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Login to post Forums » Off-topic discussion » Shop vac Storage?

June 26, 2011 6:25 p.m. ultraclyde Reader

Since I'm not really pursuing any vehicle projects right now I'm trying to organize my shop. One thing I have yet to find an engenius, GRM worthy solution for is storing my shop vac, It's one of the Lowe's roll around models with the 5 foot hose that won't store reasonable and ends up trailing along, and the 47 gabillion attachments that drop off in a Hansel-and-gretel trail of plastic when you move it.

anybody have a gee-whiz, why didn't I think of that solution to dealing with these things?

Also, what are your thoughts on painting the interior walls/cieling? They're all rough cut 1/2" thick panel right now in natural wood. White's nice but shows dirt, gray seems a bit drab....it's gonna soak up paint like a sponge..... will a lighter color really enhance the lighting enough to be worthwhile?
June 26, 2011 6:27 p.m. mad_machine SuperDork

store the hose inside the vac?
June 26, 2011 8:04 p.m. Maroon92 SuperDork

ultraclyde wrote: will a lighter color really enhance the lighting enough to be worthwhile?

OH YEAH! White or a light grey, or even a yellow or something would REALLY make a difference. It's like you put in twice as many light fixtures.
June 26, 2011 8:43 p.m. peter Reader

ultraclyde wrote: will a lighter color really enhance the lighting enough to be worthwhile?

I work out in a dingy basement gym. Gym was recently bought by a new company and their entire refurbishment consisted of painting the previously black ceilings and walls white. The change was amazing. Seems much brighter. Makes the dingy-ness that much more visible though!
June 26, 2011 8:48 p.m. SVreX SuperDork

I store my 16 Gal Shop Vac under the workbench with all the attachments and hoses inside.
June 26, 2011 9:32 p.m. 93gsxturbo HalfDork

I painted my walls and ceiling with "ceiling white" paint. Took 2 coats. Looks fantastic and brighter than standard wall paint. My walls are finished drywall.

Then my dad came and we installed 1/4" OSB on the bottom 4' of the garage walls. I painted that with outdoor paint meant for concrete walkways. Heavy duty stuff. 2 coats of that and I was done. It filled in a lot of the imperfections in the OSB surface and really makes a nice scuff pad to keep the white walls white. It will also protect the drywall from errant jack handles, lawn mowers, and whatnot. Its heavy enough that you can run screws into it to hold small racks or hangers as well without needing to find a stud.
June 26, 2011 9:45 p.m. pete240z SuperDork

somebody gave me a big old vac and it sits in my basement. it too is bulky and needs a lot of space but is a great piece of equipment. LOL
June 26, 2011 10:00 p.m. EastCoastMojo SuperDork

I got this one and I love it.
June 27, 2011 12:33 a.m. friedgreencorrado SuperDork

Can't help with the shopvac, but I'm on board with everyone else who says repaint a lighter color. One place I lived had an unpainted garage..I put a single coat of white on everything. Only time I've ever had a landlord give me back the entire "damage deposit" when I moved out. It's amazing how much dark colors soak up your light.
June 27, 2011 12:42 a.m. Woody SuperDork

EastCoastMojo wrote:

I got this one and I love it.

Brilliant! Never saw that one before. I have a big, wheeled shop vac, but I picked up one of these to quickly handle random wetness (also brilliant!):

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202017218/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&am...
June 27, 2011 7:04 a.m. ultraclyde Reader

Okay, so painting looks like a worthwhile idea. Cieling paint, huh? interesting....

To be honest, I never thought about storing the hose IN the vac. I rarely empty it (shame) so that would make me be a little more proactive. I was hoping for a solution that didn't require breakdown, but I guess I don't really use it THAT often either.

Any other ideas?
June 27, 2011 5:17 p.m. Karl La Follette Dork

You can clean scallops real easy by sucking all the goobers out then you hit the meat ,.>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> scallop season is in full swing on the west coast FLA ""Nature Coast Bounty "" Sell to unsuspecting yard sailor after use
June 27, 2011 7:49 p.m. friedgreencorrado SuperDork

Woody wrote:

So that one just attaches to the top of a regular sheetrock mud bucket? That is brilliant! (in a dang, I wish I'd thought of that kinda way)
June 28, 2011 1:51 a.m. Woody SuperDork

friedgreencorrado wrote:

Woody wrote:

So that one just attaches to the top of a regular sheetrock mud bucket? That is brilliant! (in a dang, I wish I'd thought of that kinda way)

Yup. It's $20 with a hose but minus the bucket. It's the handiest way to get rid of water after a shop vac is full, which is always a PITA.

Also great for inflating an air mattress.
June 28, 2011 6:43 a.m. novaderrik Dork

those "bucket vac" things aren't new.. my mom's fiance has a Craftsman one that looks like it was made sometime in the 60's and saw pretty regular use on the farm until it finally died a couple of years ago.
June 28, 2011 6:56 a.m. mad_machine SuperDork

I need to get that shop vac.. it's perfect
June 28, 2011 8:56 a.m. cliff95 New Reader

ultraclyde wrote: White's nice but shows dirt, gray seems a bit drab....it's gonna soak up paint like a sponge..... will a lighter color really enhance the lighting enough to be worthwhile?
Yes, do it. I painted my folks garage with a white outdoor paint (well primer and then paint). The brick walls on two sides soaked up the primer, but the garage is bright now - best $/improvement we did. It cleans up pretty easy with a cloth and some water for most stains. Worst case (which hasn't arrived yet, you could just prime and repaint bad stains, it is a garage after all).

I need to get around to painting the current garage, block walls are dark.
June 28, 2011 9:06 a.m. GrantMLS Reader

yeah its night and day - one side of my shop I have white peg board on the walls - the other are just studs that are dark - same light on both sides - the side witht he peg board looks to glow like it has more bulbs or higher wattage but its the same - someday I will finish the rest
June 28, 2011 11:40 a.m. Ian F SuperDork

We have the Hoover Garage-Vac that mounts on the wall in the g/f's garage. 25 ft hose that wraps onto a wall caddy. I really want/need one for my own garage. When I'm not using my shop vac (typical giant Rigid model), I stuff it upstairs in my attic along with other infrequently used tools...

Painting the ceiling and walls white will make a HUGE difference. A few years ago, I designed lighting for a GMP warehouse. I used new fixtures, but the wattage and layout basically stayed as-is. However, during the renovation, they painted the walls and open structure white. The before/after change was dramatic. Similarly, when we assembled a shed kit, in addition to pre-painting the exterior, we also pre-painted the inside panels white. While there is no electric or any lights in the shed, it's surprisingly bright inside when the door is open, even at dusk and ambient light is low.
June 28, 2011 12:29 p.m. dollraves Reader

Since I don't own my garage, I don't plan on painting it, but I am going to spring for a couple of sheets of tileboard to use as massive whiteboards. It'll be helpful in keeping track of which car needs what done. :D

Aaaand...great tip on the bucket vac! Thanks, guys.
June 28, 2011 2:19 p.m. Rusted_Busted_Spit Dork

Go to your closest Habitat Restore and get paint cheap.

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