Workshop/building site vacuum with PTO

[Beau]

Hi all. My old Alto vacuum is starting to smell of burning electrics. It's OK in principle but in use it has too small a filter thats blocked in mins when sanding or even using a track-saw. Also I would like something with a slightly larger hose as again this blocks very easily when clearing the workshop floor

It will be used in the workshop and on site on a building project. Budget is fairly flexible for the right machine

Thanks

 

[ChaiLatte]

Is this a building site where any kind of health and safety regime will be in place? If so, the minimum requirement is Class M. If it is to be used in this environment, be wary of buying a Class L machine.

Also, perhaps investigate alternatives to a dedicated power take off, like a remote (wireless) switch. That might provide 95% of the PTO functionality at 70% of the cost.

https://www.powertoolmate.co.uk/pow...4932478966-socket-and-controllet-set-240v.htm

 

[Bingy man]

You don’t say what you are using it for - sanding, planing or sawing. When you say a building project is 240vac allowed as most sites are 110 volts or battery tools ? In regards your current machines filter blocking up Then maybe consider adding a cyclone .

 

[Beau]

Sorry should have stated my intended uses.

Woodworkshop.

Cleaning floor
Sander
Track-saw
Router

Building site (my own renovation) with no employees

Cleaning up floors from general mixed building mess and sanding drywall

 

[Doug71]

If the budget is flexible I'd be tempted to get two, one to use for power tool extraction and one to use as a vacuum.

On the site I've just been working at the owner had a big old upright metal Makita vac with what I'm guessing was a 50mm hose, it seemed much more suited to the rough stuff like sucking up dirt, debris and lumps of brick than my Festool extractors.

 

[Bingy man]

Numatic nv 750 will give you a 100mm outlet as well as a standard Henry outlet hose . I have this for my bigger tools and connect it to a Cyclone dust deputy - pricey but is portable and comes with its own trolley . Obviously you also have the option of a dedicated chip/ dust collector but not so portable and most can’t effectively be reduced below a 100mm.

 

[ChaiLatte]

Numatic NV750 will give you a 100mm outlet as well as a standard Henry outlet hose.

Is it correct to say that the 100mm outlet discharges directly into the drum of the machine? That would make it incompatible with a bag and be a faff if you wanted to use the standard hose with a bag.

For real fine dust (like drywall sanding, one of the stated requirements, or MDF dust), you would need to use the bag but the machine does not seem set up for quick or frequent changes between the two inlets.

That said, this 'numeric' one is well-priced:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405274696696

 

[Bingy man]

Is it correct to say that the 100mm outlet discharges directly into the drum of the machine? That would make it incompatible with a bag and be a faff if you wanted to use the standard hose with a bag.

For real fine dust (like drywall sanding, one of the stated requirements, or MDF dust), you would need to use the bag but the machine does not seem set up for quick or frequent changes between the two inlets.

That said, this 'numeric' one is well-priced:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405274696696

If memory serves me correctly then the 100 mm outlet uses the drum and the standard outlet connects to the bag . Thats why I chose this one as it easily copes with my bandsaw and table saw but also covers the smaller tools in one unit and it’s portable. The bags are large and with the cyclone I’ve have no issues other than a little noisey but most extractors/ hoovers are .

 

[Sideways]

Forget the power takeoff. Get a remote control power outlet as @ChaiLatte suggests and for the vac, something by Numatic with their fabric filters between the drum and the lid containing the motor.
These fabric filters move when you turn the vac on and off. It helps to shake off the dust somewhat instead of just clogging up the pleats in a pleated drum filter.
Vacuum cleaner motors of the same power have much the same performance. Better quality vacs just buy motors from better manufacturers. They have better bearings, more copper, and better quality control so they last longer.
Numatic built their business on the idea of simple robust drums, good quality/ value Panasonic motors and design for easy replacement of any of the component parts. What's not to like ?

For your use, single motor vacuum, 1000W, 32mm or 36mm hose is a good choice, but sanding drywall is a brutal task that will clog up almost anything. For that task, you should really be using a £££ M class extractor and using bags in it. At least look at the Hepaflow bags that can be added in some Numatic vacs.

 

[Bingy man]

Is it correct to say that the 100mm outlet discharges directly into the drum of the machine? That would make it incompatible with a bag and be a faff if you wanted to use the standard hose with a bag.

For real fine dust (like drywall sanding, one of the stated requirements, or MDF dust), you would need to use the bag but the machine does not seem set up for quick or frequent changes between the two inlets.

That said, this 'numeric' one is well-priced:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/405274696696

The link you shared looks like the identical machine I have apart from its numatic and not branded Axminster (it’s painted red ) the additional module is yellow . As this shows no specs I can’t say it’s an exact match but for £150 it’s a steel and well worth the money .

 

[Sideways]

And those nv750 drums : both inlets go straight into the drum. The 100mm goes in at an angle and creates a simple cyclonic swirl inside the drum which helps dust settle. The smaller inlet goes through the wall at 90 degrees.
If you want to use a bag, this pushes on the inside of the smaller inlet. Cyclonic action is irrelevant when you use a bag.
If you want to use the drum without a bag, you should always use the 100mm inlet to take advantage of the simple cyclonic action. This would mean making or buying a simple reducer to adapt the hose into the big 100mm inlet.
In other respects, the 100mm inlet on these is an utter joke. This is a single motor machine and even the two motor version can only make a quarter of the airflow to keep a 100mm hose properly swept. It has a 100mm port for reasons that are all marketing and nothing to do with science.

 

[MikeJhn]

Karcher have various reasonable vacuum's with power take off's, used mine recently to clear a large glass roof light that shattered did not miss a beat.

 

[Beau]

Thanks for all the advice.

So this https://www.axminstertools.com/numa...utm_content=2266&tagrid=69248412&glCountry=GB with a socket controller should see me through? Hopefully it has enough ooompf for the 50mm hose

 

[Jester129]

Titan do a variety of vacuums of different size, seen regularly on worksites (110v) but also 240v, so there must be something good about them. These are seen regularly on an auction search site that I use, along with a Bosch M class vacuum. HTH.

 

[Sideways]

Thanks for all the advice.

So this https://www.axminstertools.com/numa...utm_content=2266&tagrid=69248412&glCountry=GB with a socket controller should see me through? Hopefully it has enough ooompf for the 50mm hose

Those are a decent vac. Yes the two motors are a good match to the 50mm hose.

It is interesting to see evidence of cost control at Axminster (their finances were rocky back in 2023 and they have been closing stores and cutting costs). They used to get Numatic to paint these machines in their grey trade colours and badge them Axminster. Now they are back to just honestly distributing the machine in the manufacturers own colours. You won't be paying a premium for the grey paint...

Oh, and do you notice : in the Numatic version, both inlets are 50mm as they should be. The stupid 100mm inlet has gone so you won't need to waste time making a reducer for it

 

[Beau]

Those are a decent vac. Yes the two motors are a good match to the 50mm hose.


Oh, and do you notice : in the Numatic version, both inlets are 50mm as they should be. The stupid 100mm inlet has gone so you won't need to waste time making a reducer for it

Sadly the one in the first link is a single motor. The twin motor has the 100mm hose https://www.axminstertools.com/numatic-nvd-750-2-workshop-vacuum-extractor-230v-109808

 

[Beau]

Titan do a variety of vacuums of different size, seen regularly on worksites (110v) but also 240v, so there must be something good about them. These are seen regularly on an auction search site that I use, along with a Bosch M class vacuum. HTH.

Thanks, I will have a look. Still inclined towards Numatic as my personal experience of their kit is simple and solid

 

[maitland.selwyn]

Have several Numatic vacs, they are excellent. I use one of the 750 ones on my Kapex chop saw with hepa bags as I cut a lot of MDF. It used to work with a separate automatic switch, but that kept turning itself on when I was out of the shop. I now have to turn it on manually and regularly forget for the first cut so definitely get a reliable “socket controller” if you can.

 

[maitland.selwyn]

Forgot to mention I have a Henry (built by Numatic) in the shop that I got out of a skip over 5 years ago. All it needed was the contacts cleaning on the on/off switch and it seems indestructible. As I’m the lucky one who does the housework, I also have a regular Henry and a cordless Henry at home. It has been said that I have too many vacuum cleaners