That SS DC got me thinking...

[J.P.Rap in Hamilton]

What if I were to put one of those cheap foam filters on my shopvac and hook a hose up from the exit side of the vac to a large bucket with a fine filter. I think the shopvac bucket would act as a preseperator and only the finer dust would collect in the other bucket. I think this set up would help since I now have a pleated filter and have to clean it every 5 minutes or so of use. The dust doesnt pass through the motor and I have extra fans. I figure I can try it and if it harms the fan Ill change back with one of the new fans.
My only concern is the lower bearings.
Whata ya think. Is it worth a try or am I just bein goofy? http://www.canadianwoodworking.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif
J.P.

Oh ya...Ill need to buy a long hose. are they all the same size (2 1/4" I think) or do different makers have different sized hoses? Mine is a Craftsman.

[Jim in Burlington]

Putting the exhaust pipe outside virtually eliminates that fine dust problem.

[Mike in Brooklin]

I too have a Craftsman with a pleated filter which I used to clean every 5 min. Until I put a piece of women's nylons over the pleats (a section of thigh in this case). Now the cake builds on the nylon and never gets too thick (it falls off under its own weight after about 2mm). No visible dust comes out of the shopvac, and the overhead 3-stage cleaner gets all the invisible stuff down to 2-3 microns apparently. At any rate my shop is pretty clean with this setup so a "real" dc, while desirable, can wait.

[J.P.Rap in Hamilton]

Good point Jim.
Something to keep in mind.
J.P.

[J.P.Rap in Hamilton]

Hi Mike.
I tried that and although it works, Im not completely satisfied with the results. I find the fine dust still gets through the nylon and builds up between the pleats in the filter. It does last longer though.
Its easy to stop the big stuff but its the real small stuff that clogs the filter.
Thats why Im thinking along the lines of a preseperator.
Thanx for the suggestion.
J.P.