Derry, Machine Mart sell an Ash Can Vacuum Cleaner, part number CVACASH500 at £55.19 which you may find suitable for your purpose.

Trevor.

I use a Vax Powa 4000 which, like me (!), is many years old. With it's original hose it would suck up anything and not block, however following a problem with the handle/nozzle part I bought a pattern replacement, ie not an original replacement. While it will still suck up anything it can, there is a tendency for blockages to occur at two specific points. In both places there is a ledge which allows debris to get caught and thus cause a blockage. As a result now, the clamp device which fastens the hose onto the handle/nozzle has been removed to allow easy access to the blockage points and I now rely on the suction to hold it together.

Otherwise, it is one of my better buys.

Regards.

Peter G. Shaw

yes, go with Earlex – has the benefit of being made of plastic – won't rust. Mine was secondhand and has lived in my workshop for 14 years. Used for all sorts of things including unblocking drains. Would not be without it. Loves swarf !!!

Hi John,

Dunno if you realise that Dyson has a global patent out on Cyclone technology.

Lofty

Cyclones have been in use industrially for a long time and they certainly outdate Jame Dyson. Dyson's patent will cover some special applications of cyclones relating to domestic vacuum cleaners. There are already many other bagless cyclone vacuum cleaners on the market that do not infringe Dyson's patents.

As KWIL points out his patent protection would only protect him from another company using his ideas not from a private person using his ideas.

Mike

Hi,

I made a simple plenum chamber from a 5 litre plastic paint container with a sealable lid. Hose from workshop vac (German replacement for Earlex lost in fire – wish I'd stuck to Earlex, much better quality) to bit of poly waste pipe stuck in lid of container/plenum (silicone sealant) and spare hose from plenum to machine. Also use it on my wood bandsaw with an adaptor to fit 4" outlet.

I originally made it to trap abrasive from a home sand blasting machine. Worked a treat, I used an old discarded home vac, worked well as hose from plenum chamber at 2" dia was larger than the vac hose.

Best regards

Terry

And one more thing!

Coopers of Stortford are doing two varieties of ash vacs mail order. £40 for a self contained one with its own motor and £15 for a can, hose and filter unit which gets its suction via your own vacuum cleaner. Second option might be well worth considering if you like to separate out your swarf where two or three cans could be handy. As Terryd says its not that difficult to make your own auxiliary collector can but there is the usual time, aggravation, cost balance to consider especially if you haven't got everything to hand.

I brush'n shovel to get most of the swarf out an use one of the older metal bodied "Henry-like" Numatics to get the bits I missed. I do separate out the brushed'n shoveled stuff, yellow metals especially, but the vacuumed up stuff ends up in one bag.

Clive

Lidl has hot ash vacuum cleaners on sale from Monday 10th December £29.99.

HTH

> I am very please with mine.

Is that why you are wearing it in your photograph

Perhaps i shouldn't mix red wine and being online… where's my coat?

Neil

Had Lidl "Hot Ash" vac last time it came around – still using it for swarf and all other workshop waste – Very Good Value, works well but have to be careful with long curly drill swarf.