2014 ShopVac Advice

Hi WWF,


I need help on picking my next ShopVac. I currently have a Kincrome ShaopVac and it is the biggest pile of vac i have ever used.


I already have a Hafco Dust Extractor with 4" pipe running to each of my machines so I dont want to get into the usual debate on proper dust extraction vs shopvac extraction.


I mainly use my current shopvac while electric sanding and getting sawdust from places my broom wont reach. I also use it on occasion on my router, track saw and my SCMS.


Required Mandatory Specs are as follows:
- Must have awesome suction (3600l/min seems to be the best you can expect)
- Has to have at a min a 5 metre hose
- Budget is $400-$500


Ideally it would be quiet. My current ShopVac is one of the loudest tools in my cave. Additionally there is only one place in my man cave it can live which means it cant be much wider then 350mm. I dont care if it has a power tool connector or if it does wet extraction. 15 litre capacity should be sufficient.


One of the guys at SyndeyTools suggested the Elsea 1400W 21L Electric Wet & Dry Vacuum - EFWP12521 however I dont think he thought very hard about my question. I did have my heart set on the Festool 1200W 17L CLEANTEC Mobile Dust Extractor Vacuum - CT 17 however when i heard a 5 metre hose was another $180 i quickly changed my mind.


Any guidance would be greatly appreciated. I dont wont another Kincrome dud.

I was going to suggest looking at a built in / central vac unit but looking at a few built in your neck of the woods show the price being a bit over your budget. Maybe there is an imported one that is less costly. The upside would be that you could exhaust them outside and they are quieter than the kind you have at the moment. The downside would be your wife feeling she should have one in the house and not you. :o :doh:

Pete

Maybe you could try one of these http://www.vacbagdirect.com.au/defau...v01-vb304.html
but I seem to recall somebody on here has had trouble with the outlet blocking when used for fine sander dust.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fuzzie

Maybe you could try one of these http://www.vacbagdirect.com.au/defau...v01-vb304.html
but I seem to recall somebody on here has had trouble with the outlet blocking when used for fine sander dust.

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You had me interested there for a couple of minutes. Not enough detail on the site though and i am keen to get feedback from owners.

I've got one that I bought very cheap at SuperCheap Auto when they were deleting them as a stock line. It works great as a normal type vac for doing the car etc, but other than once or twice I don't use it for tools.

I put a Thein pre separator on the inlet to mine (still there) which makes for easy emptying, but then I ended up adding a reducer to a Y junction on my 4" dust collector hose and connect a vac hose from the 2hp dust collector to my ROS and electric planer when I use those powered handtools. Seems to work OK, but I've got no dust particle measurements to quote. I'm not sure that suck would be powerful enough for a SCMS.

There is a fair bit of dust in my garage which is almost entirely the fault of the contractor style saw and I now always don a dust mask as well whenever I run the dust collector.

I bought a 1600w Shop Vac from Masters. I have it connected to a Dust Deputy and I am very happy with it. Had it for about three years without any trouble and it has great suction. Would have got a Festool if it wasn't about eight times more expensive. The only thing missing is the automatic start up when switching on the powertool.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by safari

I bought a 1600w Shop Vac from Masters. I have it connected to a Dust Deputy and I am very happy with it. Had it for about three years without any trouble and it has great suction. Would have got a Festool if it wasn't about eight times more expensive. The only thing missing is the automatic start up when switching on the powertool.

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Brand?

All shop vacs (even expensive ones) can be OK when they are new but unfortunately the very quickly become contaminated and they can end up being net fine dust emitters rather than collectors. Of course people cannot see this and most wouldn't even know this happens.
This means that dust (and noise) wise it's far better to duct your workshop with 50 mm ducting and then vent or put the vacuum cleaner outside.
Have a look at what John Samuel or FenceFurniture did with their set ups.

BTW the info provided on flow rate of the VC is less useful than the pressure it can generate.
The manufacturers claims of 3600 L/s will generally be with new filters and no hose and tool.
As soon as the filters start to block up and a hose and tool are added then expect something like 1000 L/s.
As a guide the bigger the diameter of hose is the better but adding a tool with a constricted port sort of negates this.

Damienol, The brand is Shop Vac.

https://www.masters.com.au/product/1...ry-vacuum-grey

I ended up getting this one https://www.masters.com.au/product/1...ry-vacuum-grey
I didnt realize when I bought it but it can blow as well, really really well!
So now at the end of the day I mostly blow all the shaving out the roller door, much quicker : )
Also used with a DD

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by safari

Damienol, The brand is Shop Vac.

https://www.masters.com.au/product/1...ry-vacuum-grey

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Thanks Safari however a generic Masters branded Vac does not inspire a lot of confidence. Feels like another Kincrome

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BobL

BTW the info provided on flow rate of the VC is less useful than the pressure it can generate.
The manufacturers claims of 3600 L/s will generally be with new filters and no hose and tool.
As soon as the filters start to block up and a hose and tool are added then expect something like 1000 L/s..

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Thanks BobL however shopvac manufacturers consistently provided limited specification information.

I am starting to think the Fein may be the way to go - http://www.sydneytools.com.au/produc...dust-extractor

Slightly lower spec then the Festool however it comes wit the 5 meter hose included

The decision has been made and it is the Fein Dustex 40. - http://www.sydneytools.com.au/produc...dust-extractor

I didn't want to risk having a vac of lower spec then the Festool so I upgraded my thinking from the Dustex 25 to the 40 ( The Dustex 40 has greater suction then the FT)

I also managed to stay within budget by referencing https://www.tradetools.com/products/DUSTEX%2040 and telling Sydney tools I would like to take advantage of their "Lowest Price Guarantee" and got another 11% off. Final purchase price $445.

Plenty of connectors included so I have managed to extend the supplied 5m hose with my existing 2m Kincrome hose. One surprise exclusion in the kit is an upholstery brush

First impressions - Nice Vac. Much quitter then then the Kincrome (I can now hear my ROS when the vac is on), plenty of suction and the variable suction function and 2000w tool port will come in hand one day.