Love Less/Dustless Ash Vac

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Kenster

Kenster

Minister of Fire
Jan 10, 2010
1,705
Texas- West of Houston
I'm very interested in one of these vacs. They are pretty highly recommended by the members of the forum, though reviews are mixed on websites outside of this one. I know there are two models, basically identical but one has extra baffles to make it somewhat quieter. I'm not worried about the noise and doubt I would pay very much just to have a quieter model. The biggest concerns seem to be with the hose clogging up because it won't suck up anything but fine ash. Typically, we don't burn 24/7 down here and we might have as many as four or five nights in a row where I'm burning. By that time, the VC Vigilant needs to be cleaned out some. I rarely have anything left in there that is not just fine ash. If I have any chunks I just rake them to the side.

I'm thinking this would make a good vac for me. I've seen the Cheatah as low as $184, no tax and free shipping. That seems to be a pretty good deal, though I wouldn't mind finding a factory refurbished one but can't find a source for those. I don't see the point in buying the accessory pack for my particular stove.

Just wondering if any of you that have this vac have experienced any type of problems with it. How often do you have to clean the filters?
How often do you have to REPLACE the filters?

Thanks!

Ken
 
Well if my free vac comes today as they said it would . . . check back in a week or so and I'll answer all your questions. ;)
 
The vacuum works well. I use it on a pellet stove, and have only had to clean the filter annually.

Maybe you should listen to one of these before you decide on the model.

Had I known how LOUD this thing was before I purchased it, I would have spent the additional money to get the quiet model.
 
I've entered the contest twice now. Still hoping!
 
g1mb said:
The vacuum works well. I use it on a pellet stove, and have only had to clean the filter annually.

Maybe you should listen to one of these before you decide on the model.

Had I known how LOUD this thing was before I purchased it, I would have spent the additional money to get the quiet model.
Click to expand...

It can't be any louder than topped out MS390 chain saw! And I've got some great hearing protectors. I've read several reviews that the 'quieter' model is not very different and is questionable whether it's worth the extra money. But one dealer has them only about $10 apart so I might go for the upgrade at that price point.
 
What makes one of these different from a shop vac?
 
Flatbedford said:
What makes one of these different from a shop vac?
Click to expand...

A standard shop vac cannot filter the fine ash enough to keep it from being discharged back into the room. I also doubt that a shop vac has heat resistant material to help prevent a fire in case small embers got sucked up into it.
 
Kenster,

I use a grate to lift up the bigger chunks and then vacuum up the smaller stuff and ashes. Seems to work pretty good. I think the grate I have is a paint bucket strainer.
 
I was seconds away from winning the bid on one tonight on eBay. Someone jumped in and actually paid more than what you can get one for at a "Buy it now" price.
Kinda silly, but it didn't break my heart. There are lots of others out there.
 
Kenster said:
I was seconds away from winning the bid on one tonight on eBay. Someone jumped in and actually paid more than what you can get one for at a "Buy it now" price.
Kinda silly, but it didn't break my heart. There are lots of others out there.
Click to expand...

Hey Kenster - you can enter to win one! I have a friend that has one and she loves it, some people the noise of the vac bothers but she says that as good of a job as it does at picking up and cleaning the fireplace, she is ok with the noise. She likes it because a time or two she has picked up a warm ember and due to the high heat resistance canister it wont burn up like a shopvac or other vac normally would, plus it picks up even the finest particles of ash. I still haven't invested in one, but I have been entering their contest each week!! They say they are giving away several over the next few weeks, so never hurts to try to win one! Here is the link I copied from another post talking about the contest: http://dustlesstools.com/AshVac_offer.htm
 
Thanks, Katie. I've entered twice now, including just yesterday. I would be great to win one!
 
Loveless Cheetah ash van that I won arrived yesterday . . . and I have to say . . . it works pretty slick. I plan on just using it to clean up the inevitable ash spillage on to my ash lips and hearth . . . currently I sweep them off but it never completely cleans up and gets stirred up in the air . . . not bad and acceptable to me . . . but this is much cleaner and neater. I will also use this in the Spring when I do my final complete cleaning of the year before Summer.

I have used a Shop Vac before . . . and it's OK if you have a drywall filter on it . . . but being the sort of person I am I sometimes worry about an errant ember being in that bit of ash that has fallen on to the ash lip . . . a slim chance I know . . . but still.
 
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