Shop vac. filter cover, source needed

[Over40pirate]

I am looking for a source for a cloth filter cover, to use as a prefilter, over the pleated paper filter in my 16 gal Craftsman shop vac. It's not a Sears part. It was on the Craftsman vacuun when I bought it used, to replace the same model, I had been using for over 25 years! I can't say enough about this model vac. The old one still sucked, but all the screws holding it together were rusted out, and stripped. I can't locate a source for these. Does anyone know what type fabric should be used to make a bag? FYI: I use a 5 gal. Shopvac brand vacuum, for chip collection, on my Powermatic, portable thickness planer, RAS, and jointer, as well as around the shop and house, and truck. Thanks for any help, Cliff

[nospam_coloradotrout]

I buy shopvac bags, big ones, cut in half, and slip them over the cartridge filter. I tuck them in hold it in-place or use a rubber band.

It helps. The whole cartridge thing is an interesting. Works great while it's clean, works better when when it's a bit used, starts to not work as it gets more dirty. And with a shopvac, a small one, it' gets dirty almost immediately. I run one in my garage -- pick up dirt, cat hair, etc, and it's plugging up after a few mins.

Cycl>I am looking for a source for a cloth filter cover, to use as a prefilter, over

[Silvan]

I don't know if it would help all that much. You'd still have to have some kind of pleated paper to get the fine stuff, as I think most of the HEPA cyclone home vacs do. I have a trash can cyclone on my shop vac, and it helps me have to dump it less often, but it doesn't do anything about the rapid clogging with fine, smoke-like dust. I got a brand new filter from new to completely useless in about 47 seconds vacuuming my shop.