Central Shop Vac System – Ceiling Mount

Though I have three or four shop vacs, my shop is relatively large so it’s a pain moving one of the vacuums to where it’s needed at any given time.  I also have a lot of stuff so maneuvering around everything was also becoming a challenge.  Consequently, I decided to create a central shop vacuum system by laying out a 2″ PVC pipe grid on the ceiling, mounting one of the vacuums on the wall and tying everything together.

The photos below depicts the gist of the system which is just the beginning, actually. Eventually I’m intending to expand it throughout the shop as time allows.  There’s also a YouTube video below which contains more detail on the system.

Construction Details:

I started with sketching the pipe layout as it would be attached to the ceiling.  After choosing a suitable wall-mount location for the vacuum, I started running the PVC pipe.  I included a standard 2″ union just above the wall-mounted power unit in case I have to split the system.  From there I simply attached the pipe to the ceiling using standard 2″ pipe strap and a 1/2 plywood spacer block at each attachment point.  The block is necessary due to the rim around the fittings so the pipe has to be spaced accordingly.  Whenever possible I lagged the pipe strap to the ceiling trusses, though this wasn’t possible in a couple of situations.  Regardless, the pipe is quite secure and isn’t going anywhere.

I also had to make an adapter to attach the PVC pipe to the inlet of the vacuum, as naturally, these were not the same size.  To make this adapter I turned one end of a short piece of PVC on my lathe to the appropriate size.  To make the system more convenient to use I bought a remote control unit intended for a small dust collection system.  This way I don’t have to walk back to the power unit to turn it on and off, I simply carry the small remote control with me and can trigger the unit from anywhere in the shop… works great.

One other point, note the use of “broad sweep” 90 degree fittings rather than the more common hard 90s.  If hard 90s were used, the system would be prone to clogging.

Power Unit                            Remote Control

Drop/Hose Connection              PVC Pipe on the Ceiling

Vacuum Inlet Adapter