do you use a bag in your shop vac?

[CarLuver]

are they worth the cost to use them? they are not cheap at $10 a bag. i assume using them will keep the filter clean idefinately?

 

[snowshew]

I do, I use mine for dust collection on my saws. Without the bags there are two problems, dumping the bin when full (which makes a cloud of dust) and periodically cleaning the filter (which makes are huge mess...they trap A LOT of fine particles). To me, avoiding either problem is worth the cost of the bags. I buy them on Amazon for a cheap as I can find them. I don't worry about paying extra for bag quality/filtration. Having the bag alone is so much better than nothing. If I was using the vac for heavier material (i.e. sand) I probably wouldn't worry about it, but heavier material is usually swept. If you are vacuuming drywall dust bags are essential. Joint compound dust will clog a filter fast and it is a pain to get it clean.

 

[UncleDave]

Depends on what Im vacuuming.

Dust, powder, yes. i get them at home depot.

 

[wwillson]

Yes, the bag contains the dust and makes emptying when full much much cleaner and easier.

 

[JC1]

Never used them on my rigid shop vac. I used a plastic garbage bag as a liner and to collect stuff like sawdust etc. Makes less of a mess. I end up knocking the filter on the lawn when it needs to be cleaned to get the trapped dust out of the filter.

 

[Ronsant]

I only use the bag when vacuuming fine dust like drywall or cleaning the fireplace ash. ( I make absolutely sure it is 100% not even warm)
Other than that, the regular filter works fine.
BTW so sad that Shop Vac went under. American company that made quality products.

 

[Eddie]

YES. I use a bag.

 

[RitcheyRch]

Yes, use a bag

 

[pcoxe]

I use a bag and have a HEPA level filter on the head to catch any dust remnants that get past the bag. Very little dust escapes in the shop.

 

[zzyzzx]

Bag for a shop vac?????
All the one sI have seen use a filter???

 

[Jim K]

Yep zzyzzx , all my shop vacs use a filter . Just remember to pull a filter off if sucking up liquid .

 

[JHZR2]

I use a bag and a pleated filter. Does not seem to affect suction, and I figure it keeps the vac doing what it should.

 

[AutoMechanic]

Yep use a bag and filter.

 

[JTK]

I always use bags in my shop vac brand vac. I buy no-name bags online. I've got the "3.0 hp" model that has maybe a 5-7 gal tank on it. It's only an issue if my darling bride or children use it on something that is wet. It disintegrates the bag.

 

[Wylie6G72]

I just put a paper or fabric pre-filter over my main filter, to keep it from filling up with fine particles.

 

[JTK]

Could be just the particular model shop vacs I've owned, but I've found you don't loose suction with bags the way you do when the filters plug up. Plus you blow a lot less dust out the exhaust with bags. That's the benefits of them IMO.

 

[SZR48207]

The Shop Vac branded bags are getting hard to find since they went out of business. Buy them now while you can, or find a good aftermarket brand that works.

 

[RyanY]

Definitely use them. Makes life easier, especially after sanding drywall. I get the knock offs for my Ridgid vac from Amazon for about $2/bag.

 

[Jim K]

My shop vacs are kind of small but they meet my needs

 

[demarpaint]

I used bags in the past. I end up running out of them, and not replacing them. As a result of this thread I'll be getting bags, and next time I empty my shop vacs, it's bag time.