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We have come to such an era where most people are now preferring an advanced dust collection system for their homes or shops. Why is it happening? Because these options are more convenient and safe to use. However, generally speaking, the two most popular ways of collecting dust are having a shop vac or a dust extractor like one of these.
In this post we'll cover:
What Is A Shop Vac?
A shop vacuum is a tool that can be used in both dry and wet versions. This tool differs significantly from the regular vacuum as it comes with a smaller hose. Though its hose is narrower, the airflow is fast and suitable for smaller-sized debris. According to the characteristics and uses, the shop vacuum can be considered a basic dust collection system. Its low air volume allows collecting sawdust and small dust particles like wood chips. The shop vac comes with a one-stage system that cannot differentiate between bigger and smaller dust particles. As a result, all types of debris go directly into the only tank available.What Is A Dust Extractor?
The dust extractor is a new competitor of the shop vac. It comes with a wider hose but has the same portability as a shop vac. Besides, the dust extractor has a lower ability of suction than the shop vac. However, the fundamental difference here is the filtration system. You’ve already seen that the shop vac doesn’t have any kind of filtration capability. On the other hand, the dust extractor can filter the large particles by separating them from the microscopic particles. As the dust extractors have a high air volume, you will get a slower airflow through the wide hose. Hopefully, the wide hose allows larger particles to get directly into the tank. Besides, this tool is extremely handy when you need to clean the air in your shop. Because, the dust extractor’s air suctioning capability is so high that it can filter most microscopic air dust particles, which are even 0.3 micrometers small. So, you can use this dust collector tool for both ground and air dust.Difference Between Dust Extractor and Shop Vac
When you compare these two dust collector tools, they have both similarities and dissimilarities in some cases. Let’s find out these things from the comparison below.Diversity
Sadly, the shop vacuum comes only in one variant that cannot filtrate the air elements and large particles. So, you are not getting any second choice from this tool. But, when we are talking about the dust extractor, it usually comes in two variants. One of the dust extractor variants is suitable for a small shop or a tiny room and comes with a one-stage filtration system. On the other hand, another variant has a two-stage filtration system, and you are worry-free about both air and ground dust. In addition to that, you won’t face any issue with cleaning the sizable areas too. So, the dust extractor wins in this section.Effectiveness
The dust extractor is designed for heavy use, whereas the shop vacuum is for light use. Simply, the shop vac cannot filtrate larger particles and works as a soft touch on the cleaning process. But, the dust extractor can filter bigger particles, and that’s why many woodworkers like to clean big wood chips using it. Similarly, cleaning fine sawdust may seem harder in the shop vac, whereas the dust extractor can easily remove such dust.Cleaning Particles
The shop vac can clean various materials like wood chips, water, broken glasses, sawdust, etc. On the contrary, the dust extractor cannot clean such diverse materials, and you will only be able to use it for cleaning wood-type particles and sawdust. So, the shop vac is a good choice for a diverse range of particles.Scope
If you look at the productivity, the dust collector is quite effective in cleaning smaller particles as well as larger particles too. So, they can quickly clean up a large area in both the air and the ground. But, the shop vacuum is not better in any way for cleaning the extensive areas fast.Compartments
You already know, the shop vac comes with only a single compartment. But, you will get two compartments in a variant of the dust extractor. Additionally, as this tool comes with a two-stage filtration system, it can filter two types of particles in these two compartments. And, you are also getting a bigger space for storing dust than the shop vac.Air Cleaning
If you want to keep your lungs in a healthy position, the dust extractor can help you out. Unlike the shop vac, the dust extractor can filtrate the air dust and particles to keep the air clean. As a result, you will get dust-free fresh air for breathing after cleaning using this dust collector tool.Conclusion
At last, we’ve come to an end. Now, we can obviously hope that you will be able to differentiate between the shop vacuum and the dust extractor. Though both are used for dust cleaning, they are identifiable due to their unique characteristics. So, if you are looking for a dust collector for cleaning small particles or debris then I highly recommend the shop vac. Otherwise, you can choose the dust extractor for wider places.I'm Joost Nusselder, the founder of Tools Doctor, content marketer, and dad. I love trying out new equipment, and together with my team I've been creating in-depth blog articles since 2016 to help loyal readers with tools & crafting tips.