Hey guys, picked up an OG shop Vac/ what’s your favourite filter?

[adam-aussie-vac]

Hey everybody today I picked up an original shop vac For 50 bucks, mainly because I wanted something for the sunroom with more suction and also easily able to pick up water in a moment notice, at the moment technically it’s got four different options of filtration, as it could work with a filter cartridge as it has the little tabs at the bottom To help lock it in the paper/synthetic filter bag over the foam filter, and finally The reusable filter that you can rinse out,

Now I’m actually curious. What is your favourite type of filter for shop vacs?

Oh yeah, the previous owner had used this Vacuum for picking up dry things for probably a long time with only the foam filter, does anybody know what I should do about that? I.e. should I take it apart clean out the fan blades etc And what about maintaining the Motor?

 

[thevacomaticiec]

Yes clean it best you can blow it out with air and put a cartridge filter.

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

I just thought probably a cartridge filter wouldn’t fit,

Plus, I wouldn’t mind trying the reusable cloth filters just to see how they do, although I did notice it looks like there’s something causing some sparks in the Vacuum itself, I’ll quickly upload a YouTube video of it that I made in the dark so you can actually see the sparks a lot better

 

[thevacomaticiec]

that sounds like bad carbon brush to me

 

[panasonicvac]

The armature looks like it needs to be reset with a cleaning stone, usually that'd solve the sparking problem before carbon brushes would need to be replaced but I'd still check the carbon brushes to find out how much life they have left.

Regarding filters, I like the blue Nanofiber cartridge ones the best. But I'm not sure if it'd fit for your model. I think they would but who knows, worth a try.

 

[lesinutah]

Hmm

Get a commuter stone and clean the stater. Then change carbon brushes. If it works good then buy a filter and vacuum bags.
600 motor is approximately a 5 amp motor.

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

Oh cool, I’ll probably take it Apart over the coming days

And I’ll post my findings here, unfortunately I do not have a commutator stone, I do know there is a Motor repair shop near me so even if it does burn out I can always actually have that motor rebuilt

 

[lesinutah]

Hmm

I don't know I'd tear a shop vac motor apart. I'd sand the commuter but I'd leave all the fan bladesvin it. It's likely the brushes. If you take apart the fan they only get worse never better.

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

So you think the brushes are starting to wear out?

Because the Motor repair shop can also send off brushes to get remade from a particular type of carbon or whatever it is

 

[lesinutah]

No

I'm saying just change the carbon brushes. Then sand the part of the armature where the brushes hit the armature.
I'm just saying it could just be the carbon brushes could need replaced.

 

[kirbylux77]

DON'T sand the commutator! If you do, grit from the sandpaper can get in between the commutator bars and cause arcing and further damage to the motor - to the point it may be destroyed.

At this point, because you aren't experienced rebuilding motors and because you don't know what is causing the arcing, you're better off taking it into your motor repair shop and let them repair the motor. You can actually buy those armature seating stones on Ebay, or order them through a vac shop, they order them for you through their supplier. But, many times, when a motor arcs heavily, it needs it's armature/commutator replaced, or it's totally fried and ready to be thrown out. Remember, there are such a thing as disposable motors.

The only way you're gonna know for sure is to take it to be diagnosed. If it can be repaired, they will let you know, and you can also have new carbon brushes made if you desire. But be warned, it's VERY EXPENSIVE to have a motor rebuilt. It may actually be more cost effective to transplant a motor from a newer shop vac model into yours than rebuild the existing motor. Good luck.

 

[lesinutah]

Air

I'd say blow off the grit of the sandpaper but keeping it simple is best.

 

[kirbylux77]

Les, the problem is the grit from the sandpaper gets in between the commutator plates. You can't just blow it out. I know this from personal experience as I accidentally wrecked a Ametek double stage motor in a Kenmore canister doing this. If one was to do a homemade solution to clean a motor commutator, I would think one might be best to use steel wool instead.

 

[adam-aussie-vac]

Well, I do know that when it comes to brush motors,

It’s always a good idea to have things cleaned up, I am probably gonna at least take it apart down to the Motor But not physically take apart said Motor, that way. I can actually have a closer look and see where things are rubbing and have a look at the brushes, and I do have some experience with motors it’s just I’m not confident with it And I would’ve thought it would’ve been a good idea to use something thin/sharp To clean in between the commutator bars, And on a related note I’m now thinking should they be cleaned semi regularly as I thought carbon dust can potentially build up between them, track across the insulator and short them out

 

[lesinutah]

You

Can just as easily get a piece of steel wool caught the same way.