I am using a standard domestic vac on one of my machines. I have it plugged in via a Vac Control box on which I am able to control the power / suction. I don't know if this is an option for you?

When engraving brass / plastics power is turned right down. Collects all the chips and I can barely hear it. when engraving steel I can't hear it at all because of the engraving noise!

When routing brass / profiling plastics I do need to turn it up quite high and noise is then an issue - but routing is not a big part of the workload.

Without the vac speed controller I would have spent a lot more on a commercial vac system. Before using it the domestic vac regularly overheated, or was switched off because I couldn't bear the noise.

The 1/2" tube from the engraver has an 'adaptor' to fit straight onto the metal hose of the vacuum cleaner. It came as part of the vac chip kit which I bought as a complete set. However without the use of the controller (a separate piece of kit I bought) it regularly overheated - and I also had to switch on and swich off the vac which wasn't alway convenient - especially if I wanted to leave a job to complete on its own.

Now it runs without complaint for several hours a day. Some of the brass jobs I run sometimes takes a couple of hours to complete. The vac is about 2' away from me 'purring'!

After 2 New Shop Vacs in two years, which as you say burned up and were loud... Went to the Goodwill and found a small portable vac for 4 bucks.

Ran a Tube plug with a 1/2 hole in the center into the vac hose and 4 feet of 3/4 - 1/2" hose to the nose cone.

6 years and still running.

UncleSteve,

What we used to do was to drill a couple of 1/4 holes into the top part of the hose of the vacuum this allowed for some cooling air and did not reduce the suction.