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Which Pellet Stove Ash Vac do you have and what do you like about it?

Discussion in 'Pellet Stoves, Pellet Fireplaces, Pellet Furnaces' started by don2222, Jan 16, 2018.

  1. don2222

    don2222

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    Hello
    Was not quite happy with the old metal shop vac so I picked up a new Power Smith when I was in the warehouse.
    It holds 3 gals of ash and has a nice protective filter bag that covers the powerful 10 amp Motor.
    It is very compact with a nice carry handle but has a very long cord and even a red full indicator!
    So what do you have?
    Pics too?

    Pic 1 - old vac
    Pic 2 - new power smith with my good commercial hose and ash trap cleaner and extra exhaust filter.
    Pic 3 - filter on motor and ash comes in and falls to the bottom
    Pic 4 - red full indicator
     

    Attached Files:

  2. wildwest

    wildwest Moderator

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    I'm in the market for a new one. Bought a 4 (4.5?) gal Stanley, nice and light, but the cord is short, like 7', and between the size of the hose/vac bag opening and gal capacity I am limited to Stanley OEM bags only which are $$$. Going to use it till the last bag is gone, then upgrade, look forward to this thread Don.
     
  3. PelletHound

    PelletHound

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    I own the Powersmith.Nice vac.Works well.Easy to clean.I have to make one of those adapters to clean the fines box on the Harman.
     
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  4. artc

    artc

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    ditto
     
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  5. SKEETER McCLUSKEY

    SKEETER McCLUSKEY

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  6. badbob

    badbob

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    Do not own a ash vac.Just a cheap vac using drywall dust bags,never vac hot.Am on my 3rd one,since early 90's,but that includes the one I did the drywall work with in my cabin,and another one that was free.What can I say,i am cheep.:D
     
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  7. Pallet Pete

    Pallet Pete Moderator

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    We purchased a cleva brand ash vac it’s super loud but has done a great job and has a very nice pre filter before the main filter to keep it from clogging up. The little guy has plenty of suction. It’s a bit dirty because we never bother to wipe it down.

    The old cleva is going on 3 years of solid service which is much better than the TSC pile of junk we bought first. That died after 3 uses....

    image.jpg
     
  8. don2222

    don2222

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    Attached Files:

    Last edited: Jan 17, 2018
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  9. don2222

    don2222

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    I like this video on the Cleva
     
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  10. PelletHound

    PelletHound

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    Yikes,the cougar is almost $300.I think I paid 80 bucks for the Powersmith.
     
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  11. nailed_nailer

    nailed_nailer

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    I bought a Ridgid 3 gallon Shop Vac about 10 years ago that I outfitted with a HEPA filter.
    Think it was around $20.00 then.
    I usually go about 3 stove cleanings before I dump it out and bang the filter clean against a tree.

    Works for me.
    ---Nailer---
     
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  12. imacman

    imacman

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    One of the forum members ( was it nailed_nailer ??) made one for some of us out of wood on his lathe some years ago. Can't find a pic of it. Worked great.
     
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  13. PelletHound

    PelletHound

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    I put one together this morning.Made it from old beer brewing supplies and some silicone tape.I'm gonna shut down the stove and give it a try. IMG_6733.JPG
     
  14. imacman

    imacman

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    :popcorn:
     
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  15. don2222

    don2222

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    Yes it was Nailed_Nailer and the one he made isin my pic in the first post. I painted mine blue :)
     
  16. nailed_nailer

    nailed_nailer

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    Lol, I remember making those. Still have more stiff plastic tubing if anyone else wants one.
    Just PM me your Vacuum hose Inside Diameter and your address.

    My original adapter is still in use. Been about 10 years now. Turned down a chunk of cherry and had some old braided fuel hose.
    ---Nailer---
     
  17. ChandlerR

    ChandlerR

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    I bought a Loveless Cougar when I bought my stove back in 2008. It lives next to my stove, plugged in and ready to go. I use it a lot and have never had a problem. I clean the vac once a year and empty it at the end of the season. For me, it was a good investment.
     
  18. slvrblkk

    slvrblkk

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    I have a Powersmith. It's ok. My only complaint about it is you don't get much ash in the container when the filter clogs up and looses suction and you need to empty it. They say it's 3 gallon but you get nowhere near that much ash in until it losses suction. Other than that it's ok.
     
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  19. don2222

    don2222

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    X2, Is there any other ash vac that does not have this issue?
     
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  20. slvrblkk

    slvrblkk

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    That is the $1,000,000 question!