Cleaning up Fiberglass dust.

[Zach]

So... I've been doing some head scratching.

I've burned up 4 shop vacs in the last year. They get the moaaaan of death before the smoke comes out of the motor and they finally die.

Using a yellow dry wall bag, a green hepa filter... and cutting a piece of foam to slide in between the hose and the bag makes it so they don't blow dust out the back whenever you fire them up...

But, I'm just curious what everyone else is doing for cleanup/vacuums. I've tried the 4 mile long hose and putting the blasted thing outside, but I don't have that luxury on one project...

Cheers,

Zach

[okawbow]

I have used a portable dust collector for 5 years, while grinding fiberglass archery bows. works great, and not so whiny as a vacuum.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=31810

[boatsnh]

An interesting find of mine a couple years ago....forgot the vac on the way to the boatyard. Stopped at Lowe's & bought one of their shop Vacs. The sales guy asked if I wanted the "bags".....never heard of bags in a shop vac....On a whim bought the paper "bags" that fit inside - just like a house cannister.

love them. No glass dust to deal with. The inside of the vac stays clean. No glass dust in the motor. Cheap & easy.

I Just toss the bag when full...last a long time & cheaper than new vac every year.
mike

[Quetzalsailor]

Interesting Re the Lowes vac.

I use wet or dry vacs. The vacuum side is separate from the motor cooling side so the dust that makes it through the filter is not directed through the motor for cooling. It took me about 30 years to destroy a large Craftsman wet or dry vac and it's all-but-identical $5 yardsale replacement has about 10 years in my basement with lots of fiberglass through it. The Craftsman vacs have large corrugated filters which, even so, don't take all that much time before plugging with fine dust (rap it clean and periodically hose it off). A Despot cheepie has made the trip to the boat for about 10 years of fitout season grinding and is now beginning to make terminal noises. It has a foam filter for water, and paper filters to be installed over the foam for dry use; the paper plugs quickly.

I think in general that cheepie tools are good enough for fiberglass sanding work; no sense ruining good, expensive equipment. I also, as an amateur, have no problem taking the time to dissassemble and clean tools, and replace bearings.