Thread: Workshop broom

Maybe not exactly what you are looking for. Steel swarf? get a magnetic broom. Other swarf I use a vacuum cleaner.

Stuart

I have a habit of machining and drilling 316 stainless and aluminium, not in the least magnetic.
Curly bits tend to clog the vacuum as well as sticking in hand-brushes and brooms.
Maybe we just have to live with inconvenience.

Originally Posted by Stustoys

Maybe not exactly what you are looking for. Steel swarf? get a magnetic broom. Other swarf I use a vacuum cleaner.

Stuart

When you find something let me know, I also machine a lot of SS (mainly 304 and 303) and not only is it a pain to pick up/sweep, it is as sharp as! DAMHIKT!!

Don't know if this helps, but I've seen a "broom" that instead of bristles, it uses a rubber flap to sweep up swarf mainly the larger stuff, then you could use a vacuum. Also seen a magnetic pick up for steel swarf.
Kryn

A natural bristle broom will be a bit less sticky than anything synthetic which seems to tangle with swarf more easily.

The same goes for dust pan brushes. I use a coconut fibre broom to sweep down my lathe and they seem to also be less sticky with lubricants.

They cost a bit more and are also getting harder to find but are usually worth it.

Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore

Don't know if this helps, but I've seen a "broom" that instead of bristles, it uses a rubber flap to sweep up swarf mainly the larger stuff, then you could use a vacuum. Also seen a magnetic pick up for steel swarf.
Kryn

Funny thing but that exact idea occurred to me shortly after I posted.
I was a bit dubious as to whether it would work so I figured I'll make something up tomorrow and try it.

Let us know if it worked??
Kryn

I use a wet and dry vac. Luckily it hasn't blocked up yet and doesn't look like it ever will.

Phil

I also use a vacuum. I find the trick with that is to keep the small nozzle on it - once swarf is past the restriction at the front it is unlikely to jam further down the tube.

Michael

A cat

Magnetic "broom" and squeegee with a long handle for SS and a bit of patience.
The rest you can vacuum or use an ordinary brush to pick up.
The magnetic broom picks up also all the grind from the grinder.

TBH, I just use a "normal yard broom". I'm sure swarf does get caught up in it but I never bother to look too closely. I also use a vacuum after I have swept up all the larger stuff. On a side note, I notice my vacuum hose is getting quite heavy eventhough it's not loosing suction. I think it must also be full of oil Maybe I need to suck up a litre of thinners to clean it out?

Yes,, of course it's a wet and dry vac. I wouldn't be stipid enough to suck up a flammable liquid in a normal vac!

Simon

Originally Posted by simonl

Yes,, of course it's a wet and dry vac. I wouldn't be stipid enough to suck up a flammable liquid in a normal vac!

A word of caution, even if its a wet and dry vac, the fumes will go through the filters and may enter the motor cooling loop and . . . . . well . . . . .you know the rest.

Instructions from a W&D VC


Interesting what it says about toner dust. Tomer dust is ~8-10 microns in size. This means any dust smaller than this will pass straight through this particular VC. Thus a lot of the dust from welding/grinder wheel grit etc will pass straight through this VC and be pumped into the air reforging the workshop for a second time. To capture this dust a HEPA VC is needed and even these are not that reliable.

Originally Posted by simonl

......I notice my vacuum hose is getting quite heavy even though it's not losing suction. I think it must also be full of oil Maybe I need to suck up a litre of thinners to clean it out? Yes,, of course it's a wet and dry vac. I wouldn't be stipid enough to suck up a flammable liquid in a normal vac! Simon

Needs no answer, hu hu

Sorry Simon, just rattling your chain, I wouldn't be using a vacuum cleaner, wet, dry or in between for anything that is not water.
In fact they suck even for water since they become a pita to clean out.

A wet and dry vacuum, produces vacuum (well what else) inside a bucket. Any water coming in is deflected by a little thingy at the end of the hose in the hope it will go down and inside the bucket and not inside the motor. Very primitive. The motor does get some water so much so that the filter needs to be fabric and you can not use the paper filters.
Furthermore even if by luck the liquid does not get straight in the motor, the fumes, if any, do and go straight through the motor to cool it and then out. I bet you your hose is full of metal shavings. They get stuck in the hose ridges yet do not block the air. Well eventually they will. Get yourself a magnetic broom from Bunnings. Best cleaning aid ever.

PS
The editing function also sucks ha ha