shocking discovery... rigid sander and vac... - Contractor Talk - Professional Construction and Remodeling Forum

fastg60 · 01-02-2007, 04:13 PM

when i use my rigid random orbital sander and my small rigid vac. i get a recurring small spark when i touch the vac hose... it's not quite a 110 jolt, but a pretty good cold-winter-day-shuffle-across-the-carpet shock. it will build up and discharge about every second or two... neither tool has a grounded plug and the only connection between the two units is the plastic hose.

any ideas?

Glasshousebltr · 01-02-2007, 05:35 PM

Yes......what time zone are ya in?.......cause it sounds like your pretty close to the twilight zone.

Bob

dougchips · 01-02-2007, 05:42 PM

Hire a helper. You can figure out the rest. I have used Porter Cable's random orbit sander for years with Ridgid shop vac's and no problem, maybe you need to mix the brands?

DelW · 01-02-2007, 08:06 PM

My Shop Vac will do that to me once in a while. I can't find any ryme or reason to it. I'm thinkin the twilight zone thing is soundin pretty good.

pruane · 01-02-2007, 08:25 PM

sounds like static from the dust and hose. All plastic Vac?

Big Dave · 01-03-2007, 06:56 AM

It's a static electric shock. My shop vac will do it too me from time to time when I'm picking up alot of wood dust and chips.

Greg Di · 01-03-2007, 05:31 PM

The better portable shop vacs that are tool triggered come with anti-static hoses off the bat.

In a pinch, I guess you could rig some sort of ground wire to the system someplace.

Just be careful because fine sawdust and sparks usually=FIRE!

dshcontracting · 01-13-2007, 01:02 AM

definately static electicity. thats why you ground dust collection hoses in a shop enviroment. Try sucking up rock wool with your shock vac. It's a little more alarming how good of a shock you get.

Dan

King of Crown · 01-13-2007, 09:42 PM

i was running a very cheap shop vac on my mitre saw, and had built up enough charge to fry the motor. It was weird to watch. The dust around my saw would stand up, and go to the hose, and then all of a sudden, the dust collapsed and then so did my shop vac.