Filters - Dust Collection - Air Filtration

By Tim Carter
©1993-2010 Tim Carter

Summary: Filters for wet dry vacuums and air filtration devices capture smaller particles of dust than heretofore. Wet and dry vacuums offer two types of filters, and other available dust collection and air filtration systems make the task of dust containment far easier than in years past.

Dust Collection Equipment - Air Filtration and Filters

Building, remodeling, woodworking, cleaning, etc. create lots of dust. The collection and management of that dust can be made easier if you have the right tools and filters to capture the offensive material.

Wet dry vacuum filters have really improved in the past 5 years. They collect smaller particles of dust - I mean small - such as 5 microns or so. The air filtration devices do a similar great job.

Filter Types

Almost all of the wet dry vacuums allow you to use two different filters. The standard filter is often a pleated paper single stage filter. These work just fine for everyday cleaning chores.

If you want to pick up fine drywall dust, or fine sawdust, you should switch over to a two stage fine dust filter. These are inter-changeable on most units.

Most of the filters are re-usable. If you follow instructions and clean them regularly, you can use them over and over again.

Secondary / Portable Air Filtration

I have a very cool portable air filtration device that I can take from room to room while I work. It is a new product that just became available 6 months ago. The tool resembles a torpedo heater on steroids. It draws air in one end and passes it over two filters before allowing it to gently flow from the other end.

The device only weighs 10 pounds and filters 200 cubic feet of air per minute. This allows it to completely filter the air in a 12 x 12 room every 6 minutes.

You can use it as a stationary filter as well. It is equipped to hang from a ceiling should you wish to permanently mount it in a workshop, basement or a garage. The filter device is made by the Ridgid Tool Company.

Shop Dust Collection

The Ridgid Tool company has also decided to help you control dust that is generated by workshop tools. You can get clear 2 inch diameter PVC tubing, angle fitting gate valves, couplings, etc. that allow you to connect multiple tools to the piping system. The end of the system connects directly to a shop-vac. When you operate a tool, you simply turn on the shop vac, open the gate valve at the tool and get to work. The dust created is quickly sucked through the tubing into the vacuum. The clear piping allows you to identify potential clogs before they happen.