[cjskelton]

The dust collector vacuum that I purchased with my Probotix Meteor in early 2015 finally gave up the ghost. I'm amazed that it lasted through countless hours of running with the CNC. During that time I went through a couple of routers and several sets of router brushes. After a bit of research for a quieter running vac I purchased the Ridgid 14 gal. WD1450 shop vac from the big orange box store. I'm impressed how much quieter it runs than the old vac. It has more suction, too. It sometimes sucks up the dust shoe bristles near the vac hose. I hope that I get many years of service out of this one, too. It comes with a 90 return guarantee and a lifetime warranty.

 

[honesttjohn]

My Ridgids last about 15 months. I have 3 now and just go buy one when needed -- wait a couple months, and then take the broken one back for a refund. I've run them upwards of 16+ hours a day sometimes with little break. Works good. And I have a Dust Deputy hooked to each one.

 

[hawkeye10]

I thought I ran my Ridgid a lot but nothing like you guys.

 

[marecat3]

more suction would be great

 

[Barry747]

I've had the same one for many years. I don't run it as hard as you guys. I have a cyclone and I replaced the filter with a GORE CleanStream HEPA Filter. When running a jointer or thickness planner the cyclone fills up pretty fast. I don't let the bucket get much more than a little over 1/2 full. It's more work to clean it out more frequently but I found that I get better air flow. I have more of a problem with sanding dust. That gets through the cyclone and does build up on the filter. At the end of the day I can knock the dust out of the filter then run water through the pleats. Next day it's ready to use. I get several years out of the filter.

 

[4DThinker]

It sometimes sucks up the dust shoe bristles near the vac hose.

In our new college shop the dust collector system is so strong it does the same, making it pretty worthless. The bristles need to be stiffer or farther out from where the collector hole is. Or perhaps there is a way to "turn down" the suction at each CNC. I may try to trim the bristles back away from reaching the hole.

4D

 

[Knothead47]

Shop Vac with DD on it. Would like to have a DC but no room. I could put it in the basement outside the shop if needed. Cramped for space. After 46 years, you collect a lot of stuff!

 

[Pro4824]

It sometimes sucks up the dust shoe bristles near the vac hose.

In our new college shop the dust collector system is so strong it does the same, making it pretty worthless. The bristles need to be stiffer or farther out from where the collector hole is. Or perhaps there is a way to "turn down" the suction at each CNC. I may try to trim the bristles back away from reaching the hole.
4D

Hey 4D, If you use a blast gate, you can close it a little bit to adjust the suction. Mine is between the flex and the green pipe.

 

[honesttjohn]

Shop Vac with DD on it. Would like to have a DC but no room. I could put it in the basement outside the shop if needed. Cramped for space. After 46 years, you collect a lot of stuff!

Take it from me -- it doesn't take 46 years to collect a lot of "stuff".

 

[Knothead47]

hj, this was probably accumulated int he first 15-20 years. Still hanging on to it. Attic is full of kid's stuff. We have a 7 foot GI Joe aircraft carrier there.