Building my own Leaf/Grass Vacuum system

[sandman2234]

I understand the pressure drop theory, and how it works. However the reason for my mentioning the filter, is due to what I have when I use my Giant Vac. It has a deflector to keep the air flow away from the filter plus a much smaller mesh filter. The whole top is vented, so it has sufficent pressure drop. The steel expanded metal across the top is almost as small as your mesh. Under it is a cloth that is very small mesh and it stops the dust that gets airborne when it sucks leaves, grass and dust right off the ground. There is a lot of dust generated by my vac and the cloth keeps it semi contained. Running without the small mesh cloth coats everything within 100 feet with a layer of dust, rather quickly.
David from jax

 

[Berniep]

Dust is really not a problem with my unit (wich is a home made unit almost exactly like this one) but I am not vacuuming I am collecting grass and leaves.
The dust that does come out lets me know it's working and not clogged.

 

[SkunkWerX]

BernieP,

I had the same experience with the borrowed TracVac, maybe a little dust on a dry fall day, while grinding leaves, but, otherwise no biggie.

I am getting very close to 1st BETA run with this beast, trying for Sunday, if I can get the last few odds&ends wrapped up.

Full report and more pics, when complete and tested.

 

[sandman2234]

SkunkWerX must be out riding around picking up leaves since he didn't post any pictures tonight...
David from jax

 

[SkunkWerX]

Sorry guys, we did the Father's Day thing and also my dad's birthday this weekend.
But, I did actually use it. Had to cut a second roof vent, as it was bowing the back door out under pressure! Also placed another circular side vent, to allow the pressure drop to occur. So basically I doubled the amount of venting. A minor amount of debris comes out of the vents, but, in the big picture it's nothing.
Proceeded to mow the whole front yard ( approx. 1 acre) and had the unit about half full. This time of year it was just green grass, no thatch, no leaves, and it packed it in very tight. The lawn looked excellent afterward, a manicured look, not a stray blade of grass, nor any clumps.

I guess if I towed the dethatcher around first I would have doubled or tripled what I picked up? I'll have to try it.

Also had to make some minor mods to the back door hinges, latch, etc. But it works!!

Now is time for disassembly, clean and seal and waterproof, and wait for Fall.
It was good to get ahead of the season, rather than scrambling last minute while the leaves are falling.

Thanks to everyone for their ideas, comments and suggestions.

It sucks!!

 

[sandman2234]

It sucks!!

I guess that is a good thing!!!

I used mine also yesterday for just a few minutes. I came to the conculsion that our soil differences and grass types are probably why you have less dust expelled from yours than I do mine. The sand here is readily sucked up and is small and light enough to to become airborne. Plus the fact that it is extremely dry here doesn't help a thing. I am considering modifying the baffle because it appears to be only diverting part of the air flow and allowing too much to be sent towards the filter. I think I will clamp a board onto the existing baffle to see if it makes any difference before I start welding things in. I don't know why I really worry about this, as it isn't all that bad and the dusty air is dispelled behind me. Just looking for perfection I guess.
David from jax

 

[J_J]

Bernie,

I had the same experience with the borrowed Trackage, maybe a little dust on a dry fall day, while grinding leaves, but, otherwise no biggie.

I am getting very close to ST BETA run with this beast, trying for Sunday, if I can get the last few odds&ends wrapped up.

Full report and more pics, when complete and tested.

Speaking of Trac-Vac, I have owned one for about 10 years, and it does work good. Maybe to good. It does an excellent job of picking up leaves. It does OK on grass, if your pickup tube is not ribbed. A smooth inside works better. The suction on the vacuum will pull up leaves, grass , pine cones, beer cans, sticks, rocks. I have replaced several engines, due to the dusty conditions. I have replaced many impellers due to sand wearing out the edges of the impeller, and from rocks or nuts and bolts being sucked up and bending the tips. It has thrown many objects through the hose. I keep duct tape handy. My Trac-Vac rides on the back of my Dixie Chopper, and does not have wheels, so the whole unit is very maneuverable. I also use gator blades for leaves as it chews them upquite well. In a leaf pick pickup situation, it will fill up the container in about 10 min, and therefore many dump loads are required. It is dusty as ****. No way around it. It does have a net filter before the air exits the container, to keep the leaves in. You can put a leaf bag in the container if you have to put bags on the road for trash pickup. It will fill up the bag so heavy, that you will have trouble lifting the bag and keeping the bag from splitting. The trash people around here don't like to lift no more than 40 lbs. I had 20 bags for them one day.