: Setting up a new shop. Deciding between a "shop vac" that is
: tool-activated to use for dust collection, vs. a "dust
: collector". Then again, I need to install a central vac for the
: house, and the central unit will be in the workshop area anyway, so the
: question is: Is there any reason NOT to use a household central vac unit
: as a workshop dust collector--i.e., with hose that connects directly to
: tools? Are there units that work particularly well for such dual purpose?

I would consider going the other way, buying a shop dust collection system with a canister filter or fine (1 micron) filter bag, and using it as the house vac as well. I don't know much about house vac, but I wonder how well they'd handle the volume of debris that a shop dust collector is called on to deal with. It seems to me that you would want to start with a high volume system for the shop, which will easily handle the additional small volume of debris from the house. If you go this route, one thing you may want to consider is a shut-off between the shop and house piping systems, so when you need high volume for the shop, the house piping won't compromise it.