13 replies to this topic

[olcowhand]

When I drilled all the holes for my 2-post car lift a few weeks ago, I got my shop vac to suck up all the fine dust piles.  I was quickly greeted by a shop full of fine dust the vac sent out the discharge.  When I pulled the top off the vac, I found all the paper pleated part of the filter was gone....literally.  So I went down to my old shop to get my larger 16 gallon vac, and when I pulled the top to check it's filter, it too was gone....just the rubber end left.  No sign of paper, like bacteria or something had eaten both filters.  This happened a year ago in one of them, but thought it some kind of fluke.  Now both at the same time makes me wonder what is going on.  The larger unit had some wheat seed left in it where I had cleaned out my seed drill last year, but the other has been in the new shop with nothing but general shop dirt in it, having no liquids sucked up.  Anyone else had this happen?  If so, any answers to why?  Internet searching gets me no info at all.  I got new filters in the mail today, and want to extend their life as much as possible.  For now I'll flip the motor/filter section upside down so moisture can't build up in case that's the issue.

[shorty]

The one used on the seed still makes me think of little bugs that couldn't stop eating. But that wouldn't explain the other one then.

[larrybl]

Just checked mine, replaced the filter last year. Use to suck all kinds of Engine junk and stuff of the shop floor. Filter is intact, but needs a new one soon.

[Gtractor]

Mice are crawling up the hose and removing the filter to make a nest elsewhere.

 

I've had this happen on an ATV air filter - a few times. 

Edited by Gtractor, October 20, 2016 - 08:17 PM.

[JBRamsey]

I tend to agree with Gtractor, but I would expect you to see droppings in the vacuum. Also, I don't know if a mouse could climb up the wall of the vacuum and get back out. Sounds more like bugs ate them.

[Eric]

Darn gremlins for sure! We had all sorts of unexplainable happenings while I was serving in the Navy. Once we had a pilot write up a gripe on a Huey he wrote it sounded like a tiny man with a hammer was banging on the tailboom. I waited a few minutes after finding no problem with the aircraft and signed it off saying " spoke with tiny man in a stern manner told him to stop banging on things and stole his hammer"! The pilot was a bit agitated until a few days later when we gave him a plaque with the write up on the bottom and a hammer mounted to it. I didn't have the heart to tell him the noise came from the flashlight he left in the tailboom during his preflight inspection.

[boyscout862]

Darn gremlins for sure! We had all sorts of unexplainable happenings while I was serving in the Navy. Once we had a pilot write up a gripe on a Huey he wrote it sounded like a tiny man with a hammer was banging on the tailboom. I waited a few minutes after finding no problem with the aircraft and signed it off saying " spoke with tiny man in a stern manner told him to stop banging on things and stole his hammer"! The pilot was a bit agitated until a few days later when we gave him a plaque with the write up on the bottom and a hammer mounted to it. I didn't have the heart to tell him the noise came from the flashlight he left in the tailboom during his preflight inspection.

Great story. I hope that he never found out.

[Gtractor]

I tend to agree with Gtractor, but I would expect you to see droppings in the vacuum. Also, I don't know if a mouse could climb up the wall of the vacuum and get back out. Sounds more like bugs ate them.

https://www.youtube....h?v=luU5gsCgyog

[olcowhand]

I haven't dumped that vac yet, so I'll look for droppings.  Makes sense mice would crawl into that vac, being it was full of grain.   But the other one?

[KennyP]

Never had that happen to me before. Really odd.

[LilysDad]

I have had filters damaged by things I have sucked up, such as small blocks of wood or metal nuts. Not to the point of needing replacement,though. Could it have been torn up and dumped out?

[CRFarnsworth]

I haven't dumped that vac yet, so I'll look for droppings.  Makes sense mice would crawl into that vac, being it was full of grain.   But the other one?

 

Sounds like you did a good job training them on the first vac.   

[HDWildBill]

I think Lilysdad may have something.  If they were cheap paper filters then debri being sucked up could have torn them up.  How long had they been in there?  

[olcowhand]

I think Lilysdad may have something. If they were cheap paper filters then debri being sucked up could have torn them up. How long had they been in there?

Wasn't debris. I checked them and shook them clean now and then.