3M Toner/Service Vacuum

Originally recorded December 5, 2016.
This is a 3M branded toner vacuum. What is a toner vacuum and why is it needed? When there is a great deal of particulate matter in the airstream, it can become combustible. If you vacuum loose toner up with a regular vacuum, there is a chance of explosion or fire! That's why the toner vacuum was invented. Everything is grounded of course, and in addition to that, it uses a .3 micron filter instead of a bag; this does not allow toner particles to get through to the motor, eliminating the chance of a problem.
I don't have toner spills, so I use this vacuum (taken out of regular service years ago) as a sort of "dustbuster" or other small vacuum. It has great suction as well, sucks up just about anything. I have another vacuum like this made by Omega, and that has an extra-long hose, great for vacuuming steps! I just place the vacuum at the top or bottom of the steps and the hose reaches the entire length! Quick and easy, plenty of power, all around a great vacuum. Fortunately I also have a surplus of filters for it. I recently used this vacuum to clean the lint from the inside of my dryers.
Bonus tidbit: both www.3m.com and www.mmm.com resolve to the same website.

[@PaoloMarcelli]

As a printers/copiers tech I use this exact vacuum cleaner (just the 220v version of that) every day to clean developer units and inside of machines, I was looking to buy one to have even at home (I'm an employee) and found one today used in perfect conditions, with all the accessories and two new filters for around 55$, what a great deal :) I love this job su much that sometimes I even get some smaller printers home to fix them and give them away.

[@jaykay18]

Yep, these vacuums are great. Good for stuff other than toner as well. My dad used to work on mainframe laser printers, he'd come home, blow his nose and it was black. "Just another day in the toner mines" he said.

[@ChicagoSirens]

I use this as a car vacuum. Does a great job and easy to haul around.

[@jaykay18]

Yep, I used to do that too. Ended up with a little 2.5 gallon shop vac that works better in the car.

[@deepakchavan9912]

I want to purchase this

[@jaykay18]

This one is not for sale, but there are many online retailers who will sell it, or something very similar.

[@eyelevelsemarang1315]

Hi.. could you tell me where I can buy the vacuum cleaner for toners from 3M ?

[@jaykay18]

You know these are expensive, right? Here's one I found on Amazon: www.amazon.com/3M-497AJM-Portable-Electronic-Cleaner/dp/B00006HR5F

[@tallboyyyy]

is .3 microns and a hepa filter about the same?

[@jaykay18]

Yes, HEPA stipulates the filter must remove 99.97% of .3 micron particles. But the toner vacuum is way more expensive!

[@albertsolorio5464]

Hello would you know if it’s okay to use it to pick up sand?

[@jaykay18]

Yes, you can, but those filter things aren't cheap and will fill up pretty fast. If it's dry sand, you should be able to dump some of it back out if you remove the filter and tip it upside-down of a garbage can.

[@albertsolorio5464]

Awesome thanks for the fast reply.

[@jaykay18]

No problem, I always try to reply as fast as possible.

[@gatrwrksMarshall]

That's like a mini shop vac.

[@jaykay18]

I kind of use it that way. Although I bought a real one from Harbor Freight, and made a video, which will be released...sometime in the future!

[@gatrwrksMarshall]

Cool

[@antoniogonzalez4283]

Hello friend, how can I clean the filter? can i open it to clean it?

[@PaoloMarcelli]

Hello :) Nope the filter on these vacuums are meant to be replaced when are full of toner dust.

[@jaykay18]

The filter is not serviceable, it can only be replaced when full.

[@AntonioGonzalez-fw5vx]

Como se limpia el filtro o como se abre?

[@jaykay18]

No los limpias ni los abres. Los filtros son de un solo uso y se reemplazan cuando están llenos.

[@yumbaconstrips]

So if this filter and a hepa filter are the same, in theory I could use a hepa certified filter vacuum instead of one of these? I'll be vacuuming a small %of toner but most of what I'm vacuuming is paper dust

[@jaykay18]

It'll work until your vacuum explodes. It's not quite as simple as you think. Stray electrical charges lurk in laser printers as well.

[@deepakchavan7992]

I want to purchase this machine

[@jaykay18]

It's not for sale.

[@PaulMonaco]

Nope, I don't miss my days as a copier tech.

[@jaykay18]

I can understand! My dad used to work on mainframe laser printers; when he'd come home and blow his nose it would be black, and he's say something like "another day working in the toner mines".

[@deepakchavan9912]

Sir I want to purchase this tonef vaccum cleaner can you help me Ahmedabad Gujarat Gujarat

[@jaykay18]

Look online. Just search for one.

[@deepakchavan9912]

I want to purchase this machine can you help me Dipakbhai Ahmedabad

[@jaykay18]

www.amazon.com

[@sharekhan2754]

I want to purchase this vaccum cleaner send me address

[@jaykay18]

This vacuum is not for sale.

[@johnsmith-vk6sf]

What are these vacuums used for?

[@jaykay18]

Just like the name says, they are used for toner. Toner is the black stuff used in black and white laser printers, it's very very fine particles. The reason a special vacuum has to be used is first of all it needs to filter such small particles, and secondly because of the isolation of the electric. If you've ever heard of a flour mill exploding, that's because at higher concentrations, with a spark, it can burn. Same with toner. If you use a regular vacuum with toner, likely a lot of it is being expelled back into the air because it can't filter it out, and you run the risk of explosion or fire. I use this vacuum around the house for little jobs here and there. Also works great to vacuum the car.

[@johnsmith-vk6sf]

jaykay18 ok thank you. My father passed away and I've found an unused one in the spare room. Don't know what he was going to use it for.

[@jaykay18]

There are different filters available, all with different price tags. It's a great and powerful vacuum, but the filters are expensive. I've had good luck shaking them out to get more life out of them. You can even cut yourself an "access panel" in the filter to get the stuff out if need be, and reseal it with duct tape.

[@johnsmith-vk6sf]

jaykay18 I don't really have a use for it. I might just sell it. Cheers for the help.

[@jaykay18]

Absolutely. They go for quite a few bucks, so it might be worth something to someone.