QA

Quick Answer: How To Build A Shop Vacuum System

Can I use a shop vac for dust collection?

Nor do you have to shell out the big bucks for a central dust collection system. You can capture most nuisance dust with a standard shop vacuum and a few accessories. We’ll show you how to assemble simple, inexpensive dust collectors that’ll suck up most of that sawdust before it gets all over everything.

Can you turn a shop vac into a pump?

Some Shop Vacs have a “water pump” feature. You can attach a garden hose to a side port on the vac, and rather than just dumping the water in the canister, it will actually pump the water to another location. If you do not have such a vac, you can suck water until the canister fills up.

Can PVC pipe be used for dust collection?

PVC is commonly used in dust collection systems. Typically for longer runs you should use 6″ or larger pipe, regardless of the material. If you’re using PVC, the larger, less expensive pipe is commonly available as sewer drain pipe.

Do dust collection systems need to be grounded?

From the Manufacturer. All dust collection systems build up static electricity and if not grounded, that electricity becomes a hazard that could start a fire.

Why is my shop vac blowing dust out the back?

Why does my Shop-Vac® wet dry vac blow dust back into my room? This can be caused by a hole in the filter, the filter not being properly installed, or the dust being too fine for the filter. If the dust is too fine, you need to upgrade to a filter capable of catching the dust and dirt you are cleaning up.

Is it OK to vacuum drywall dust?

Avoid using your household vacuum on drywall dust unless it has a heavy-duty HEPA filter. According to Review This, the filters in most household vacuums will get clogged with drywall dust. A shop vac is always a better option for these fine particles.

What is a good cfm for a shop vac?

We know that a good vacuum has a balanced CFM and water lift rating – so what do good numbers look like? A strong air flow rating is around 125 CFM and higher. This is strong enough air flow to pick up most anything you may work with – including dust from 5″ or smaller grinders.

How do I make my shop vac not suck?

How to switch shop vac from blow to vacuum again is just as easy. Simply remove the hose again from the blower port and connect to the inlet on the front of the vacuum. Turn it on and you will feel the air sucking instead of blowing.

Can I vacuum water with a shop vac?

A shop vacuum’s ability to suck up water saves you from using towels to soak up water on the floor or trying to squeegee it away. A shop vacuum even acts as a pump to remove larger quantities of water standing in a tub, shower, pool, aquarium, or garden pond.

Can a shop vac run continuously?

When you shut the tool off the vac continues to run for several seconds to clear the hose of any last debris. It works pretty well and you don’t have to listen to the whine of the motor continuously. Hope this helps with whatever you are trying to do.

How much vacuum can a shop vac pull?

Most Shop-Vacs will only pull about 1.75″ of Hg (provided the filter is clean) but this low pressure air in your bags could be a lot of volume and waste a lot of core vacuum time by the pump.

Is PVC or metal better for dust collection?

PVC dust collection is perfectly safe, much cheaper and much easier to install than metal. The velocities and volumes generated from your average hobby or small shop dust collector is not nearly enough to cause a static discharge that could result in a deflagration of a dust cloud.

Can I use Schedule 40 PVC for central vacuum?

There are essentially three major options for pipe choices for installing a central vacuum: Plumbing Pipe (such as schedule 40 PVC), Flexible Hose, and Vacuum Tubing designed specifically for central vacuums.

Can you use Schedule 40 PVC for dust?

What kind of PVC is best for ductwork? Schedule 40 DWV (drain, waste, vent) PVC is the heaviest and thickest wall material commonly available, and it works great. This is covered in the Popular Woodworking webinar “Dust Collection Ductwork.”May 8, 2014.

How do you calculate CFM for dust collection?

For a rectangular port, calculate the area (multiply length times width, in inches). Then, multiply that area times 28 to find the approximate flow in CFM @ 4,000 feet per minute (FPM).

What is a blast gate for on a dust collection system?

Blast gates are used to focus a dust collection system’s vacuum pressure for maximum material extraction at the desired location. Blast gates control the air flow from one machine to another and to maximize system efficiency; specific lines in the system may be shut off to allow more air flow to another machine.

Can you use dryer hose for dust collection?

Re: dryer hose for dust collector??? Yup, it’ll work, but it’s really bad for pressure drop. All that rough interior will drop the air flow a ton. Keep it as short as possible.

What is the foam sleeve for shop vac?

Use the Shop-Vac® Foam Sleeve for picking up wet messes when used alone. The Foam Sleeve is also required when using reusable dry filters. The approximate size of the foam sleeve is 8 inch diameter and 6.5 inch high. The foam sleeve is required unless you are using a cartridge filter.