Swarf vaccum cleaner

[DerryUKParticipant @derryuk]

Any recommends for a swarf vacuum cleaner?

I've used a succession of ex household cleaners and I end up spending as much time cleaning and unblocking the cleaner as I do cleaning the workshop!

It's swarf type material I'm interested in rather than dust.

Thanks

Derry.

[DerryUKParticipant @derryuk]

[LambtonParticipant @lambton]

A few months ago I purchased an "ash" type vacuum cleaner from Lidl for about £30 specifically for use in the workshop as like you I found the Bosses cast-offs to be of little use. It does the job perfectly and is a very robust bit of kit. You have to keep an eye open for them because as usual Lidl only have things like this on sale for a short period.

[Trevor Drabble 1Participant @trevordrabble1]

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

Trevor.

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

The Earlex vacuum wet and dry cleaners (as sold by Machine Mart) last for ages. I bought one ten years ago (badged as Wickes) and still going strong. It gets used for anything my wife won't let her Hettie (Mrs Henry) near (leaves, grit, wet mush, mud, car boot..). The accessories are a bit naff, and the hose wears out at the end (due to wrking back and forth over swarf packed corded carpet), but as it's life expectancy is much greater than the domestic ones, I just did a hose transplant. You can buy hoses, extensions and accessories off the shelf.

It is proper wet and dry with a float ball valve and it has never shown signs of overheating.

Neil

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

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

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I have too have a Wickes/Earlex and it is great for swarf and wood shavings from thicknesser or router, I even hoover the lawn with it after an outdoor wood session as the mess from indoor wood activity has to be seen to be believed.

Mike

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

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 !!!

[john kennedy 1Participant @johnkennedy1]

Why not have a go at this ? **LINK**

[FMESParticipant @fmes]

Hi John,

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

Lofty

[KWILParticipant @kwil]

Global patent or not, that only applies to commercial exploitation.

[Michael Cox 1Participant @michaelcox1]

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

[jason udallParticipant @jasonudall57142]

Was given a "charles" ( heny's big brother   )  with out the tub..

found a 30 l Bongo ( poly propolene barrel ) that seamed a fit so put charles on an quick flick to check seal…Never did get that bongo back in shape. squashed flat in the 1-2 seconds of the test..

Now sits in corner straped to sack truck excellent machine wet / dry and happy with LOOOONG hose… ( do watch out for allen keys and spanners tends to swallow them and no fun fishing them out of tank   )

There are also "pullin " pumps which fit on 40 Gal oildrums and use compressed air to generate vaccum…

 

Edited By jason udall on 03/12/2012 13:16:43

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

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

[joegibParticipant @joegib]

Posted by Lambton on 02/12/2012 17:27:08:

A few months ago I purchased an "ash" type vacuum cleaner from Lidl for about £30 specifically for use in the workshop as like you I found the Bosses cast-offs to be of little use. It does the job perfectly and is a very robust bit of kit. You have to keep an eye open for them because as usual Lidl only have things like this on sale for a short period.

This is timely. The Parkside Ash Vacuum Cleaner is included in the Special Offers running from 10/12/12 — there's even a video showing its operation. See here:

Lidl

Joe

[DerryUKParticipant @derryuk]

Crickey I'm spoil for choice.

Thanks for the replies and comments everyone.

Derry.

[Deltic007Participant @deltic007]

Henry works fine for me

[Clive FosterParticipant @clivefoster55965]

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

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, where I worked previously, they had cyclone vacuumes one of which the receiver held around 100 tons of waste. These were installed at lease 15 years before Dysons were in the domestic market.

Cyclones were even used on fume and dust extractionon rotary drying kilns and the waste went through what is known as a wet scrubber, which prevented all the very fine and nasty particals entering the atmosthere. I joined that company in 1970 and as Michael says, e technoledgy has been around for many moons.

Regards Nick.

[Chris SheltonParticipant @chrisshelton11794]

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

HTH

[Clive FarrarParticipant @clivefarrar90441]

Try this at Charnwood

W680 High Filtration Vacuum Extractor

It is a lot more at £119 but it has a 4" hose that you can throttle down to 2" with one of their adapters.

BIG capacity approx 450 dia by 600 high very good suck and easy to open and empty.

I am very please with mine. Nylon string balls, long turned springs, wood turning shavings Whoosh gone!

Regards Clive

[Sub MandrelParticipant @submandrel]

> 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

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Posted by Stub Mandrel on 07/12/2012 21:06:00:

> 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

That's what happens when look for the blockage while it's switched on – either that or he's modeling his gimp mask

Martin.

[HomeUseParticipant @homeuse]

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.

[John Stevenson 1Participant @johnstevenson1]

Go over the sweepings first with a magnetic pick tool, what that doesn't get the vac will pickup.

Curly drill swarf tends to be ferrous, most no ferrous metals go into chips, not a 100% obsevation before some anorack corrects me but general.

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