Vacuum for Ashes

[mrarela7]

I went to Home Depot today looking to buy shop vacuum and I found two that were inexpensive:

• Stinger | 2.5 Gallon 1.75 Peak HP Compact Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum - $39.97 | HD20250
• BucketHead | 5 Gallon 1.75 Peak HP Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum Powerhead - $29.97

However, when looking at also purchasing backup replacement filters VF2000, the filters said they were not for cold ashes! What?

Research
I did further research and found that

• Both Stinger and Bucket Head may be owned by Emerson Tool Company.
• Stinger's Webpage Q&A had a note from Emerson Tool Company saying it's not recommended for fireplace ashes.
• Bucket Head's Webpage Q&A had a note from Emerson Tool Company saying it's not recommended for fireplace ashes, either! Nor wood dust (saw dust).

I purchased neither when I learned of Emerson Tool Company's Q&A replies. My plan was to call Emerson Tool Company and ask them about ashes from a Traeger Grill, this week and tell folks here about the reply I get.


Q1) Have you looked for shop vacuum's designed for ashes? What did you find?

Q2) Have you noticed ashes going back into the air using the Stinger or Bucket Head?

 

[mrarela7]

These attachments show that Stinger and Bucket Head may be owned by Emerson Tool Company.
They also both use the same filters: VF2000 - $4.32/ unit

 

[Slimpicker]

This has been widely reported here and many of us already own one.
I do, and a very good MATCH to this buckethead is the CLEAR 2.5gal bucket they sell in the paint isle, perfect for compact and still same size top for Buckethead.
Been using mine with no problem for over 2 years, works great on ashes, I don't give a what any QnA says, this thing works and that's fine by me.

 

[Slimpicker]

Have you noticed ashes going back into the air using the Stinger or Bucket Head?

NOT AT ALL!!!! It sits outside year round with never needed a bag change nor a bag tear or anything wrong at all.

Also, FIREPLACE ashes are really different than pellet ashes. Fireplace ashes are a lot finer than pellet ashes.

 

[BobbyQ]

No problem here with the Bucket Head. And you can find the filters in bulk on the Bay if you search.

VF2000 Replacement Filters for Husky Stinger Bucket Head Vacuum 24 Pack 8 Bands | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for VF2000 Replacement Filters for Husky Stinger Bucket Head Vacuum 24 Pack 8 Bands at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!

www.ebay.com

 

[MidwestSmoker]

I also have the Bucket Head with those filters and it works very well for the pellet ashes. It works on almost any 5 gallon bucket and I am using it with an old paint bucket. It is cheap so I have no problem storing it with the Traeger outside. You don't want to use an expensive shop vac for this purpose.

 

[RayClem]

I suspect the warning about fireplace ashes is that sometimes people tend to try cleaning up ashes before they are completely cold. Embers inside a plastic vacuum would pose a safety issue; thus, Emerson issues the warning. If you tried vacuuming fireplace ashes or ashes from a charcoal grill, that might be an issue.

Since the Traeger shutdown sequence seems to provide adequate time for the fire to burn it self out and no hot ashes remain, if the metal is cool enough to touch, it should not be a problem for the vacuum.

I use an old Craftsman handheld shop vac that is very similar to the Stinger. It works quite well.

 

[Shedd]

I use a cheap shop vac without a filter. I just point the exhaust away from me and let it blow. I’ve done it for over 30 years with my green egg also. Never been an issue. My Traeger’s ash isn’t as fine as the egg and not near as much.

 

[Slimpicker]

My Traeger’s ash isn’t as fine as the egg and not near as much.

My original point exactly. Drywall dust is probably 10x finer than Traeger ashes.

 

[mrarela7]

Thanks everyone for getting back and answering my question:
> “Q2) Have you noticed ashes going back into the air using the Stinger or Bucket Head?”

Of the five folks who replied, no one said they had an issue with pellet ashes going back into the air for the BucketHead, (although not everyone said that they use BucketHead, nor Stinger).

Also both Shedd and Slimpicker said that the Traeger pellet ash isn’t as fine as fireplace ash (nor Big Green Egg ash).

Appreciated! I think I’ll go with the BucketHead, and perhaps too the smaller CLEAR 2.5 gal bucket.

 

[mrarela7]

Emerson Tool Company Reply
Also the Emerson Tool Company got back to me.

They said: “Both the Stinger and Bucket Head Vacuum is not advisable to be used for ashes or pellet grill ashes as the Filter of these vacuums are only design for Regular Household Debris.” 

And they recommend Rigid Shop Vacs for ashes:

• Ridgid 5 Gallon 3.0 Peak HP Cool/Dry Ash Canister Shop Vacuum - USD $119.00
• Ridgid 3 Gallon 5.0 Peak HP NXT Wet/Dry Shop Vacuum with Filter - USD $119.00

See attachments.

 

[Slimpicker]

Appreciated! I think I’ll go with the BucketHead, and perhaps too the smaller CLEAR 2.5 gal bucket.

Dude, I haven't even changed my filter yet... 2 years
You cannot go wrong with this combo

 

[BobbyQ]

^^^^^^
I could buy two more Bucketheads for the price of one of those and have change left. They work. No ash out the back end. Of course, I usually wait at least a day before I vac just to be safe.

 

[Shedd]

Filters are useless for fine dust. This little vac hasn’t had a filter in years. Wherever those little dust particles land they will benefit the soil. They won’t make it to the ozone.

 

[Shedd]

Filters are useless for fine dust. This little vac hasn’t had a filter in years. Wherever those little dust particles land they will benefit the soil. They won’t make it to the ozone.

Sorry pic didn’t send.