Lessons Learned #2: RIP shop vac

Just to pass on an experience of mine, even though there is evident abuse here. I had a larger model shop vac with a motor failure. I called Shop Vac and they told me their motors don’t fail on the newer machines. So the guy says, give me your address and I’ll send you another, free.
So if this vac wasn’t an antique, you might try giving them a call. If it was, just keep it in mind for your new one.
You might also want to make some kind of mini chip catcher or cyclone to catch most of the dust. I use an Onieda Dust Deputy, but they do cost as much as two large shop vacs.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

Nice pics.. I think that you should sell it as modern art… Glad you are ok.

-- making sawdust....

Wow… that’s rad… At least it went out in a “Blaze of Glory”

-- Ryno

I think you need a bigger vacuum. Your photos and story have me rethinking my dust collection method: maybe it is time for me to upgrade…

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

Another one bites the dust! (Pun intended).

Steve, if you have the money, go straight for the small dust collection unit. You rightly said the Shop Vacs are not made for using as dust collectors. That said, I am still using a shop vac. When the right time comes though I am going to buy into something bigger.

Have fun shopping,

-- -- Rob Hix, King George, VA

Proof that you aren’t exaggerating!

Question… could the fire have been started by vacuuming up sawdust that was so hot that the volume of air running through the shop vac caused it to catch fire? May need to call in the Fire Department CSI unit!!!

I just happen to be routing 1/4 inch tempered hardboard late yesterday and when I finished the cut, I looked up and the sawdust was on FIRE!!! Got the fire out and I waited a little while and used my 16 gallon shop vac to clean up the smokey dust. THEN I had a premonition and saw my shop vac catching fire late in the night and burning down the house. I emptied it right away.

Well, just a thought. I didn’t want us deriding the little Target shop vac if it wasn’t at fault. It is kinda cute.

Yeah, motthunter, MODERN ART!

-- Makin' Sawdust!!!

and now we Know….........

-- Do it right the first time. Becuase fixing it is a wast of time.

Do what I did, make the base a mobile trash can, this way you can say you recycled….

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

Steve, as part of this lesson is your shop space now equipped with a fire extinguisher? Installed in an easily accessible location? As a firefighter, I would remind you to empty your shop vac every time you’ve finished using it for dust collection, since there could be smoldering embers you don’t see right away, and later that evening you get a nasty surprise.

I’ve got a large dust collection system in my workshop finally and I check it every night when I get ready to call it a day, no one wants that kinda of surprise.

Keep it SAFE and have a Happy Holiday!!

-- James

That’s actually a really good point, that I hadn’t really thought of. In the garage, my fire extinguisher was the hose, but I haven’t purchased one for the basement. I guess that’s now at the top of my list of things to buy.

After all, safety first.

-- Steve -- University Heights, Ohio