Thread: pail collapse cyclone shop vac

Blockage somewhere

Just one part of the bucket needs to become slightly weaker than the rest and if it gives just a bit they tend to collapse around that weak point. They usually collapse just a bit and thencrack which relieves the vacuum and stops it working. The fact that yours collapsed so much is a testament to how well it is sealed.

Few people realise that even though a shop vac typically only generates about 1PSI of vacuum - on a 12" diameter x 12" high bucket thats equivalent to > 1000 lbs of force spread over the bucket outer surface - It's a wonder more of them don't collapse.

To prevent it happening again get a stronger bucket.

Plastic + heat (very hot weather)= very soft plastic

I reinforced the bucket by cutting some MDF rings to fit on inside of my bucket. Just screwed in through the sides from the outside. Worked a treat. I'd take a photo but the bucket is full and my slaves refuse to empty. It's hard to find a good slave nowadays!

I have an original ClearVue mini mounted on a 20 litre wine juice pail. After a number of years of good service, the walls of the pail imploded in 3 places. Trying to undo the implosion is not worth the effort. I made some rings from some scrap hdpe and put them in a new pail. They do reduce the efficiency.
I am going to get a more robust and larger container in the new year.

Seasons Best
Don

Hi qwerty I use a metal paint bucket the 20 litre ones and they last forever and come with a sealed lid with spring clip to seal.

After having multiple collapses, I picked up a plastic one from Bushmiller at Fence Furnitures get-together a couple of years ago. Really strong pail- still going strong

Originally Posted by mature one

Hi qwerty I use a metal paint bucket the 20 litre ones and they last forever and come with a sealed lid with spring clip to seal.

Ditto.

Regards from Perth

Derek

I hacked together a wooden ring and wedged it in there seems to have done the trick. I think a paint bucket is the go in the future though if I can get my hands on one - takinh off plastic pail lid is a real pain in the

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Go to a local trade paint supply shop and ask them for empty metal 15 or 20 litre cans from the painters, bound to get a couple no problem

I just put one bucket inside another.

I don't know if retangular box makes it bad for air flow thingy.

I picked up a couple of boxes at the good guys dump in November tgen bought a shop vac before xmas, the cyclone was bought a few years ago. I put them all together to fit under my newly made work bench last weekend

the suction from the vac squeezes the top of the box lip in more than 10mm so i fitted a cross bar inside the box fixed that
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Somehow the 2nd n 3rd pics went sideway sorry!

Originally Posted by rustynail

I just put one bucket inside another.

+1

That simple solution worked for me. Straightened the collapsed bucket, put it inside a new bucket and BINGO, no collapse. I guess the thicker wall helped.