Easy DIY Shop Vac Upgrade Hacks

I have some creative, easy DIY shop vac hacks to share with you. These simple modifications will save you money on filters, help with shop vac noise reduction, and make an inexpensive cart for a dustopper and all your wet dry vac accessories. Excellent tips for beginning woodworkers when working on projects or at your miter saw station.

I’ll show you a simple filter mod that will save you money and make your filters last much longer. After that I’ll show you how to make a muffler that works way better than a store bought diffuser for less money. Then I’ll show you how to turn your vacuum into a cart with no plans that you can build in an hour for an awesome upgrade.

If you don’t want to spend money or have the room for a full size cyclone to collect all of the dust from woodworking then these tips are for you. You can turn your humble shop vac into an ultra high efficiency cyclonic dust separator.

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Music:
Depth Fuse by French Fuse

00:00 Easy DIY Shop Vac Hacks
01:01 Shop Vac Filter Sock
03:15 DIY Shop Vac Muffler
06:08 Shop Vac Cart for Dustopper

[Randrew]

Looks like Youtube finally decided to reward you by showing this video to people after nearly a year. Congrats! It's a worthy watch.

[rickyucuis]

Add a paver block or 2 inside the shop vac bucket to lower the center of gravity so you don't pull the tower over when you pull on the hose.

[georgefitter]

I blow out my shop vac filter with my electric leaf blower. Been using the same filter for ten years! I clean the wife’s vacuum with the leaf blower too. Works great!

[ronfitzhenry]

I’ve have tied shop towels on my shop vac filter for 30 years now. Works great

[donreid]

I worked for ShopVac Corporation for nearly 25 years. The profit on our vacs themselves was razor-thin. Filters, on the other hand, cost us almost nothing to make, but REALLY brought in the bucks! 🙂

[bazenga]

The joy he showed when he smiled after he said I need to build a cart LOL. I laughed so hard. Thank you for the tips and tricks.

[PeteGeniella]

Great video! I love the pool filter sock idea. My favorite shop vac hack is to use one of those remote control outlets that are used for holiday lights etc. They have a remote control for off/on. I wear the remote on a lanyard around my neck and I can start and stop the vac as needed without having to walk over to the vac

[justinjones]

I like your muffler tip; however, you must make sure that the cumulative area of holes you drill are at least equal to the diameter of the exhaust pipe. If not you will increase back pressure and decrease suction. Additionally, because of the filter material you added, I would 2x the cumulative diameter to account for the restriction caused by the filter material and maybe even go up a size in pvc pipe. Keep it up!

[DP]

All of these are great solutions.. I am very retentive about my shop vac being very efficient due to being in the construction industry. For over 25 years I have always put about a 1/2” of standing water in the tub! This allows the dust to drop & stick to the tub, therefore keeping the filter a lot cleaner!
Thanks for the additional tips to add!!

[Rick-Williams]

I know this video is a couple of years old, and I've seen about every kind of vacuum cart built there is, but I really like the look and how compact it is. I have the same shop vac so this is definitely on my build list. Thanks.

[billhardy]

Best ideas for the shop vac I have seen...period!

[jtee]

Pool filter sock - hadn't heard that one before. Well done.

[LloydGM]

I especially love your cart. It takes up no extra space per se, gets the bucket at a convenient height for emptying, and the holes for accessories is a very nice touch!

[ChadBray]

I was impressed at how carefully you drilled the holes in the muffler. I would have just held the pipe with my foot and gone to town drilling a bunch of random holes! Lol.

[paulpierce]

I like the pool filter sock Idea. I replaced my paper shop vac filter with a washable type one I bought from Bunnings (Aust). It's made by Gerni. Cost about $15. To clean it I just wash it under the tap. No dust even when I clean it. Beautiful!

[larrythompson]

Another idea for a pre-filter, is a plain white paper towel. They work very well, just wrap a single layer around the outside of the shop vac filter and hold in place with almost anything, tape, string, elastic bands, wire etc. When it gets plugged up, no need to clean it, just undo your fasteners and drop in the bottom of the vac to throw out with the rest of the dirt, and roll out a new one. I've been useing them for years. BTW, not my idea, I saw it on youtube ages ago, unfortunately I don't remember the fellows name to give him credit.

[gdenniss]

I use a sock made from a flour bag for me by a neighbor 40 years ago. Filters for my craftsman cost $30 in Canada and has this sock has saved me hundreds over the years. Take the sock of and then blow the filter off with an air compressor and it is like new again.

[Skyborn-]

As a stone Mason I have to deal with very fine dust. Your ideas are sound.

Thank you.

[chrispoletti]

The hammer one the bucket to make the whole gave me a real “this old Tony vibe” love it!

[thomasruwart]

For the past 40 years I have just been cleaning my shopvac filter with a water [jet] spray and let it dry for a week or so. I have a second filter to swap in while the first one is drying.
I really like the pool filter sock though. Thanks!