Why You Should Use a Dust Bag in Your Shop Vac
*This post is sponsored by The Home Depot
Dust collection… the bane of every woodworker’s existence…
I don’t have a large dust collection system set up yet. I Just have shop vacs that I roll around and hook up to my various tools and machines.
The biggest problem with just using a shop vac is that the filter clogs really easily.
I started to notice my shop vac wasn’t working like it used to, lo and behold the filter was crazy clogged. You can clean the filter by blowing it out or knocking it against the side of your shop a bit, but a better solution would be to prevent this mess in the first place.
Another problem with just using a shop vac is the way you empty it.
Since the dust collects in the bin, you need to lift the whole shop vac and turn it upside down to toss all that dust in the trash.
Besides for being heavy, this also leaves a dust cloud after dumping it all, so this is a task best done wearing a respirator!
There are lots of different options for filters and dust bags, I am going to go with this OSHA Compatible Kit from RIDGID because it is an inexpensive way to bring HEPA filtration to my shop at only around $50.
It includes a HEPA filter and Dust Bags that fit RIDGID 12-16 Gallon Shop Vacs. HEPA level filtration is only achieved when the HEPA filter and the dust bag are used together, it removes 99.97% of all particles 0.3 microns and larger from the air.
Look at how clogged that old filter was… I took this picture 3 months ago and waited to write this post until I put my shop vac to work with the new filter…
This shop vac is mostly connected to my Table Saw and Track saw, those tools create really fine dust…
After 3 months this is what the filter looks like!
When you look in the canister there is barely any dust. I think any of the dust that is in there was actually remnants of what I couldn’t dump out in the picture up above…
These dust bags are pretty unique because they are shaped as a ring instead of the typical u-shaped bags. This allows for cyclonic airflow, which means that the dust actually distributes more evenly throughout the bag which makes it easier to take out.
Remember that dust cloud from earlier in this post? Not a problem with these dust bags! Once you disconnect the bag from the canister there is a sealing collar that you pull shut to prevent any dust from flying out.
Awesome.
So, you should be using dust bags in your shop vac to prevent the filter from clogging up and because it’s easier to empty out all the dust.
If you want to go a step further, you can even add a dust separator. It will save your filter even more by filtering out most of the dust before it even hits your vac.
The one I use is called The Dust Stopper and it is just a lid with a hose that you attach onto a 5 gallon bucket.
The best thing about using a dust separator like this, It ends up saving you money on dust bags and filters.
Because most of the dust collects in this separator before it even hits your shop vac, there is less dust being collected in the bags, which means you don’t have to go through as many.
This also means that less dust is getting clogged in your filter, which means your shop vac will perform more efficiently for longer periods of time without having to change or clean the filter.
Hopefully I will be able to upgrade to a large dust collection system soon, but for now this works.
I acknowledge that The Home Depot is partnering with me to participate in the ProSpective 2019 Campaign. As a part of the Program, I am receiving compensation in the form of products and services, for the purpose of promoting The Home Depot. All expressed opinions and experiences are my own words. My post complies with the Worth of Mouth Marketing Association (WOMMA) Ethics code and applicable Federal Trade Commission guidelines.