Shop Floor Vacuuming
 

Over the years I've found that I end up vacuuming my shop floor rather than sweeping, seems like sweeping just stirs up too much dust.

Anyone ever seen a hard floor nozzle for a shop vac about 24" wide? For my old shop a typical 10" or so nozzle was fine, but the new shop would take forever at that size. Usually I'm just picking up a heavy dust coating.

Been playing with the idea of making my own with PVC pipe and a 3D printed adapter.

I also vacuum my garage floor, as I put down an epoxy coating with a clear coat some years ago. I do a quick vacuum then a quick mop. Way less dust.

I have a central vacuum port in the garage, so I use that port with a long hose. I think the hose is 1 1/4 inches in diameter, and I use a 10 or 12 inch wide floor tool to get the job done.

I dont know let me ask my wife...




...just kiddin'

Peter

Shop vac makes 2, one with a brush, one with rollers. I have both. Both work well.

I need the same type of vacuum for my shop. 24" would be perfect, lots of obstacles over 10,000 sq. ft.

The widest one I could find on the ShopVac site was 14", which is wider than most, but 18" would be better, and 24" would be great.

Nothing at McMaster Carr? Come on Data, I thought you owned stock there. :D

Just being a DA.

You could just get 3 or 4 ROOMBA'S with self unloading. Use the laser barricades to divide up the space.

OG, Hey Thanks! I haven't looked there yet! :)

Redpiston .. you know, that would probably work. And it could find all the small hardware I drop and lose. Would be an interesting, but probably expensive experiment.

I'm starting to think about slicing a piece of 2" pvc pipe in half long ways, drill a big hole in the middle and 3d print something to attach it to the hose. Maybe drill a bunch of 1/4" holes along a line on either side .. then slice it down the middle of holes so it doesn't "stick" to the floor.

Assuming McMaster doesn't have anything :)

BAM!!

McMaster has one 20" wide! :)

https://www.mcmaster.com/63815T16/

I just use our old demoted upright vacuum from the house. lol

I sweep it every now and then. I usually power wash the floors at least twice a year, which really cleans things up well.

I vacuumed my shop floor once. The dirt came back! You won't catch me doing that again! :D

I solved my search for an affordable wide shop floor vacuum brush with my usual long way around.

I used the 14" wide shop vac squeegee, long broken, as the foundation for the project. I 3d printed some strips that would clip onto the attachment and have channels to accept some "strip brush" I found on McMaster. Glued the 3d printed clip-on "adapter strips" to the attachment, slide the strip brush into the channels, cut the ends to fit.

Works like a charm, but I do wish it was a few inches wider, but perhaps too wide would make it awkward to use.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...8&d=1739913728

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...9&d=1739913736

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...0&d=1739913742

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...1&d=1739913751

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...2&d=1739913757

And the finished product.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...4&d=1739913879

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...5&d=1739913885

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...6&d=1739913890

You're good!

Block them ends. I think.

HIS, you know, I put some thought into that. But, so far it seems the flow through the brushes is quite low, so I think I need those ends open to pull the dust into the center to be sucked up by the hose.
I do need to at least tape them up as an experiment and see if it works better that way.

I asked my wife what vacuuming is? I don't understand why she hit me........

Took the left over "strip brush" and made a little detailing brush.

https://forums.maxperformanceinc.com...8&d=1739985754

I just take the cars out and use a leaf blower in the 40X60 shop.. Let things settle for an hour before retuning them.

Unfortunately there are two vehicles, two tractors, 3 big mowers, ATV, side by side, motorcycles, implements, welding equipment and the usual shop equipment ... so I end up cleaning the "parking spot" of various equipment when it's out being used.

Same here, Vacuuming would be a slow process. I just open the door and move the car out.
Start at the far end and let the EGO 765 do what it does best.
Trick is not to aim at light objects :D

I have a rainbow... ZERO dust...when in use.

Rainbow?

Watch this. This is very short, it's a Rainbow.. It doesn't have its power head on, but this shows the power. Mine gets like mud after, quick rinse, done, NO BAGS. https://duckduckgo.com/?q=rainbow+va...%3DKKH11Vec1h4

There are plenty of used ones, especially if you only use it like a shop vac, no attactments

Very interesting, being a vacuum-o'-phile I might have to look into one of those, not necessarily for the shop.

I recently watched a video about the history of vacuum cleaners and the water filtration system was used way back on some of the first vacuums. Probably went out of style because vacuum companies couldn't make money selling water :)

I'm messing around now trying to design a HD vacuum-turbine powered brush head for my shop vac.

Right after we were first married I made the mistake of inviting a Rainbow salesman into our house. Not unlike a vampire! Guy was relentless but I never caved. It seemed like it was an ok product but this was the late 80's and I think that thing cost close to $1000. then!! I barely had 2 nickles to rub together.

The history of the vacuum video I watched did cover the extreme tactics of vacuum salesmen of the 40's to 80's. I think some class action lawsuits, or something put and end to it. They sent the salesmen to schools to basically learn how to intimidate old lades and such. I think Kirby was one of the worst offenders.