Shop vac recommendations please

For many years I had an "Earlex" which worked well, when it dies I bought a " Karcher", which is awfull!. The main problem is that the Karcher has a pleated filter element which gets clogged very easily. The Earlex and similar models have a bag filter which the dust tends to fall of,f and therefore not clog.

John

I vote earlex had two for many years, used for anything from brick dust to wood shavings and metal swarf, even pumped water and gunk out of the drains with them ......still going strong an still available.

Tony

I vote Henry, no problems with these that's why builders use them.

Earlex = Wickes as far as I can remember.

Neil

Just buy some filter bags, put the pleated filter into that poke the excess in around the opening in teh pleated filter and push it back onto the spigot then you can still use your karcher

Hi Number two vote for Henry. Cloth type hepa bags though for oily swarf resistance. Mines eaten everything I've fed it no problem

regards Paul

We have owned a Dyson upright cleaner for 8+ years, mostly for carpets and floors but no workshop or rough use, I wash the bin components and filters (when I remember to) by soaking them in a bucket. Good suction and you can easily see when the machine needs emptying as well.

No repairs or failures, nothing wrong with Dyson.

Edited By V8Eng on 27/06/2017 19:25:40

Edited By V8Eng on 27/06/2017 19:26:02

Edited By Carl Wilson 4 on 27/06/2017 20:40:43

Personally I've been using a couple of the old original Aquavacs for donkeys years, still going strong, though I've had to repair the plastic bits a few times.

However, this doesn't help the OP, but immediately before opening this thread, a Machine mart marketing mail arrived in my inbox,

Apparently a new ashvac, with steel hose and stainless container for <£50

**LINK**

If you do go for one, please let is know haw well it works.

Bill

Had an old Dyson DC01 for years and years in the house. when it finally died I bought a DC24 absolute rubbish after about 12month of continual cleaning changed for a Miele brilliant - A Henrietta ( slightly smaller than henry) for the workshop and decorating building work in use for about 10years + and it wasn't new still going strong , Also have a spare Charles when it does finally die. You can't beat the Numatic

For many years I used a vacuum cleaner that i built from a 12gal(?L) drum, and an old broken domestic clear of unknown make. I now have a Vax Wet and Dry industrial cleaner, second hand, repaired.

Ian S C

I see there lots of combined ash vacuum cleaners to choose from on fleabay similar to the machine mart offering.

Iv'e used an ashpot with an Earlex for ages and find it really helps with keeping the vacuum filter cleaner for longer also use it running when machining cast iron or milling alloy, great help..

Yet another vote for Henry. Bought ours 26 years ago, when we got married.

Did about 12 years indoors and has been retired to the workshop for the last 14, where it still does everything asked of it, including oily swarf, bandsaw droppings and floor debris.

I use paper bags which are disposed of once full.

Not only is th vascuum good but we paid £106 for it and now they are still around the same price, with some stores offering discounts. How's that for price stability?

Jerry

I thought of suggesting the new Machine Mart stainless ash-vac, but I don't think it does wet?

i use a Wickes. bought it on special offer only £29. I would not waste my money on a Henry. I bought two and they are overpriced just like Dyson. when i inspected the dead Henry i found the motor to be of poor quality. that was the failure on both of them. meanwhile the wickes is fine

I have a Numatic James. Great for sucking up swarf from my lathes and milling machine. Also excellent for domestic cleaning duties too.

I have two - called 'WAP' and now I think Karcher - both nearly 30 years old. They are a square, boxy shape , about 600mm tall, about 450mm square. They use a circular drum style pleated filter, but can also use bags. I don't use bags since I use the cleaner to suck up all the mill and lathe shavings, oil n all, all the sawdust from wood machines, etc, and the bags just tear or abrade through and then the stuff goes in the motor.

I just slip a ladies leg hose/stocking over the pleated filter, and every now and then pull it off and shake out or replace. I clean the pleated filter maybe every 3 months - wash it out under the tap and leave to dry.

The machines have a good powerful motor, and I have not have to repair anything on either , and obtained them used from WAP way back... Hose is about 50mm diameter to, which is very nice.

Joe

Gosh, what a lot of replies! I thought of a Henry or one of his siblings but seemed a lot to pay for a workshop item. Many of the cheapy units around the £50 mark get terrible customer reviews. The ash vacs are generally not wet/dry. I pick up the Stanley today, hope it will be OK.