Have a Home Depot "Vacmaster" 5 gallon wet/dry vac. Wrecked my filter trying to wash it with water. Not thrilled with Vacmaster prices/options.

1. Is there a universal size cartridge?

Do shop vacs... wet dry vacs not the brand "shop vac" - the typical sized ones 5 gallon, 2.5" hose - are the cartridges interchangable between brands generally?

They all seem close but they could easily not fit from what I measure vs what dimensions are given on amazon etc. There's a craftsman "universal" one so wondering how universal the sizes are... I assume "Shop vac" brand set the standard.

2) To filter fine dust from wood working indoors and minimize $$$ on filters - what do people usually do?

• Get a plain hepa or 1 micron cartridge - clean with output of vacuum blower only.

• Get that hepa/micron and get plain bags to go before it. How long do bags last?

• Get a normal water washable cartridge and a hepa/1-micron bag - cartridge is just a backup.

• I assume there's no washable bags reasonably priced?

• (might DIY a cyclone bucket filter or water filter eventually)

• Something else?