GotAU? Posted June 15, 2020 Share Posted June 15, 2020 Just finished making my $23 gold vacuum. I used a garage sale 23cc Homelite Zip-Start handheld leaf blower, some quarter inch screen, a few screws, an old shop vac hose, and a homer bucket and lid to make it. If you are planning on making one and are thinking about using a four stroke motor instead of a two-stroke like this, be sure it is a vertical oriented motor as Some older Honda and Makita 4-Stroke motors that were built as horizontal oriented shafts will not oil properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malo Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 Now that is a very cool DIY! I wish you lots of luck with the yeller stuff. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotAU? Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 (edited) 24 minutes ago, malo said: Now that is a very cool DIY! I wish you lots of luck with the yeller stuff. Thanks, notice I called it a gold vacuum and not a dirt vacuum but I really don’t expect it to last very long as the plastic impeller will probably wear out pretty quick. It should last a few times out there though, and hopefully it’ll get enough oro to pay for a new one! Edited June 16, 2020 by GotAU? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilaoro Posted June 16, 2020 Share Posted June 16, 2020 (edited) As long as you do not let it fill too full and start sucking from the pail you won't have to worry about the Impeller. I have built a lot of them and have never wore out an impeller. Yours looks good. The only suggestion I could add is to put a screen door handle on the side near the top where it will make emptying it easier. Like this : https://photos.app.goo.gl/MJvS3C9UqDTqt4cx6 Also remove the nozzle from the hose the engine depends on the air for cooling and suction power is not normally a problem with leaf blower engine I used to build wooden dry washers and and would sell the vacuum with them , I used any make of engine that was suitable and cheap and I used a spare bucket with a big hole and used it to run a fan type Dry Washer with no problems. "Get the Gold" Edited June 16, 2020 by Gilaoro Spelling 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotAU? Posted June 16, 2020 Author Share Posted June 16, 2020 9 minutes ago, Gilaoro said: As long as you do not let it fill too full and start sucking from the pail you won't have to worry about the Impeller. I have built a lot of them and have never wore out an impeller. Yours looks good. The only suggestion I could add is to put a screen door handle on the side near the top where it will make emptying it easier. Like this : https://photos.app.goo.gl/MJvS3C9UqDTqt4cx6 Also remove the nozzle from the hose the engine depends on the air for cooling and suction power is not normally a problem with leaf blower engine I used to build wooden dry washers and and would sell the vacuum with them , I used any make of engine that was suitable and cheap and I used a spare bucket with a big hole and used it to run a fan type Dry Washer with no problems. "Get the Gold" Thanks for the input, and adding that handle is a great idea. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotAU? Posted June 18, 2020 Author Share Posted June 18, 2020 Update: this particular motor is not cooled by the air from the blower, so it is OK to use reducing attachments like a small nozzle on the end of the hose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotAU? Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 (edited) Also add one of these Homer vortex separators (Home Depot Dustopper) to it to increase the collection volume (thanks @Jack H!): Edited June 19, 2020 by GotAU? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoJack Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Looks good, I have one built as well to use this summer and will add the Vortex separator to the kit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotAU? Posted June 19, 2020 Author Share Posted June 19, 2020 21 minutes ago, GeoJack said: Looks good, I have one built as well to use this summer and will add the Vortex separator to the kit. What kind of a leaf blower are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoJack Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 Craftsman but any with a suction on the bottom works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotAU? Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 (edited) 5 hours ago, GeoJack said: Craftsman but any with a suction on the bottom works. You are right, just used mine today and it cleaned up down to the caliche layer very nicely! And the Home Depot vortex separator did very well. Now I have some cleanup to do. Edited June 20, 2020 by GotAU? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeoJack Posted June 21, 2020 Share Posted June 21, 2020 Just got my vortex. Hope to use it this week. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GotAU? Posted June 22, 2020 Author Share Posted June 22, 2020 (edited) 19 hours ago, GeoJack said: Just got my vortex. Hope to use it this week. I thought about maybe mounting my leaf blower directly to the vortex separator, but it’s light plastic may not hold up long for that. Two buckets aren’t bad, and bucket covers are good and cheap mounts for now. Would love to make or get a metal vortex separator that does work on a bucket that can be a blower mount too- another project, yay! Edited June 22, 2020 by GotAU? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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