Hey all, after doing a couple of hours-long cuts I’ve realized my shop vac is simply too loud. I’ve done a little searching around on YouTube and realized that “dust extractors” are different from wet/dry shop vacs and are apparently less noisy and have better filters, so are probably a better option all around for my small shop. I found this one which has some really good reviews floating around, I’m wondering if anyone else has any recommendations? I think this is the max I’d want to spend, this thing is like half the cost of the CNC…I’m kind of hoping someone has a trick they can share 
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Shop vacs are so loud, but dust extractors aren’t what I would call quiet either. I found this quite enlightening when this video came out:
That being said, I love my Festool dust extractor/3M sander combo - won’t ever sand without them again. For the CNC though, for me there just isn’t enough suction (and they suck your wallet dry).
I have a closed room beside my CNC so I just drilled a hole and fed the hose through. If you can somehow enclose it while still giving it plenty of air to blow and release heat would be my suggestion.
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I got this shop vac which is definitely quieter than my old one. I also have a dust separator.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/DEWALT-12Gal-5-5-PHP-Quiet-Vac/5013026391
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Forgot to mention, putting a muffler on the tailpipe helps a lot:
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I am absolutely pro shop vac for a CNC. We did have this a few years ago when we discussed flow volume and flow speed (it‘s called differently, but I can‘t remember). I have a huge dust collection for my planer and tablesaw with a 120mm port that has a huge volume and deals with the chips from my planer incredibly well, but it really didn‘t work out with a CNC because the air moves slowly.
A shop vac on the other hand hasn‘t got enough volume to handle my planer etc, but it does a great job at sucking up the small chips from my CNC because the velocity (not sure whether that‘s the right word here) is much higher. I have a cyclone in front of it and a dust collection. In the future I plan on putting it in a box that is dampened (big enough so it can still be cooled). Have to figure that out.
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The solution for my shopvac noise: A SILENCER BOX . I ran mine for more than 2 years. (Ensure proper cooling ducts.
The dust extractor is still noisy miine is a 2.8kw unit and im thinking puting it into some corner and doing some partition in drywall and insulating it.
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I found the exact same thing with my dust collection system, the shop vac just wins there.
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OK the consensus appears to be a cooling box, probably with inputs and outputs baffled and some sound dampening material along the inside to reduce noise. I think I’ll start with the DeWalt vacuum @jeyeager mentioned, since it appears from reviews to start off ~ 20 dB more quiet than my existing vac and it’s on sale for (the 6 gal version) $75 at my Lowes. And since I’m putting it in a box it’ll need to be a separate unit anyways. Thanks everyone for the ideas! New hearing protection arrives today, not doing any more cuts until that’s here O_o.
I’ll just note that one of the reasons I got a larger one is that it has a 2 1/2 inch hose where the smaller one has a 1 7/8 inch hose.
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I would also recommend adding a separator as well. Depending on what you are doing, you’ll likely be filling the bags fairly regularly. (And, you need a bag to avoid clothing the filter. ) it can be something a simple as the Dustopper from Home Depot, or a full cyclone from Oneida (or Harbor Freight?).
The OEM bags for my 3 or 4 gallon Ridgid vac cost about $10 each. Aftermarket bags are cheaper, of course, but with the dustopper, I can see when the bucket needs to be emptied.
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I should have mentioned, I have a separator/cyclone already. Shop vac (w/bag) → cyclone on a 5 gal. bucket → LR4 CNC. That’s what you mean right?
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I am also trying to choose a shop vac! I noticed I can get the 6 gal version for the same price, but it’s 4hp vs the 5.5hp listed.
I’m not concerned with volume, but I wonder if the extra HP is neccessary. I’m trying to decide between spending 130 or 75 lol.
That’s a very helpful note!
Thanks!
I ordered the six gal today and I’ll let you know how it goes if that helps when I cut strut plates.
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Yes that’s correct.
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The Stealthsonic arrived yesterday and I unboxed her today. Decibel readings are similar between my two vacuums, but spectrum analyzer is wildly different. The new vacuum is basically way more lower frequency noise. It’s much less annoying, and I got my new hearing protection too with which it’s very very tolerable. So I’m printing some hose couplings from the OpenSCAD file in my build thread and will maybe cut strut plates tonight!
+1 for stealthsonic and dustopper cyclone separator on 5gal bucket. Invested in $50 headphones (3M worktunes with bluetooth). Was hesitant to spend that much on shop vac and headphones at the time, but glad for it later on. Rigid vac was way louder to me.
Openscad printed hose couplings sounds like a good idea. Much better than the janky duct tape I’m using.
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Here’s the MakerWorld one you can customize on the website https://makerworld.com/en/models/1184578-pipe-tube-reduction-adapter?from=search and here’s the OpenSCAD file https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2857545/apps.
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Let me know how it goes! I will be buying a shop vac tomo either way, but very curious how it performs for you!
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