Another Vac question

[Jim in PA]

Cody's recent post about vacuum use got me thinking. We have a central vac, and my shop is in the basement. There's currently no drop down there, but it wouldn't be hard to splice something in. Seems like I could use it for the ROS and maybe the biscuit joiner (not that I use the latter that much). Maybe some light dusting (drill press, etc.)

Advantages:

1. Quieter than shop vac
2. Convenient ... less tripping over shop vac. Possibly less use of ROS without dust collection?
3. Central vac is a small cyclone in the garage ... less clogging of shop vac filter with fine sanding dust
4. Sawdust mixed with household dog & cat hair ... potential fuel source?

Disadvantages:

1. Temptation to use central vac to clean up shop debris, which could lead to clogging
2. Power switch will need to be rigged up
3. Wife may notice

What am I missing?

Jim Brown
Bloomsburg, PA

[dbriski]

If you use it a lot, you may need someway to tell your the collection bin is full.

You could also try one of those trash can separators in the shop to collect any large debris before it gets into the pipeing to preven cloging.

[TDHofstetter]

The pet hair doesn't represent much potential in terms of fuel... hair is inherently (no pun) very nitrogen-rich, so it doesn't burn well at all. :)

-- Tim --


Member of the
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[Jim in PA]

Burning pet hair: so no benefit aside from the pleasant aroma then. :)

David, good idea about the trash can separator. That would allow me to vacuum bulkier chips without worrying. I empty the central vac pretty compulsively ... the collection bin is translucent, and I walk past it every morning on the way out the door ... so no worries about it filling up.

Now if I can just do this without my wife noticing :)

Jim Brown
Bloomsburg, PA

[rrich]

Jim,

"What am I missing?"

Do you remember the time that you used the washing machine to wash the car oil change rags?

Do you remember sleeping in the dog house?

Just wanted to refresh your memory.

[Jim in PA]

Yeah, but that was with my *first* wife!

Jim Brown
Bloomsburg, PA

[Sonny Edmonds]

That would be an excellent source for vacuuming. Typically, whole house vacuum systems are built to suck very well (multi staged vacuum motors) because they have to suck long distances, and usually with a lengthy hose, Ta-Boot.
But... and this is a big but!
You will certianly need a separator for your shop debries. And NO, you can't just use anything for that. It has to be steel.
Personal experiance with a 55 gallon plastic commercial chemical drum, I hooked it up with my shop vac. When the inlet was closed off, the barrel colapsed like some drunk clown.
So I got a steel drum and used that between the shop vac and the shops manifold system.
Looked like this:
http://home.earthlink.net/~pie/images/web_dust_collection_pictures/vacnbarrel.jpg

Note that the shop vac (Vacuum source) is connected to the center of the drum. The shops manifold system is connected to the outter connection.
What isn't shown is the elbow inside the top of the drum lid that deflects the incomming air stream into a circular direction. That creates a cyclonic action inside the drum.
The fittings in the drum lid are 4" dust collection X 2 1/2" vacuum hose reducers. I just cut the holes in the lid with a jig saw (metal cutting blade) and glued the reducers in with Silcone Seal glue.
The lid has a band that holds it on. ;)

:D

[link:home.earthlink.net/~pie/data/index.html|Sonny Edmonds ]
Saugus, CA
"Precision Firewood Specialist"

"Lurkimus turdius orifus" (Limey-speak latin for a lurking A$$hole)
A handle bestowed on me by my Dear Friend, Robert "Limey" Bolton. 1947-2007

"A candle loses nothing lighting another."


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[Jim in PA]

Thanks for the great info. I might rig something similar up for my shop vac, but after discussing the idea with my endlessly supportive and openminded soulmate, I've decided not to tap into the central vac, regardless of how great an idea it seems.

And it turns out the clothes iron needs to come back into the laundry room, which is okay because I'm not doing any edge banding for a while.

Jim Brown
Bloomsburg, PA

[Sonny Edmonds]

Edge banding! HA, Ha, ha, ha, ha, haaaaa!

So do you use a "Shot of Steam", or just go dry with that? :7

Sorry to hear of the limited imagination that is limiting your growth potential.
Mine won't let me put in a central vacuuming system for her. Now...
What kind of deal is THAT? :7

:D

[link:home.earthlink.net/~pie/data/index.html|Sonny Edmonds ]
Saugus, CA
"Precision Firewood Specialist"

"Lurkimus turdius orifus" (Limey-speak latin for a lurking A$$hole)
A handle bestowed on me by my Dear Friend, Robert "Limey" Bolton. 1947-2007

"A candle loses nothing lighting another."


Welcome to the Forum!
http://smileys.smileycentral.com/cat/15/15_4_132.gif
God Bless America !
In God We Trust !