Shopvac Recommendations (Hoover, Vacuum Cleaner, Dust/Chip Collection)

[Lee Jones 6Participant @leejones6]

Looking at a few options, although I'm not sure how any of them will cope with oily chips.

Wondering whether to go with a large all-in-one solution or to choose a compact but powerful machine placed in series with a collection bucket (Cyclone or Thien Baffle) system.

Besides hoovering after the fact ( which is my current 'solution' ) what do you guys do?

Edited By Lee Jones 6 on 09/10/2020 10:25:54

[Lee Jones 6Participant @leejones6]

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Pair of gloves for the big stuff (Machine stationary) then an ordinary cheapo shop vac from your local screw supplier. Yes, the tube will block up if you suck up the big stuff, but …..

The bit of oil which you will suck up doesn't seem to cause a problem. Also, with the appropriate PSE you can use the blow function to clear sideways etc – saves using the compressor.

[Lee Jones 6Participant @leejones6]

Probably should have mentioned that I'm looking for more of a shop-wide solution.

CNC router, milling machine, table saw, etc.

Until this point I've been using an old upright Dyson. However oil (complete with associated stuck chips) has made its way into the ribs of the retractable hose such that it will not retract fully anymore, meaning it can no longer be stowed properly.

[VicParticipant @vic]

I sweep up the big hose clogging bits then hoover up the rest with a Nilfisk wet and dry vac. Rather than blow swarf all over the workshop with a blow gun I often hoover chips away regularly as I machine a job. I bought the Nilfisk when it was on special offer from ScrewFix some years ago. It’s been absolutely brilliant, is not too noisy and can be used with or without bags. Handily you can also connect the hose to the output side so you can use it for blowing stuff with a suitable nozzle if you need to.

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

For a small workshop I bought one of the Aldi ash vacuums – like many of the woodchip vacuum systems a drum with side entering hose + extractor fan on a removable top but without the internal bag – the supplied tube was a relatively smooth bore unlike those in domestic vacuums but of relatively short length and fairly rigid – this had the advantage that swarf seldom blocked it but the disadvantage that the receptacle had to be fairly close to the machine – I built it into a cupboard near my lathe to which the tube would reach and a friend printed me an adapter for the Henry range vacuum hoses so that I could change tubes and reach my mill which produced chips rather than swarf – The Aldi system was much cheaper than seen elsewhere but like all Aldi stuff it tends to be available only for a short period. Whether it would serve for a more heavy semi-industrial use is debatable for my small workshop works well.

[Lee RogersParticipant @leerogers95060]

Clear up the big or long swarf by hand then Karcher wet and dry vac . Doesn't have the blow facility but takes all the abuse I can dish out. Hang on to any good spare hoses , they can be used as extensions or be dedicated to oily swarf / wood and avoid sawdust and oil mixing. As for swarf and electrics mixing I've found the bag system keeps things where they should be. Mine is 10 years old and going strong.

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

VCB43B1-70 bagged cylinder – mine was £44 from Argos. Long or bulk swarf is best swept up first, but it's ideal for fine brass chips, even oily ones, and it'll clean out the T-slots on my Warco too.

New bag every 2 – 8 weeks depending on level of activity, but then I don't shift the Cu.Ins./min. some of you do.

Think you can still get them, but even if not there're bound to be near-equivalents. Works very well for me and I wouldn't want to spend much more when I could be buying tools or materials.

Edited By Mick B1 on 09/10/2020 11:21:13

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Have you looked at wood chip vacuum systems. try AXMINSTER tools or suppliers like them for something like this

NUMATIC NVD750 WORKSHOP VACUUM EXTRACTOR

[mechman48Participant @mechman48]

I replaced my old Vax wet & dry vacuum with a smaller but more powerfull wet & dry cleaner from Screwfix ( usual disclaimer ) which also has the blow function… Titan TTB350 vac 1300W, wet & dry plus a pack of 10 spare bags, all at a very reasonable price, it certainly has the suction to shift stuff, the only down side it has a shorter hose than the old Vax.

George.

[Martin ConnellyParticipant @martinconnelly55370]

I got a Lidl version of the one Frances bought. Does the job well with the addition of a length of 1" water pipe from a pond supply shop for local flexibility (still relatively stiff compared to domestic vacuum hose). Together with a Cyclone magnetic sweeper and a selection of brushes I am covered for most small bits. Search for ash vacuum cleaner on line, there are plenty to look at.

Martin C

[Brian Sweeting 2Participant @briansweeting2]

As you have a few machines would a central vacuum system, home made of course, be a worthwhile thought?

Rigid plastic tube from each machine back to the vacuum with a local, short, flexible plugged in as required.

[Oily RagParticipant @oilyrag]

Originally I used a Dirt devil but jumped at the Wet n Dry Hoover being relegated from house duty after Mrs Rag became besotted with a Dyson. That lasted many years until it finally expired during the early phase of lockdown due to overuse in the 'Great Spring Tidy Up 2020'. Now replaced by the old Vax rug cleaner(another wet n dry) which was working OK but Mrs Rag fell in love with the New Vax all singing and danced scrubber carpet cleaner.

Both the Hoover (RIP) and the Vax had/have 1300W motors and can fire a 3/8 W nut at supersonic speed into the receiver bucket! Never had a great problem with swarf clogging the flexy pipes.

[Lee Jones 6Participant @leejones6]

Looks like Aldi are doing the ubiquitous (Lidl, Silverline, Titan, Einhell, VacMaster) silver Darlic for £49 and has amazing reviews. Probably stick a cyclone on that and call it done.

And yes, the plan is to run rigid uPVC piping around the shop (also need to do that for my air compressor).

Thanks for all your inputs guys. Your help, as usual, is invaluable.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I have a Lidl ash vac too but it has a shorter hose than the same thing when sold as a normal vac. I'm slightly worried that as an ash vac is normally used for only about 10 seconds uness you are emptying Battersea power station grate then might it overheat / void warranty if used for regular stuff.

Edited By Bazyle on 09/10/2020 18:55:09

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

I have a Karcher and it performs well, I like the paper bag inside the body which means you can get rid of all the debris in one go, it has phenomenal suction and clears any amount of swarf off machines and will keep the floor clean as well. Don’t regret buying it, previously used an old Dyson upright, forever clogging the hoses with oil and swarf.
Dave W

[Steve NeighbourParticipant @steveneighbour43428]

I have Numatic Henry, which has good suction and copes with all my swarf except the long spiral stuff, bags are strong enough to contain sharp strands and are reasonably priced.

Edited By Steve Neighbour on 09/10/2020 19:59:23

[IanTParticipant @iant]

Numatic Henry – (car boot purchase – may be awhile till we get to those again) but now coupled to a cyclone filter with a large screw-top tub underneath.

As others suggest – sweep the large swarf up with a brush and pan (kept for that purpose) but then just vac up the rest. The cyclone really does seem to get most of it – the bag stops the rest but doesn't need changing anywhere near as often now. I've 3D printed hose adaptors for my wood working tools but just use an ordinary vacuum cleaner accessory for general cleaning up.

Works well.

Regards,

IanT

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

When, despite all reasonable care and pre-vacuum sweeping, the hose on my workshop Henry blocks up I remove it pass a suitably stout length of steel bar down to shift the chips. Obviously some care is needed to avoid cutting the hose with a sharp edge. In over a decade I've yet to damge mine so it is possible.

Current go-to bar is 1 1/4" Ø by about 3 ft long as thats the most handy to grab out of the ready rack. Changes over the years depending on what's handy.

I find that bockages are either birds nests at the nozzle end, highly likely if you just run with the open hose end, or at the exit bend, likely if you usually overfill the bag, like wot I does.

Clive

Edited By Clive Foster on 09/10/2020 21:26:51

[ZanParticipant @zan]

Screwfix Titan! Very powerful Bag is needed as the air output will send any dust straight back out, but they can be reused several times It’s a fantastic unit except fir the hose which failed after a couple of years, so the failed Dyson upright from me daughter was grafted in place. Very highly recommended. Take care with it. Small tools rapidly disappear

[ZanParticipant @zan]

Screwfix Titan! Very powerful Bag is needed as the air output will send any dust straight back out, but they can be reused several times It’s a fantastic unit except fir the hose which failed after a couple of years, so the failed Dyson upright from me daughter was grafted in place. Very highly recommended. Take care with it. Small tools rapidly disappear

[peak4Participant @peak4]

No idea where you live Lee, but if near Preston I'd seriously consider this old Aquavac on ebay

I have a couple, one in each garage, wet and dry, and seem to go on for ever, albeit noisily.
I bought mine prior to buying my previous house, so early 80s and picked up another when my friend closed down his Landrover workshop, where it was in use commercially from late 80s till I guess 2010
Both are battered, but still work well.

I use one of them coupled up to my small blast cabinet, running via a small cast alloy centrifugal cleaner, also off ebay, which spins out the used abrasive quite effectively. You would need a larger size for wood chips, unless it was just from a saw or router bench.

Bill

[Mark Simpson 1Participant @marksimpson1]

WIckes wet and dry hoover has survived 8 years hard graft; about 40quid. Buy the re-usable filter and you can wash it many times to get the oil and dust off. regularly hoovers up 5kg of swarf, steel and CI. I have a small cyclone from ebay which I put inline to collect the brass swarf for re-casting.

I pickup the big curly swarf with gloves or a magnetic swarf stick first if there is much of it; just quicker.

I've had a vax previously but the paper filters bung up too quickly.

[Russ BParticipant @russb]

I have the B&Q cheapo hoover, wet and dry etc, has lasted me 8-9 years of hard use, building works, wood work, swarf oil etc. great piece of kit, i’d go straight out and buy another if it died tomorrow.

[Clive HartlandParticipant @clivehartland94829]

When my works closed down and moved I took a Nilfisk cleaner. No bag but a big container which is OK for saw dust and smaller bits. Great for clearing out the car.

It has two filters so no minute particles get out of the machine, it is also on small wheels and a good length of cable.

the tube is about 2" diameter. and a good length. The machine is quite heavy!

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