazingly. Everyone says the bucket tips over & yes it did. So why not screw bucket to a piece of plywood/melamine/osb that’s a cpl inches bigger all the way around and throw some casters on it, mine hasn’t tipped yet!!! 👌🏼
I should patent the idea!!! 🤣 no joke, try it and see.
You claim that “plenty of ultrafines get trapped in the separator”. How do you know that?
@@donbushek Considering the types of dust I vacuum, I should clog my filter AND have stuff ejected in the back after the vacuum IF the assumption that these separators only collect chips and large particle sizes.
The fact that the bucket is caked with extremely fine powder below the baffle, that my vacuum inside is not, and the filter remains clean tells me I do trap a lot of very fine particles BEFORE the vaccum. Without the separator, the filter gets caked very fast even through a bag.
I've used blue painters tape to tape a couple towels to the end that blows the air out. I also take an extension piece and put the towel over that, then I can just remove it when I don't need a filter.
I do it just as recommended here in your video. But I also added the Home Depot Duststopper for about $60 including pail (cyclone lid for 5 gallan pail) By adding the duststopper it takes forever to fill my Hepa rated bag. I am talking year plus. An in that time I will dump about 20 full five gallon pails of wood chips and fine saw dust. Cyclones are supposed to act as a first stage filter for large particles and wood chips from say a planer, but I find it collects 99% of everything, only 1% (and it is all fine dust) gets to the bag. I also saw some other comments about reduces suction. Not if you buy the right vaccum. I have the Ridgid 16 gallon and it is a beast. With hepa bag and filter, plus the Duststopper in play, I have plenty of suction for my table top planer and jointer, as well as jobsite table saw, bandsaw, and tracksaw, sander, etc. Zero complaints. Not as convenient as a ducted, blast gated, dust collector, but not nearly as expensive either:)! And I will agree that it reduces measured suction, but what counts is does it collect the debris, and the answer is yes. It is like saying, well if you turn on the AC your going to use more gas when driving your car, that's true, but you will be a lot cooler:)!
Very well put, Garry! 😁 I got the dust stopper too, as opposed to a larger cyclone. It’s already doing it’s job, I just left it for the dust collection video. Great to hear yours is working so well! Home Depot really has a killer line of vacs and dust management tools.
This conversation answered my question related to the HD dust stopper. Thanks!
@@TheHonestCarpenter I just went through a very dusty basement remodel with my Ridgid shop vac + a dust deputy. I also had a bag + HEPA filter on most of the time. I did try the dust stopper early on and it was great for pulling up gravel when laying pipe under the concrete floor but wasn't quite as good as the dust deputy for fine dust. I really do not like how tall the dust deputy is but still use it regularly. I'd probably be happier if I stayed with the dust stopper.
Even with these 3 layers of defense I'd get fine dust all over inside the vac which is quite frustrating. They don't design these to be very easy to clean - its just a maze of plastic support structures. If you vacuum up something that doesn't smell great (burned sawdust from a router) you will saturate the bag and filter and will smell it for days. I wish there was a better solution but for the price it is hard to beat what Ridgid has to offer. Pair that with a single-button wireless remote and it's a pretty sweet setup.
I bought one about 3 months ago to replace an older shop vac. Since I was removing drywal stuff, I also bought the bag. I loved it.
Been enjoying mine too, Patrick!
This is an excellent video, Ethan! I was wondering if you'd cover HEPA filters and you did!! A lot of people don't get to that. Be aware that your Ridgid shop vac HEPA set-up can leak and the only way to verify it is not leaking due to a breach in the filter or incorrect seating of the filter is to conduct a challenge test. This is normally done with vac's that are used to vacuum asbestos and lead containing dust to ensure that the HEPA filtration is working properly. As someone who has worked in the Haz Mat field, I've seen HEPA equipped systems fail the challenge test. Another good thing to do is to wet dusty materials to keep the dust levels down. 👍👍👍
For over a year now, I’ve had difficulty finding filter bags, I assume something related to COVID. So this summer I was looking for a brand new vac. I couldn’t find bags for my 2 pretty old Fein’s, none for 2 fairly new Stanley’s, And Shop Vac bags have been out of stock at Lowes forever! I had seen good performance out of my employee’s Rigid, but not a single size/model came with a desposeable bag! I discovered that Stihl made a shop vac and it is awesome. Still, the store I bought it from didn’t stock replacement bags. Thanks for your work!
Honest Carpenter, thank you thank you thank you 🙏🏾 you are educating the people about harmful vacuum exhaust products 🕊 the SAME thing happen with non-HEPA home vacuums, too 😵
Great Video. I've been doing it right. 1 trick that I use to clean out the Shop Vac Filter Pleet's is use a Portable Mini Leaf Blower!!!! WORKS GREAT for blowing off the Saw's & Tools of debris before putting them away too. Many uses and my Mini Leaf Blower uses the same Rechargeable Battery Packs as my Drill, Impact Driver's, Grinders and Circular Saw so I suggest trying out a similar setup.
Good point about using a pre-filter to preserve the main one, but even using bags as designed, a cyclonic dust separator is a better pre-filter than a bag, or any pre-filter that uses a fibrous or physical filtering medium. All physical filtering media block the air flow to some extent, by sticking obstructions (the filter media fibers) in the way of the air flow to catch the particles. This does filter out particles, but it also slows the air flow, causing the motor to have to compensate by speeding up (if it can, and losing 'suck' if it cannot) and potentially burning out early. A cyclonic dust separator also pre-filters, but without using obstructive filter media. It causes the airflow to make a cyclonic turn on the way to the filter, which the air molecules can follow a lot easier than the dust particles can, causing them to drop out into the bucket, and sending on much cleaner air for the main filter to screen. And it does this pre-filtering without hindering the air flow (well, perhaps imperceptibly, but a lot less than physical media does).
If only Miele would make a Shop-Vac their vacuums are divine meaning before they went and made that ridiculous thing called a non-bag vacuum of the bane of existence.
For someone who already has a shop-vac, adding a filter bag is a cheap and easy hack that will save cleanup time and remove a percentage of particulates. If upgrading to a cyclonic separator was as cheap as a filter bag, it would make a great option.
What if you were to use both the bag and cyclo filter? Less suction but absolutely cleaner exhaust?
its not imperceptible , i measured a loss of 7 inches water lift and about 25 cfm using a dust cyclone, i tried this with several different brands and several different wet dry vacs, still its worth it usually , but i like my miter saw dust chute to have the most suction possible
@@mainsource8030 What about with the extra filtering as described? I'm curious if you also tested that, and if so, whether it caused a greater loss than the cyclonic action did?
We have two big dust collectors, vents, exhaust fans, duct work, and a pick up truck just for sawdust. Plus four big shop vacs and a Festool vacuum cleaner system which attaches to our festools.Also, two fresh air respirators, and other masks for painting cars. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣And nobody is using them! I couldn’t resist telling you! And we use some of the vacs the wrong way, but on job sites in peoples homes we used the Festool vacuum. Just forgive me and let me rejoice over my past. It was so much fun. I may talk myself into finishing some benches or making some birdhouses. And you know, it really is important to avoid breathing a lot of dust. Thank you for the helpful video. I really liked it.
Oh dang turns out I have been doing it all along but I did learn about pulling up the tab to stop dust when taking bag out.
Thank you, Edie! You were on top of safety long before I was by the sounds of it 😅 Those tabs are a great addition though!
I just found out I was doing the same thing, using the shop vac all wrong.
Thank you. This is ANOTHER very useful video by The Honest Carpenter. I'm taking your advice TODAY! When it comes to your health and safety the cost isn't really a debatable point.
One thing to keep in mind is that your body also filters the air you breathe. The reason small particles are so bad is that they can get very far into your lungs and get stuck. In the case of exhaust from vehicles, this means carrying carcinogens deep into your lungs. Obviously what you are vacuuming important to how dangerous the dust is.
Yes, but you don’t want you “built in filters”, Aka lungs to be filed with this stuff. Can’t shake those out 😆
Always good to control and limit the bad stuff going into your body as best you can, but also remember that your body is incredibly efficient at expelling toxins and foreign objects. Lungs are pretty incredible. Again best to limit and avoid, but in most cases limited exposure is nothing to lose sleep over.
I dread cleaning my shop vac filter. Now, I wait for a day when the wind is consistent and use a leaf blower. Works great!
I just the same shop vac and use a filter and bag, plus a special filter for fine dust. Plus I wear a mask when dealing with drywall dust. But then again I read the instructions lol
Well that just makes a whole lotta sense 😆. Finally.
I love watching your videos. I purchased a fine dust bag with my shop vac but I always learn something new watching your videos. Thank you.
Thank you, TJ! I appreciate you watching. That fine dust bag will cut down on your air contaminants drastically 🙂
Wow I really appreciate the advice! It's crazy how you cover the most basic concepts which people like myself, who have been in the trades for a few years now, didn't know. Thanks again!
I just bought myself the Ridgid HD1600 and the HEPA filter to upgrade from the filter it came with. I just had no idea about the bag I could also use to catch the dirt im vacuuming. Thanks to you and this video, I'm getting one tomorrow.
I use an old t-shirt or pillow case over the filter when doing maintenance on commercial dryers and use a hose on the exhaust hose like someone else mentioned. It extends the life of the cartridge significantly.
I bought a house that happened to have central vac that exhausts outside. I used that as my shop vac for this very reason, no dust inside the house.
When you get the bag slice open the side of the bag and roll the edge and bulldog clips it back up, it makes it easy to empty the bag and get many more uses from it.
I have added the “Dust Deputy” to my Rigid shop vac and has kept most of the dust in the 5 gallon bucket.....
For drywall I use the dust deputy, then a drywall filter bag, then a HEPA filter. Without the drywall filter bag, the HEPA filter would still fill up after a while, even though the Dust Deputy would take about 95% of the sanded compound. With the bag, it's a lot longer between having to swap out or clean the HEPA filter for a fresh one.
What is this Dust Deputy you mentioned?
@@angellas.1314 An add on cyclone dust separator. Dust Deputy was the first major make to the consumer market.
I have a wireless Ridgid 3 gal shop vac that used their 18v batteries. I put a HEPA filter into it, but it does not have a compatible bag. However, I saw a great tip where somebody was also putting a cheap Multi-fit filter over the HEPA filter. It keep large particles from getting into the HEPA filters pleats and it makes it easier to clean and extends its life. not as good as a bag but probably the next best thing.
I have been using an old pillow case for years, works even with drywall dust.
So you use the pillow case instead of a bag? Or instead of the filter?
@@angellas.1314 Instead of the filter. I use large elastic band to hold in place
This will not filter out fine particles. You can't see them.
@@danielwilliams3332 You are correct Daniel, but I do not need to worry about fine particles, it is good enough for what I do.
Look and learn from the internet! Most of us have graduated to a cylone of some sort. I too still have a Hepa filter, but it usually lasts about 10 years when I have forgotten to keep my 5 gallon bucket from emptying. Now that is savings I can use in another way!
The bags are cheaper than the filter, but not much
I’ve reused the bags by cutting it open and reseal it
I rely on an N95 mask and use a spare hose connected to the exhaust port to blow dust outside, not in the room you’re working in
Thanks Ethan ! I went out and bought those filters before I started my drywall job in the house. WHAT A DIFFERENCE !
Like night and day between standard pleated filters, Ed! 😄
I added an old sock over the exhaust pipe on our ShopVac. Amazing how much particulate matter/dust just blows out the exhaust. Those specialty dust bags are pretty expensive @ $18.00 for just two bags.
knee high panty hose work good, too.
@@meabobthanks! that brought a smile to my face ...I hope that was a spell check insertion of the word "pantyhose" when typing or dictating the word "hose" as I'm trying to picture myself with the stockings coming to my knees and then the panties (with no thighs or hips) I would look really funny & I expect you'd be laughing at me too
Buy a duststopper and 5 gallon pail at Home Depot and you'll never fill a bag, of if you do, it will be in a different income tax year.
Been doing this for several years , Thanks for putting a YTV ! They are worth every dollar they charge . !
Never realized they make bags for the shop vac. Learning something new
THANK you for that great advice. I WILL follow it.
Now, I've got a little something for you. It sounds like you have SHEETROCK on all your walls and ceiling. It makes for a rough understanding conversation. If you will put "Beaver-Board" is the old name for it. Or drop panel acoustic tiles onto your ceiling, that will cure most of your sound problems. TV and radio Stations, Band Rooms, etc have square acoustic panels with 400 holes in each one in a grid pattern. That will make your voice sound so much clearer and will be easier to understand conversations in that room.
Thanks for your advice. I Will follow it.
Bill, from Tn. 🇺🇸
This was EXTREMELY useful information. I was in the process of trying to vacuum up cement dust and was hesitant and not sure to rely on
the filter that came with it, as it blows dust from the exhaust side of the vacuum. Thank you very much!
You’re welcome! Be especially careful with that cement dust-definitely want to use a good mask too no matter what!
@@TheHonestCarpenter Eh .. nothing better better than some rock solid lungs!
When I purchased my Ridgid wet/dry vac, I also purchased the filter bags along with it. I have never used my vac without it.
I have that vacuum and am preparing to set up my first home shop, so this was very timely. I'll check it out!
To clean the cartridge quick I simply take it outside and hit it with the leaf blower, racking it across the pleats. As long as your not down wind it works great, cartridge looks almost brand new and works like new.
Wow, thanks for opening my eyes to a problem that has always been in my shop. I'll start using the bags again. I stopped a while back thinking that when I added my cyclone to the shopvac system everything would be fine. The cyclone does work well but I have always had that fine covering of smaller particles all over my shop. I'll pay more attention, thanks to your explanation. You are amazing.
I keep one for large debri and one for small fine stuff.
Your old home vacs had the right idea.. Bag it.
3rd smaller one for doing light weight or liquid jobs.
Another excellent video, Ethan. You scored on two critical points… One, I use that exact same rigid shop vac., and two, I am a lifelong Asthmatic and this will make my time in the shop much more enjoyable! Thank you.
And longer.
@@angellas.1314 heh….. get it?
Tried the bag and it works great. I had fine dust and it seemed less dust and the paint chips were already bagged. Thanks again.
Awesome advise. Thanks for the scientific info. I have been using this for years and they’re excellent and A MUST HAVE. Keep up the great channel my friend!
Thank you, zawsas!
My issue is, I can hardly afford a filter, let alone a hepa and a bag. So, my vac sits in the garage unused😶😒
For large stuff on my garage floor a use a large squeegee and dust pan. The squeege doesn't stir up a lot of dust, then the vac for the rest
What about filling the shopvac partway with water and directing the intake downward?
...and fitting a fireproof hemispherical reservoir to the hose and another hose on the opposite side of the shopvac that...umm...never mind
I think that's messy
This will sound silly, but besides the internal bags (whether paper or HEPA), I just cover the air-outlet with a HEPA bag and it catches any excess dust out back... yes, it blows up like a balloon, but it catches anything that sneaks through... and yes, we need to catch debris/dust in the front, not just for us, but to save the motor - so I use HEPA bags inside usually. Just saying, if you're doing some extra dusty (concrete, plaster, etc) clean ups, the outlet bag helps. 😉
Never knew the filter bags existed. Just installed a bag in my ShopVac and it is amazing how clean it keeps the inside of the vac. Not to mention getting rid of the exhaust dust.
Something I did not know, luckily a year ago we bought a ridged because we needed a shop vac and we like home depot. I will have to look out for the filter and bags set. Thank you very much. cheers.
Having a rather steep driveway, I simply roll the clogged filter down the drive, leaving a trail of sawdust in its path. Repeat as needed. Usually just one or two rolls gets it done while I safely watch from a distance. For my dust collection system, I use a cyclone to keep chunks out of the blower, then it all gets discharged outside, no filters to mess with.
This is the ONLY VIDEO explaining this clearly . Thank you
Great info. Cleaning the attic, the dust from the exhaust was miserable . Wish I had seen your video first. Thank-you.
Attic dust is a whole different beast, Michael. Especially with the blow-in insulation used over the years. Next time the bag+filter (and a good mask) will work wonders for you! 😄
Thanks for the info. But, I only use my shop vac right now for picking up water spills and I take out all my filters when doing this. I have other sealed Vacuums for picking up dust and dry particles on the floors of the basements and other places.
Another great video. I did hear about this before but just never bought the filter bags. I like the idea of the HEPA filter. I'll be looking into those.
I purchased a pleated HEPA filter many years ago and it clogged up really quick. I didn't know about cyclonic gizmos back then so I wrapped it in a t shirt which helped immensely.
Great video. I will have to look into those kits. At one point I had bought a bag filter for my Rigid Shop Vac but it didn't fit right. I had a 16 gallon unit but the blower detached to become a leaf blower and I think that was what was different. I don't have that shop or vac any longer so I can't check. Anyways what I did was use a Hepa filter and a cyclone dust separator and that eliminated almost all the dust I was generating (from sanding fiberglass) I think all 3 would work fantastic together as the bag and the filter would last a very long time with the separator collecting the big debris and most of the fine dust leaving the bag and cartridge filter to only have to collect the little bit of dust that got by.