Ash Vacuum idea - would this be feasible?

[Burn-1]

I have a Dovre Isle Royale I am trying to fix up. It doesn't appear to need a total rebuild but I am going to be replacing firebricks and some gaskets. I would have liked have been able to move it outside to blow it out with a compressor as Elk has suggested in the past but I had a hard enough time getting recruits to help me move it the 1st time. I'm thinking of making a crude plastic tent of sorts around where it is in basement so I can get this cleaned up and contain the mess. There is also some ash in the nooks of the stove I would like to get out.

That said I really don't want to go buy a new vacuum designed for ash pickup but I was thinking I could use something like the one my friend used for his drywall like this which filters the dust through the water.

I know fly ash can be pretty fine but must be fairly similar to drywall dust. If anyone has other ideas I would appreciate it.

 

[babalu87]

I learned here that a Shop-vac with a damp sock on the outlet side is the way to go, nary a speck of dust when I cleaned up the stove.

 

[jqgs214]

I cleaned my old stove out at much as possible, removed the fire brick, scooped out as much as I could then just took my household vacuum w/ HEPA filter and just vacuumed it. Worked like a charm.

 

[webbie]

I doubt anything can be much finer than sheet rock dust! I would go for that one...although I think most shop vac with the standard filters these days would do the job. Those filters have come a long way...

 

[Dexter]

I found a fine-dust filter for my shop vac at Home Depot. I cannot remember the brand, but it was listed for dry wall dust and ash (cold only). It was paper, and you have to take off the wet/sponge filter to slide it on. (It was expensive -- about $26 I think). I think it is good for about 4 or 5 cleanings (of a firelight cb), if you tap off the crud into the trash after each cleaning. 'Couldn't even smell ash when I stuck my nose over the vac exhaust.

Best Regards,

Dexter

 

[Hogwildz]

I use my home peehole Rigid shop vac, as is and never had any dust fly out.
I do of course make sure the ash is cold and no hot embers.