Dust extractor vs. vacuum cleaner

[Longhorn6120]

Is there anything inherently 'different' about a dust extractor? I need to get something to keep my vision clear when using a blasting cabinet. I've thought about a dust extractor, but they're pretty expensive, especially for the little time I'll be using it. I see cheap vacuum cleaners at Lidl from time to time that look a bit like Henry knock-offs and was wondering if they'd be up to the job.

 

[mike os]

possibly, depends if they shift enough air and can handle the fine dust.... a cyclone inline would help with that thouigh

 

[Parm]

For a blast if cabinet it has to be a dust extractor. Vacuum cleaner won’t cut the mustard and won’t last very long

the abrasive nature of the dust will just eat the vac

 

[Gareth J]

I tend to use "end of life" vacuum cleaners on my small blast cabinet. I did put an in-line vortex bit I robbed from an old Dyson which helps take out the bulk of the grit. The last one has lasted a very long time though.

 

[Longhorn6120]

Thanks all, something to think about. I like the idea of using EoL stuff. Reminds me, I have an old Kirby knocking about somewhere, maybe I should just hook it up and see what happens.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

I knocked up one of these to sit beyween my extractor and the hose.
Does a great job and catches 90% or so of the dust.

The filters important. It's the fine stuff that gets through and trapped by the filter.

 

[rikrobson]

a vacuum cleaner tends to have the motor inline with the airflow and therefore some of the dust that escapes the bag will be in the motor. Dust extractors will use a vortex to drop the dust into a collector line @eLuSiVeMiTe shows above.
I think the need for the airflow over the motors is cooling as they have powerful motors

 

[pcwizme]

I knocked up one of these to sit beyween my extractor and the hose.
Does a great job and catches 90% or so of the dust.

The filters important. It's the fine stuff that gets through and trapped by the filter.

View attachment 279908

Exactly what I have on my blasting cabinet. and its linked to an Edward, not had any issues yet....

 

[Parm]

Something to watch out for with vac is the amount of fine dust that's released back into the work room air. You'd be surprised at how much there is. This is the stuff that gets in the deep lungs, we call this the respirable fraction

Best way to visualise this is to use a powerful torch shone through the air. It will make invisible stuff visible when the dust particles scintilate in the light.

Ive seen vacuum cleaners being used for all sorts. They re not the right thing for a blasting cabinet

 

[Wallace]

I use an Earlex wet and dry vacuum on my two cabinets with a small vortex unit on each line and swap the vacuum hose to whichever cabinet I am using. The Earlex vacuum has an exhaust port that can be connected to use as a blower and I have a Hoover upright bag clamped to an outlet hose in a plastic tub to catch some of the dust that passes through the vortex and vacuum filter Parm mentioned previously. This tub and filter usually sits outside, my plan is to have a dummy dustbin outside as a permanent catch tank and vent. Not perfect, better than some homemade setups though.

 

[Longhorn6120]

That’s good advice Parm, thanks. To be honest I don’t have a workshop like most of you lucky guys, just a shed with a little bench for close-up/delicate work. Any larger jobs, or anything likely to pollute such a tiny space, is done outside so residual dust is not really too much of a concern.

I definitely would not be blasting inside so having a vac attached just to clear the workspace inside the cabinet shouldn’t make too much of a difference I wouldn’t have thought, but it’s a consideration I hadn’t...well...considered.

Plus, I always wear a decent mask while blasting.

 

[brightspark]

Thanks all, something to think about. I like the idea of using EoL stuff. Reminds me, I have an old Kirby knocking about somewhere, maybe I should just hook it up and see what happens.

your cred rating has gone down drastically if you got conned in to buying a kirby

 

[Morrisman]

For a blast if cabinet it has to be a dust extractor. Vacuum cleaner won’t cut the mustard and won’t last very long

the abrasive nature of the dust will just eat the vac

Years ago I killed our fairly new Dyson in about 10 minutes using it on a small Screwfix blasting cabinet. It just stopped working, wouldn’t start again, never did find out why.

 

[brightspark]

just get a cheapo 4inch inline fan or make a plate up with a 4 inch boss on it and fasten a fan on the end of it using white pvc fan ducting

 

[Wildefalcon]

possibly, depends if they shift enough air and can handle the fine dust.... a cyclone inline would help with that thouigh

 

[bricol]

just get a cheapo 4inch inline fan or make a plate up with a 4 inch boss on it and fasten a fan on the end of it using white pvc fan ducting

Pretty much hat I've done - blowing into the cabinet (make sure all seams are sealed) - the exhaust air passing through a cyclone then outside the shed

 

[Longhorn6120]

your cred rating has gone down drastically if you got conned in to buying a kirby

Hey, it was 2nd hand and we needed a new vacuum cleaner, wotsa guy to do?

Joking aside, apart from the awesome Henry that has sucked our house clean for the last 8 years the Kirby is the best vacuum we ever had. Way better than the junk DieSoon we bought to theoretically replace it. One of the greatest pleasures I’ve experienced was taking that PoS to the tip.

 

[Justme]

I have an old Kirby knocking about somewhere, maybe I should just hook it up and see what happens.

I thought they had good value now as collectables?