What is the best Vac system for my Shapeoko Pro? I have a small shop vac doing the job, but I would like a more powerful system. Any thoughts would be nice.
The usual suspects are:
- DeWalt StealthSonic — this was mentioned in a Carbide 3D newsletter a while back and has been quite popular w/ folks since:
https://community.carbide3d.com/search?q=dewalt%20stealthsonic
- Festool CT Midi — I bought one ages ago, pairing it w/ an Oneida Ultimate Dust Deputy, but either it or the above would pair well with:
https://shop.carbide3d.com/products/mullet-cyclone-dust-collector
(which is notably easier to empty than the Oneida)
- Traditional Dust Collector — these are usually selected by folks with an existing woodworking shop
Regarding the comment about the Oneida Dust Deputy being difficult to empty. I have two in my shop (one with my Shapeoko 3 XL) as well as having set up a few for other folks. To make emptying them easy I use Gama Seal Lids on the 5 gallon buckets. A simple upgrade that makes emptying the buckets much, much easier.
Bill
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That doesn’t apply with the Oneida Ultimate Dust Deputy as fits a Festool CT Midi — it’s a weird Systainer-compatible thing w/ a pair of rubber handles to hold the top in place.
Emptying it is a burlesque of:
- removing the top and finding somewhere to set it
- gingerly gathering up the edges of the bag and trying to get it tied up w/o disturbing too much dust
- using a second vacuum to clean things up
- replacing the bag and reinstalling the top
It’s not that bad, but this aspect along with it being the only thing which can be connected to the Systainer connection on the vacuum are the things which have me looking for improvements.
There has been a lot of discussion about shop vacs on Shapeoko. Yes they work and a cyclone makes them better. However shop vacs are not meant for continuous use. I ran a 3.5 hour job today making a sign. I have a Jet 1300 dust machine. It can run forever. I use that extractor for all my shop equipment. It really sucks, literally sucks up the chips and dust.
If you run short jobs a shop vac would work. However if running long jobs and for general woodworking a dedicated dust extractor would work better. Just depends on your budget and needs. Along with the Jet I have an Onieda Super Dust Deputy. That keeps the chips/dust out of my dust collector bag.
You can buy Dewalt StealthSonic Vacs pretty cheap at Costco if that helps. They work great with a Dewalt Cyclone separator. I have a large and expensive shop dust collection system but I use this combination for my CNC.
My apologies Will. I have the original Oneida Dust Deputy. Sometimes new and improved is not so much.
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It’s a different physical form-factor — I really don’t see how else they could have done the design — apparently Festool’s implementation is optimized for contractor-like day-to-day usage and I am given to understand I would like it even less.,
I bought the Vevor dust collector with tank off of Amazon. The tank separates easily and there is a sight window to visually check the level
I set up my Shapoko Pro 5.1 4x4 for machining foam. I have Dust Right 1200 CFM dust collector running into a Super Dust Deputy 4/5, with 5" smooth ducting, and a custom 4" dust shoe. I will upgrade to a 5" shoe in the near future.
For a smaller system, I bought a Fein Turbo II and a Dust Deputy 2.5, that I am using for my general woodworking and shop cleaning tasks. The Fein has the best suction and velocity in it’s price range, and you can buy HEPA filters if you want to. It comes with a filter plus a bag. I got the Fein on sale for $279 from CPO Outlets, it was new which made it a fantastic value. They are one of the few that they heavily discount from time to time. It also has a flat top to set the Bucket and dust deputy on. I ordered the vortex lid from Oneida, you have to call, it is not on the site. Sure it is a pain to empty, so I will design a hinge. The dust deputy design is superior to others I have used.
On the Shapoko setup, I cut enough MDF to fill up a two 15 gallon containers connected to the dust deputy cyclone. I have about 1 cup of fines in the dust collector bag, and I suspect some of that happened because the container got full. On my old shop vac setup with a dust deputy, which I use for shop cleaning, cleaning, light woodworking, and aluminum swarf from my CNC mill, I only clean the vac out once a year, and is is a few inches in the bottom.
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Based on recommendations here on the forum I bought a StealthSonic on Amazon. In my apartment (all hard surfaces) it sounds like a Lear Jet taking off (not too much hyperbole–I live just off the Love Field runway here in Dallas so can compare… 
) I double-checked the model number to confirm it was the quiet type so I’m not sure if I have a dud, or my expecations are out of whack…
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Apparently, the way the StealthSonic works (according to some statements) is by shifting the sound frequency into higher ranges — take this as an evaluation of your excellent hearing?
Doing a warranty exchange might be worth the effort though.
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I just measured the decibel levels in my shop. My Dewalt StealthSonic vac measure 72 db at about 5 ft distance. I also have a small Shop Vac that measures 86 db. My Grizzly whole shop dust collection system measures 86 db. There is a dramatic, easily noticeable difference with the Dewalt although I definitely wear hearing protection with all 3 vacuums.
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Thanks everyone for the information.
Actually my hearing is not that great–I have pretty severe tinnitis on top of that–but the StealthSonic is a banshee. Definitely higher-frequeny than a typical shopvac but still pretty loud. I’m figuring that realistically the higher frequencies will not pass through the wall/ceiling to the adjacent apartments without good attenuation, and I have not so far received complaints from any neighbors, so I guess all is well enough…
Bummer, so much for my boundless optimism.
I’d definitely look into the warranty/exchange then.
The good news is that it is not as loud as my Harbor Freight trim router, which I used last weekend for the first time in over a decade–but that was outside my front door, and for just a few minutes. I have no way to assign a dB number to it, not having a smartphone and being not willing to buy a sound meter for just this one use… I will look into warranty, but I’ve had it for well over a year now. It does a bang-up job of cleaning out my N4 though!
DeWalt StealthSonic, excellent.
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It surprises me Vacmaster is never mentioned. I run an older version of the Beast 12 gallon 5.5HP bought in 2021. I had it before I got the Shapeoko 5. Its actually a warranty replacement for the original still going. My phone app reads 72-76db from 1 foot distance. Its a low to mid frequency whirrrrr. The built in dust collector on my DeWalt planer is MUCH louder. I hear the roughing and some drill bits screeching over the vac easily. I always have ear protection on. The newer version does cost $40 more than the same size DeWalt though.
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