Shopsmith Forums

Is is normal to have the back of the bag bulging outward where you folded up all the slack? I neatly took up all the slack and folded it in the back. I do not understand why these bags are so much bigger than the circumference of the dust collector.

Tony

The answer is yes. If you get an answer as to why, it should be very interesting. The excess material makes it a real pain to install; in fact, it almost becomes a two person job.

This is not a new thing. The bags have been that way as long as I have had a DC3300 over 15 years.

However, I used a substititute from the grocery store (once). It is not advisable!!

I had the prevoius bag on there for quite some time, but I recently changed the seals inside the dc. Decided to put on a new bag and got a little too into it, I guess.

Here is what it looks like:

dusty wrote:However, I used a substititute from the grocery store (once). It is not advisable!!

I use a heavy weight from Glad, not as thick as the real bags, but a good substitute. Just can't fill it to the maximum capacity is all.

eldyfig wrote:Is is normal to have the back of the bag bulging outward where you folded up all the slack? I neatly took up all the slack and folded it in the back. I do not understand why these bags are so much bigger than the circumference of the dust collector.

Tony

Hi Tony! Must say I was once concerned about the large pooch-out of the bag on the back side, but that no longer is a concern to me. In the past I have used large bags (with 4 or 4.5 mil thickness) from Wal-Mart with success. These too, are large enough so they have to be folded in the rear.

I have stopped using them, as they are black and I can't see through them. This required "feeling" the bag to gauge fullness. What a pain! As a result, I wound up opening the bag more often - and once opened - the question was what to do now? The solution was to throw out partially filled bags.

Recently Shopsmith had a sale on their bags and I jumped at it. Bought several packets of 6 ea. Glad I did! Then the difference between SS bags and substitutes became obvious. The SS bags have a gathered bottom. This offers an advantage in fitting over the flat, full width seams at the bottom of store bought bags. Also, the visibility of sawdust in the bag is a greater advantage than I had realized.

So- after saying all that, I'm no longer concerned over the pooching at the back of the bag. In addition, I have learned - because of their larger size (and visibility), I can loosen the bag, pull out the excess bag material from the rear, and scoop out some sawdust into another throw away bag, if needed to complete a project, without having to replace the bag.

I had another issue with the DC and bags. My bags were becoming hung up on the lower bolts and nuts that hold the side legs. That problem was solved by squirting some "Great Stuff" over the bolts. Someone on this forum (sorry can't remember who) said he solved this problem by reversing the bolts. I had wondered if my fix would offer trouble if I ever had to remove the legs. Well, I had to remove the left leg when replacing the switch and the "Great Stuff" performed well holding the nuts in place.

Someone on this forum (sorry can't remember who) said he solved this problem by reversing the bolts.

Don't be sorry Chuck. We heroes can't expect to always be remembered:( .

I use small pieces of double sided carpet tape in around the rim. This easily holds the bag in place while I fasten the gadget that really holds it. I also don't fill the bag and rather than empty it I transfer the contents into a Sam's club bag, re-using the SS bag.

charlese wrote:I have stopped using them, as they are black and I can't see through them.

The cheap brand that I found are clear.

charlese wrote:I can loosen the bag, pull out the excess bag material from the rear, and scoop out some sawdust into another throw away bag, if needed to complete a project, without having to replace the bag.

Be careful when doing this as it is not a recommended procedure, as you are more than likely sending the fine particles back into the air. Not good for the lungs. I realize that people do it all the time, but those small particles can hurt you.

charlese wrote:My bags were becoming hung up on the lower bolts and nuts that hold the side legs.

I just put an extra nut on the bolt, no more thread showing.