Demo Question - Suck or Blow?

[mtrobertson]

I am almost done with the demo and thinking about cleaning to get all the dust and whatnot out before I start building. How have you all gotten all the dirt, dust, and what not out of the bus?

I have a small shop vac and a small air compressor, but I think I should upgrade one of them and would like to hear your thoughts on which would be best.

 

[s2mikon]

As far as health concerns go use a vacuum to do that. The less "stuff" you blow around the better.

 

[ewo1]

2nd vote on vacuum !

Then mop and vacuum again when dry....

Mopping will make it smell much better too....

 

[s2mikon]

I use a rainbow vacuum because it dumps all the particulates into a water bath and not into the air around me. But it is not an easy vacuum to use because of the water. But I don't have to buy filters and bags either.

 

[kromboy]

I have a little shop blower and just used that to either blow out the dust out my side door or push'em to the back (parked on a grade) and swept up.

Did it like 3-4 times until it was finally clean enough, also had to pull up like 5 stuck screws from the floor every single time because I would somehow find new ones I'd missed before.

Vacuum's probably not a bad solution I just didn't want to bother with an extension cord etc. and washing it with water after rust treatment helped with what was left after the blowing anyway.

 

[Jolly Roger bus 223]

shop vac with bags will keep that mess out of the air.
with air it goes airborne and lands on the walls the windows the ledges all the little nooks and crannies and creates more to clean.

 

[cadillackid]

when I was doing a lot of stuff in my DEV bus after i got the [arts torn out I wanted, I put on an N95 mask, borrowed a beighbor's hot air balloon fan that I put in the back door sucking out then used a Stihl high power yard blower to stir up everything and suck it out..



afterwords wiped the remaining seats , dash, etc down and mopped the floor.. then started installing things..

 

[nikitis]

Open the doors, and windows.

Let it sit for a few hours. Then when it's settled, shop vac everything you can. Then take a blower (wearing a mask) and blow anything loose again out the doors/windows again. Get the blower into the nooks and crannies. And sweep after the dust settles. Do this like 2-3 times, then close everything up.

Finally, with every window and door closed, take a dry towel and wipe down all of the surfaces everywhere.

I wouldn't use a mop as water will further rust surfaces. Or you chance it anyway.

 

[AlphaHare]

I have a small shop vac and a small air compressor, but I think I should upgrade one of them and would like to hear your thoughts on which would be best.

You're ultimately probably going to do both. ;>)

Start with the shop vac (cheaper) unless you have a ton of pneumatic tools already. If you already have invested in air tools, upgrade your compressor. A small vac will carry you just fine.

 

[jbeech]

And I'm 'that' guy, the one who first broke out the pressure washer, and cleaned the inside out really well. Next, it was the shop vac to suck up any wetness I could find. And finally, the battery powered leaf blower.


Water doesn't hurt anything except loose batts of fiberglass insulation, but with regard to the materials like steel and wood on ceiling, walls, and floor? Have at it! So clean could have served a meal off the floor when I was done.

 

[heimlich]

At some point you will need to have a mask. I like the 3M ones that have the screw on filters. You should use them anytime there are chemicals around. They are great for dust as well because they provide an airtight seal around your mouth unless you have a beard.

 

[Diverdude0075]

Vacuum to keep dust at bay. It also has so many other uses. You’ll eventually want a nice compressor too…