My $100 Gold Vac

[Jagdpanther]

Well, it's not pretty but it works. I put this together in about an hour. I got the plans off the internet. I paid $70.00 for the blower which I found on EBay. The hose with attachments I found at my local Home Cheapo store for $18.00 and another $12.00 in misc. parts including the bucket with lid. So for $100.00 I got a GOLD vac. The intake and guard on the Echo 1000 blower didn't match up real well with the lid so I shot in a little foam insulation to make an air tight seal. I made the intake connector from electrical conduit parts. I included an internal deflector pipe to direct the material to the bottom of the bucket as it enters. Since we are still having winter weather along the Wasatch I got some small gravel out of the garden path and gave it a test. Pea size gravel mixed with some sand and dirt- no problem. Now I just have to wait for the snow to melt.

 

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[bigfish31]

I like it! Only thing you might want to do, is increase the hose size. It will help in the volume, with less plug-ups. You can put a smaller attachment on the end.

 

[boogeyman]

Nice work!!!! looks really well put together.

I built the one I use now with a scavenged bucket & a Homelite blower from a yard sale blower was $30 the hose fitting for the bucket was $7.99. Just wish mine had come out as professional looking as yours!

 

[Stryker_FO]

thats nice didnt know it was that easy since they want 500 bucks or more for a new production one. Thanx for sharing.

 

[boogeyman]

Yeah, that's what got me looking at alternatives! For $500 you can build your own vac, buy a little recirculating high banker and have enough left to have a nice lunch. It is really simple project. Grndfisher did a great job on his as you can tell. Mine is a little rough looking.

AS far as plug ups go, try using the Rigid brand hoses. The plastic fittings are camfered more and don't plug up as bad. Also, I took one hose and drilled two holes in the nozzle end to fit a piece of 12AWG wire across with the ends bent over. (Just felt kinda silly beating the end on the ground everytime it plugged ) Helps a bunch!

 

[Functional]

I knew there was a reason I wanted to buy that gas powered leaf blower from the guy at the flea market.
Now I wish I'd followed my instincts and bought it.

F.

 

[boogeyman]

I knew there was a reason I wanted to buy that gas powered leaf blower from the guy at the flea market.
Now I wish I'd followed my instincts and bought it.

F.

ALWAYS follow your gut!

 

[russau]

remeber to flush out that hose when your done sucking and pan that material also! i put a small screen in front of my blowers plastic fan blade because i had one crack on me. i found it during my winter tuneup time before it came apart.

 

[boogeyman]

Good idea! never wash mine out Usually just shake it out. I also put a screen across the afn to keep the really fine roots out. I've noticed too the tips of the blades are getting rounded over. Amazing how abrasive a little dust can be.

Thanks again for the pointer on washing the hose!

 

[Jagdpanther]

Good idea! never wash mine out Usually just shake it out. I also put a screen across the afn to keep the really fine roots out. I've noticed too the tips of the blades are getting rounded over. Amazing how abrasive a little dust can be.

Thanks again for the pointer on washing the hose!

How did you attach the screen?

Thanks
grndfisher

 

[russau]

well it depends on the equipment you used to make/buy this vac. but make it so that it will block all air that returns to the fan.and when ever you open the vac up to dump out your material give it a glance to see if there is any debris building up. if that happens your vac will start losing suction slowly and you wont really notice it atfirst. plus if you travel a long distance from your home to use these, id buy a spare fan blade just in case! these will break if there isnt a screen to protect them. without seeing your vac my best guess/answer is to do what ever you can to secure the screen.but it sure would be nice if you were to build a small cage so that the screen could be removed easily tobe washed off.this fan also cools the engine, so air flow is real important.

 

[boogeyman]

Good idea! never wash mine out Usually just shake it out. I also put a screen across the afn to keep the really fine roots out. I've noticed too the tips of the blades are getting rounded over. Amazing how abrasive a little dust can be.

Thanks again for the pointer on washing the hose!

How did you attach the screen?

Thanks
grndfisher

My vac is the type that has the large tube to pick up leaves and blow them out into a bag. I cut the big tube off at 4" push it through the lid leaving about 3". Took 1/4" hardware cloth and folded it over the end of the tube secured with poprivets. The lid can be left on the bucket and the blower can be taken off by giving it a 1/4 turn. Like I said, mine is kind of and doesn't look near as nice as yours. When I get back later today I'll try to put some pictures up.

 

[Functional]

well it depends on the equipment you used to make/buy this vac. but make it so that it will block all air that returns to the fan.and when ever you open the vac up to dump out your material give it a glance to see if there is any debris building up. if that happens your vac will start losing suction slowly and you wont really notice it atfirst. plus if you travel a long distance from your home to use these, id buy a spare fan blade just in case! these will break if there isnt a screen to protect them.

I wonder if there isn't a better method to be had for this? When I was at that same flea market last weekend, there was a guy there with a small air powered venturi style vacuum used in the aircraft repair industry. Using a similar method, would eliminate the worry about damaged, or worn out blades.


F.

 

[boogeyman]

Whats the cost? If it's a bunch it might not be worth it. Also if it has a filter like a shop vac you'll be spending a lot of time changing or cleaning the filter. Tried that a couple years ago. The filter would load up quick. Might not be as bad in your area but out here there's tons of poweder fine dust.

Have you got any info on the aircraft vacums you saw? Might be the ticket for some other projects!

 

[Functional]

Whats the cost? If it's a bunch it might not be worth it. Also if it has a filter like a shop vac you'll be spending a lot of time changing or cleaning the filter. Tried that a couple years ago. The filter would load up quick. Might not be as bad in your area but out here there's tons of poweder fine dust.

Have you got any info on the aircraft vacums you saw? Might be the ticket for some other projects!

The guy at the flea market was asking $20 for his, (he wasn't a regular vendor and I didn't see him this weekend when I went to the same flea market). The one vacuum he had, had a cast aluminum body, with a cloth bag attached, similar to the bags used on some orbital, or reciprocating hand sanders. An air line was attached under the handle, like some other air tools and a few inches ahead of the handle was a place, (about 1 1/2" diameter), to attach a suction nozzle.

I would guess that the cloth "filter" bag, could have easily be replaced with another hose that went to a "dust" container instead. And as for its size, I don't think it would be that hard to scale it up to a larger unit, so long as the cfm of air was increased proportionately.

I found some similarly designed vacuums through Google:

http://www.industrial-vacuum-cleaner.com/portable-vacuums/nikro/handheld-vacuum.htm
http://www.morclean.com/vac/specialist-vacuum-cleaners.html#hand-held-air-driven
http://www.sturdyvac.com/compressed_air_cleaners.htm
http://www.oakleyair.com/category/handheld_vacuums_for_industry_and_service_work.php

The one I saw at the flea market was similar to the second picture from the top, in the last link above.


F.

 

[boogeyman]

Sounds like it might work. Like I say, they can't shoot you for trying!!!!! But if you gotta drag a compressor along I think you're shooting yourself in the foot. I had to make two the first one was electric, but I had to make a gas one for the areas my extension cord & generator wouldn't reach. Even so for that price I would've bought it. That's why my garage is full of gotstas! (gotsta have its)

 

[Jagdpanther]

I would think that a gas driven compressor would weigh a considerable amount. Many places I go are only accessable via two leg drive.

 

[russau]

[
I wonder if there isn't a better method to be had for this? When I was at that same flea market last weekend, there was a guy there with a small air powered venturi style vacuum used in the aircraft repair industry. Using a similar method, would eliminate the worry about damaged, or worn out blades.


we have those small vacs here at work. but they are only a 1 inch dia nozzel and like was mentioned you need a air compressor to power it. but your thinking!

 

[Functional]

we have those small vacs here at work. but they are only a 1 inch diam nozzle and like was mentioned you need a air compressor to power it. but your thinking!

I don't know if you would really need a compressor to power a compressed air vacuum. Air isn't totally different from water when it comes to using a nozzle to restrict the air flow and increase the pressure. A gas powered leaf blower might have enough volume when used with a smaller nozzle, to allow it to put out the air pressure needed for a venturi nozzle. I really don't know, but it wouldn't be very expensive to try, (if you already have a gas powered leaf blower).

At least thats my uneducated guess.

F.

 

[boogeyman]

Well, finally got the pictures done. Here's hoping this works!

The first is the bucket I used for both. The second & third are the gas one built for packing around like I said they're rough but have worked without fail.
the las three are the electric that removes from the bucket lid. Have been using this for about 2 1/2 years now.
Ain't pretty! But they get the job done!