Shopvac vs dust extractor

[aytactParticipant @aytact]

Hi,

I have a Bosch 06033D1270 AdvancedVac 20 Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner that I use as a shop vac, mostly for small CNC jobs and cleaning dust after machining. However, some of my CNC jobs take 8+ hours, and using the shop vac during that time isn’t ideal—particularly because of the noise level it generates.

I’m looking for a better alternative that I can use for all CNC machining projects, not just small tasks. My question is: have you had a chance to compare sound levels? Does a dust extractor generate less noise?

Thank you

[Wade BeattyParticipant @wadebeatty78296]

<p style=”text-align: left;”>My dust extractor is not anywhere as loud as my screaming shop vac, but still loud enough that I use hearing protection. I have moved all my woodworking tools onto wheels and wait for good weather rather than deal with the dust.</p>
An alternative would be to have your dust extractor outside and lead in the hoses

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Modern vacs are made to suck the hairs off the dog before it gets on the carpet. Far too powerful for just gathering some dust hence they are noisy and energy hungry.
Dust extractors are mostly designed for high air volume at lower pressure but still the modern trend is for something that can cope with a 3hp wood planer or lathe so again perhaps overkill.
A possible solution is a battery vac with defunct batteries that you can run off a psu with speed control. Also perhaps use a cyclone to provide a large waste capacity for the 8 hour jobs.

[JuddyParticipant @juddy]

Be careful if you run vacuum cleaners, either battery or mains powered, for such a long time they will get very hot. The duty cycle for your average vacuum will be a lot shorter than 8 hours, if you are using it with wood dust its a recipe for a fire.

 

[aytactParticipant @aytact]

Because of that I am not using for jobs which will take longer than 1 hour 🙂

[Robert Atkinson 2Participant @robertatkinson2]

If your shop vac has a “universal” brushed motor you could use an inline “phase angle” lighting dimmer / heater power controller to reduce the speed and noise to an acceptable level.

 

[noel shelleyParticipant @noelshelley55608]

Look for a clarkson tool and cutter grinder dust extractor, not so noisy and with a continuous rated motor. uses 3″ hose. They come up at about £150. OK for small swarf but long curly wurlies may cause problems. Good luck. Noel.

[Juddy]

On Juddy Said:

Be careful if you run vacuum cleaners, either battery or mains powered, for such a long time they will get very hot. The duty cycle for your average vacuum will be a lot shorter than 8 hours, if you are using it with wood dust its a recipe for a fire.

A shop wet/dry vac should have a large replaceable paper filter bag before the fan, in addition most also have a large rigid washable filter, it looks a bit like a large car air filter, which is also used for the wet function to prevent water mist going through the motor.

I have used my old Parkside 1800 watt wet/dry shop vac for dust extraction from sanders and hand planers for long periods – no hint of a fire risk in 15 years.

It also has the facility that you plug your power tool into a socket on the vac and switching the power tool on and off also switches the vac on and off at the same time.

 

 

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