Thread: This project sucks

Ed Paradis posted this message in a casting group. I thought it would interest some of you interested in a shop vac for pulling negative pressures to clamp veneers etc., and post it here with Ed's approval.

Greetings Metal Mangling Maniacs, submitted for your approval, my latest project, the Shop Sucker. It is a practical example of Physics in Action, employing the Venturi principle, such as with a carburetor. The assembly is pretty straight forward with an Aluminium block (basic form cast with LFC) drilled and tapped for 1/8 NPT, a 2" nipple 1/8NPT thread, a 1/4" hose barb 1/8NPT, a 3/4" close nipple 1/8NPT, a 3 1/2" section of 1/8" tubing, and a hand blowgun (thanks for the idea Ray Brandes). With the configuration that I used, it's capable of pulling 13" Hg with a input of 90 PSI of shop air. Now the question on everyone's lips, "What can I do with this thing?" A good question indeed. Attach a section of hose to the hose barb vacuum connection and use it to pick up errant sand in the mold. Make a tank out of PVC pipe to put your cup of silicone goo or plaster in to evacuate all of the air out for a smooth finish on your mold. Use it to pick up that ball bearing that has rolled to the back of the assembly. Take the chrome off that bumper hitch or pull a golf ball through a 50' garden hose. Just kidding about the hitch and hose... If you look around the shop, you'll probably find lots of uses for vacuum in molding work or otherwise. As long as you have shop air, why not add this tool to your arsenal? If you're interested in an exploded picture or the like, let me know... The photo of it is located in our sister group "Castinghobbypictures" under the file "MoEd'sstuff"... A word of caution, if you use it to pick up anything that might get sucked into the hose barb (i.e. sand), tie a sock of some sort on the air exhaust end to keep from
producing an air missle...

Ed


Ed is putting up some more pics so if there's interest here, I'll do a follow up.

Glenn