Any recommendations out there for a good vac? Looking at the Powersmith and am wondering if there have been any opinions on it. Thanks!
Ash Vacuums?
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Heatsource
Minister of Fire
Cheetah Ash Vac by Love-less . . . expensive, but works very well. Truth be told, I may not have laid out the money for one, but a year or so ago I won one in a contest here and honestly I'm kind of hooked on it. I wouldn't say they're a "must have" tool, but it makes my weekly cleaning of the hearth and stove much faster . . . just a reminder though . . . I'm not a big fan of using these vacs to suck up ash from the firebox, but rather use them to suck up ash from the hearth, ash lip, etc. -- places where there is not a great chance of a live cold being sucked up.
etiger2007
Minister of Fire
I also use the Cheetah. Mine was also free. Its a good vac, but If I was looking for a new one I would consider a cheaper alternative.
How long is your stove out before you feel comfortable doing this with a shop vac?
I only use the shop vac inside the stove after it has been out for a long time and the ash is completely stone cold. On the outside I do use it to clean up ash spills, bark crumbs, etc. on the ash lip and hearth throughout the winter.
I have a Cheetah Loveless ash vacuum as well. I bought mine - they are pricey - but it works well. Initially, I used it to clean out the wood stove interior. Since my stove box is small, it was tough to reach all the right places with the hose and attachment, and it caused separation of the metallic spiral hose (Loveless provided a free replacement with one wrapped to keep the separation from occurring). I just use it to clean around the hearth now - wife feels better knowing I use this and not a regular vac, and it is HEPA filtered.
Definitely buy some hearing protection to keep with it as it is a loud machine.
Definitely buy some hearing protection to keep with it as it is a loud machine.
Pay $20-30 more and go for Loveless COUGAR ash vac. Both come with the similar motor although Cougar comes with a better motor housing and is really less noisy machine.
I just got a powersmith and so far love it
way better than my old shop vac and save $ on bags 
also I like the small size of it 
fits nice beside my stove and the price is just right ... Also could suck a patato threw a straw 
Paulywalnut
Minister of Fire
jeffesonm
Minister of Fire
maple1
Minister of Fire
I have a shop vac. It has an inlet & outlet that you can switch the hose between so it will either suck or blow. I run it with hoses on each place, and stick the outlet one out a window or door. Or, I put the vac outside, slap all my hoses together, and run it to the ashes. Either way, it gets the vac air discharge outside - which is important IMO no matter what kind of vac you have. I tried sucking up ashes once with the vac inside, and extra filter on, and a drywall bag, and some ash dust still got by everything. Not doing that again. And I don't think even ash vacs are considered safe to deal with any hot ash or embers - are they?
I used shop vac for 8 years and I can
say ash vac is much safer then a hot amber sitting in that paper bag in your shop vac
! Reason the ash gets threw is because a hot amber put a hole in the bag I've had some close calls with a shop vac wile cleaning a pellet stove I thought had only cold ash left in it !!
say ash vac is much safer then a hot amber sitting in that paper bag in your shop vac
! Reason the ash gets threw is because a hot amber put a hole in the bag I've had some close calls with a shop vac wile cleaning a pellet stove I thought had only cold ash left in it !!
Give craigslist a shot. I found a Loveless COUGAR ash vacuum for a 100 bucks. Previous owner claimed he only used one winter - certainly seemed well kept.- He was happy , I was happy. A good ending. The vacuum I had been eying all along. I got a reasonable price. Here's a link to one on line as an example.... Good Luck
(broken link removed to http://maine.craigslist.org/tls/4060613619.html)
(broken link removed to http://maine.craigslist.org/tls/4060613619.html)
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