So I've got this shop vac that I've had forever, and the damned paper filter inside it kept falling off.  I know, it's old and it isn't supposed to last forever.  Never mind that even when they are new and USUALLY stay where they are supposed to, when they get wet the get heavy, then fall off anyway.  Well, I'm not the kind of guy that gets happy when sand and grit, or little pieces of paper and plastic get lodged in the vacuum fan because then I have to dig them out and eventually, the motor blows up and I have to buy a new one.  So what would you do? Go buy a new filter that would fit snugly?  Not me.

I went rummaging through my shelves and found the air filter I bought for my old hot rod, which I ended up giving away.  The filter is one of those cone type filters, but extra cool because it's all plastic cage and wire mesh, no cloth to get dirty and then scrub.  I modified the outlet a little, and voila: permanent filter that 's easy to keep clean, water proof, and does a great job of protecting my vacuum from sand and grit!!



Does this make me a redneck? YOU BET!!!