craftsman shop vac filters

Dutch445 · Oct 30, 2014

a few months ago i purchased a replacement filter for my 25+year old craftsman
shop vac, 16 gallon, with detachable head that's a blower. for years the filters
were cylindrical filters, and there was a bottom plate and screw on nut to hold
it all in place. never had a problem.

this new filter eliminates the need for the bottom plate, and large "nut",
and has a self contained push nut in it's place

last week while doing my coal stove prep and clean, my basement filled up
with ash, it was a little bit before i caught it cuz my concentration was cleaning the stove,
and when i turned around it was a fog of fine ash in the air. the filter had dropped off
while i moved the shop vac from the garage down into the basement.
i reinstalled the filter and used it a little more after opening windows and using fans
to clear the air.

tonight, just a quick cleanup, and ****, more ash in the air, and this time i hadn't moved
the shop vac.

has anybody else gotten these new filters? are the old ones available anywhere?
i am not happy about this, not to mention the mess, and possible damage to the motor.

Bird · Oct 31, 2014

I had no idea they'd changed. I have 2 spare filters on hand and have had them a long time, but the Sears website shows a "generic" filter that says it fits most of the Craftsman shop vacs.

hosspuller · Oct 31, 2014

I just used the old plastic "nut" on the new filter.

Dutch445 · Oct 31, 2014

i'll have to try it, it's sort of pressed into the filter as a unit,
but i'll look into doing that later today
thanks

dave1949 · Oct 31, 2014

Bummer. Another improve it until it's too cheap to be useful example.

I have a eight-year-old new HEPA filter for mine on the shelf. I just keep brushing and tapping out the old one and it keeps working.

Coyote machine · Oct 31, 2014

Have you tried H. Depot for the 'cleanable'/reuseable filters made from a synthetic material, Gore Tex? I got one of those years ago, it's round, and fits perfectly with the original wing nut. You just blow it out with air or bang it on the inside of a trash bag lined container. Remove when sucking liquids. It's more $ but it lasts 'forever'. See link below:

GORE CleanStream Wet/Dry Vacuum Filters

jerrybob · Oct 31, 2014

I've had a similar Craftsman shop vac for 11 yrs. now......never have changed the filter. When I empty the vac......I take the filter off......beat it against a tree.....blow it out with my compressor and put it back on. The vac. still is working fine.

QRTRHRS · Oct 31, 2014

My Craftsman is about the same size. I had two paper filters that wore out and Sears is more of a drive for me than Lowe's so I went to see what Lowe's had.

Mine also used the "large nut" to hold the filter so when I was looking at this washable generic filter at Lowe's I had my doubts but I bought it anyway. Not once has the filter come loose even though it is a push on fit and has been removed and washed many times. I have sucked up a lot of dust while repainting the interior of my house. The original paint was to say the least poorly done so I have had to start each room by sanding the walls with an orbital Porter Cable sander with the Sears hose choked down to fit the sander.

I need to get into Lowe's next week. I will have to check to see if that filter is still available.