Thread: Clear Vue Max owners - source of 44 gallon drums

Originally Posted by Sturdee

Mick,

When I made it, I removed the lid from the wheelie bin and cut the top straight by using an angle grinder. Bolted onto the bin, in the corners on the flat flange of the bin is an open chipboard cover as a frame for the lid as per the second and third photo. Sealed any gaps with gap filler from the inside.

The lid is attached at the back with hinges to this cover and at the front is screwed down onto that frame with some large homemade bolts. You can see them in the first photo if you look carefully.

Onto this lid I attached a short bit of gal pipe and I slide the short flexi hose on this and remove for emptying. I don't use a clamp on that part as it's not necessary. Already a very tight fit.

The clamps make sure that it's completely airtight, in fact when I remove the clamps for emptying I have to wedge a screwdriver to break the air seal.

For emptying I wheel it out to the compost heap and tip it over to empty it. For this I like to pick a windy day and wear a dusk mask.

Trust that helps.

Peter.

Peter,

yes, helps a lot but I'll show my ignorance one last time (at least for now) and show my lack of being a handyman

- the back of the lid (around the hinges especially) does not seem like it would be completely sealed (maybe I am just bad at hinges). Is that right? does it matter anyway?
- from what I understand, to lift the lid, you need to remove the homemade bolts (which are basically your clamps) - have I at least understood that much?
- how is the gal pipe attached? Also, I guess it is a precise size to fit the flexi hose.....
It is more than likely I need to do a handyman 101 course. I have enjoyed woodworking and turning over the last 8 years but being a desk jockey all of my life I have an enormous amount to learn and am very appreciative of the help I am getting.

cheers

Mick

Mick,

Some further details.

- the back of the lid (around the hinges especially) does not seem like it would be completely sealed (maybe I am just bad at hinges). Is that right? does it matter anyway?

Looking at the back from the wheelie bin handle in the first photo it appears that way, but if you look closely at the second photo (open lid) you will see a batten nailed and sealed onto the open chipboard cover. To that the lid's hinges are secured making it air tight.

- from what I understand, to lift the lid, you need to remove the homemade bolts (which are basically your clamps) - have I at least understood that much?

Correct, they are coach bolts with a handle glued on the bolt head and screwed into threaded inserts in the open chipboard cover. Hence they can be tightened and released easily.

- how is the gal pipe attached? Also, I guess it is a precise size to fit the flexi hose.....

Again in the second photo you can see a extra chipboard ring, glued and nailed - as I have nail guns I add extra nails on these things, to give a strong section to nail and putty the bit of gal drainage pipe. That is a very tight fit as I had to cut and bend the pipe to the exact size.

BTW I also worked in my previous life in an office but I always enjoyed going to the workshop to tinker and make things. Jigs are my special interest.

Peter.

Peter,

thanks very much for the details. I finally understand it.

cheers

Mick

Hope this is not too far off the mark but am I able to use a 44 as my collector on a single bag dustie? I have a heap of drums the same size a couple of dustie units whose support frames have seen better days and when I re-homed them their bottom bags were missing.
Cheers to all.

Yes it would work, if the mods are done properly

Originally Posted by comgreserv

Hope this is not too far off the mark but am I able to use a 44 as my collector on a single bag dustie? I have a heap of drums the same size a couple of dustie units whose support frames have seen better days and when I re-homed them their bottom bags were missing.
Cheers to all.

Provided they can be well sealed, solid fixed canisters are MUCH better idea than plastic bags. What happens with plastic bags is that most DCs move a substantial amount of air around inside the (especially near empty) bags. This moves the bags around so they continually scrape on the DC frame AND if an any of the sawdust contains anything sharp or abrasive this generates holes in the plastic bag that end up leaking dust.

Not so much of a problem if the DC is outside a shed but this creates a real headache if the DC is inside.