How to choose a power tool vacuum cleaner for construction and industry?
A good vacuum cleaner can be invaluable for the time and money it saves. There are numerous options available (you can see some examples in figure 1) and in this article we will try to guide you on which option you should take, taking into account some considerations. In terms of classification, there is also some confusion over the L, M and H classes. Read on to make sure you choose the safest option.
Do I really need a vacuum cleaner for my tool?
It's up to you to decide after giving you these 5 reasons:
1 - Above all is your HEALTH: Regardless of the type of dust, any one causes serious damage to the lungs. Let the vacuum cleaner keep the dust, not YOU!
2 – The removal of material from the work surface provides a clearer line of sight, thus achieving greater precision in the finish of the product;
3 – The work is done more quickly and efficiently;
4– Don't you like to clean up after work? Vacuuming while using the tool saves you a lot of time;
5 – Does money cost you to earn? With the vacuum cleaner, you increase the life of your tool by preventing small particles from entering the engine.
Analyze some of the videos and check the dust that the work causes:
See the comparison between using or not using the vacuum cleaner with your tool
Study on the time you spend cleaning the place after using your tool:
Festool surveyed 300 workers and found that on average everyone spends between 1 and 2 hours cleaning the place where the work was carried out. Cleaning can be up to 4 days a month. Have you ever imagined how much time you could save if you used a vacuum cleaner connected to your tool?
Some of these workers also mentioned that customers were super pleased and would recommend their work to others due to the cleanliness, especially when work is done indoors.
Okay, So What Vacuum Do I Need?
I know you're not interested in rules, but you have to know where everything comes from to understand some concepts.
According to Annex AA of Standard EN 60335-2-69, which refers to hazardous dust vacuum cleaners, it divides hazardous dust vacuum cleaners into three classes of use :
Class L - Moderate Hazard Dust - Vacuum cleaner's filter captures more than 99% of dust with particle sizes less than 2 microns – A human hair is about 70 microns .
Class M - Dust with medium risk - The vacuum cleaner's filter retains more than 99.9% of dust with particle sizes less than 2 microns;
Class H - High Hazard Dust - The vacuum cleaner's filter retains more than 99.995% of dust with particle sizes less than 1 micron (includes carcinogenic dust and dust contaminated with carcinogens and/or pathogens);
Bosch gives some examples of types of dust and their classification to make it easier to choose the type of vacuum cleaner.
Dust Class | Example |
L (bass) | Plasterboard powder; Corian; Graphite in small quantities; Softwoods (German pine, pine) |
M (medium) | Wood powders (oak, beech) Concrete containing quartz |
H (high) | Carcinogenic dust (lead, carbon, tar, nickel, cobalt, copper, cadmium, etc.) Mold, bacteria, germs Formaldehyde |
The recommendation here is very clear, if you work with wood dust or construction dust then you should always consider using a class_M vacuum cleaner at the very least.
 |
| GAS 35 M AFC BOSCH |
 |
| GAS 55 M AFC BOSCH |
If your work uses pladur (plasterboard) or, for example, soft wood, then you should consider class_L as an option
View all Bosch L and M Class vacuum cleaners available HERE >>>
After selecting the ideal type of class for your work, you should pay attention to some characteristics:
- Automatic or semi-automatic filter cleaning:
Due to the small particles the filters can become clogged. Some models have automatic or semi-automatic filter cleaning (the user has to place his hand, for example, covering the tube for the vacuum cleaner to shake the filter)
- Vacuum cleaner auto start:
An interesting feature, where when you turn on the tool, the vacuum cleaner automatically turns on.
- Capacity
Will you create too much dust? Bosch offers capacity ranges from 20 to 55 liters of tank capacity.
Article translated and adapted from:
https://knowledge.axminstertools.com/how-to-choose-dust-extractor/
