PROBLEM:
When vacuuming up around the shop, you inadvertently suck up screws, small tools and chunks of wood big enough to clog or damage the vacuum’s hose.
A metal or mesh cloth screen taped onto the end of your shop vacuum’s hose can allow it to collect dirt and dust without having it pick up anything you might need.
SOLUTION:
Fastening a piece of metal screen over the end of the vac’s hose keeps larger items out while permitting sawdust and dirt to be sucked through. Cut out a square piece of metal screen or hardware cloth (available at hardware and home supply stores) that’s about two inches larger than the diameter of the vacuum hose. I found that screen with a 1/2″ x 1/2″ mesh is about right to trap most things you want to keep, while not clogging up with sawdust too easily. Wearing thick work gloves, press the screen over the end of the hose nozzle so it covers it like a small cap. Then, trim off the excess and tape the screen in place with duct tape.
