Homemade vacuum cleaner for a carpentry workshop. Do-it-yourself cyclone from a barrel. Experience FORUMHOUSE Vacuum cleaner for home carpentry

From the very beginning of work in the workshop, I faced the problem of removing dust after work. The only opportunity available to clean up the floor was to sweep it. But because of this, just an incredible amount of dust rose into the air, which settled in a tangible layer on furniture, on machines, on tools, in hair and lungs. The concrete floor in the workshop exacerbated the problem. Some solution was to spray water before sweeping and use a respirator. However, these are only half measures. In winter, water freezes in an unheated room and you have to carry it with you, in addition, the water-dust mixture on the floor is difficult to collect and it also does not contribute to the hygiene of the workplace. Firstly, the respirator does not block all 100% of the dust, some of it is still inhaled, and secondly, it does not protect against dust settling on the environment. And not all back streets can be climbed with a broom to pick out small debris and sawdust from there.

In such a situation, the most effective solution it would be to vacuum the room.

However, using a household vacuum cleaner will not work. Firstly, it will have to be cleaned every 10-15 minutes of operation (especially if you work on milling table). Secondly, as the dust container fills up, suction efficiency decreases. Thirdly, the amount of dust, greatly exceeding the calculated values, will greatly affect the resource of the vacuum cleaner. Something more specialized is needed here.

There are many off-the-shelf solutions for workshop dust removal, however, their cost, especially in light of the 2014 Crisis, does not make them too affordable. On thematic forums, I found an interesting solution - to use a cyclone filter in conjunction with a conventional household vacuum cleaner. All of the listed problems of household vacuum cleaners are solved if dirt and dust are removed from the air to a standard vacuum cleaner dust collector. Some collect cyclone filters from traffic cones, others from sewer pipes, others - from plywood and everything that is enough for imagination. But I decided to buy already finished filter with fastener.

The principle of operation is simple - the air flow is twisted in the cone-shaped filter housing and dust is removed from the air under the action of centrifugal force. In this case, the dust falls through the lower hole into the container under the filter, and the purified air exits through the upper hole into the vacuum cleaner.

One of the frequent problems in the operation of cyclones is the so-called "carousel". This is a situation where dirt and sawdust do not fall into the dust container, but swirl endlessly inside the filter. This situation arises from too high a speed of the air flow created by the turbine of the vacuum cleaner. It is necessary to reduce the speed a little and the "carousel" will disappear. In principle, it does not interfere - the next portion of garbage pushes most of the "carousel" into the container and takes its place. And in the second model of plastic cyclones, this carousel practically does not exist. To eliminate air leakage, I smeared with hot glue the junction of the filter with the cover.

I decided to take a larger dust container so that I had to take out the garbage less often. I bought a barrel of 127 liters, produced, it seems, in Samara - the size is right! I'm going to carry the barrel to the trash can like a grandmother carrying a shopping bag - on another cart, so as not to overstrain.

Next is the choice of layout. Some install the dust collector permanently and lead channels to the machines. Others simply put a vacuum cleaner and a barrel next to each other and drag them to the right place. I wanted to make a mobile unit on wheels to move everything around the workshop in one block.
I have a rather small workshop and the issue of saving space is very relevant. Therefore, I decided to choose a layout in which the barrel, filter and vacuum cleaner are located one above the other, occupying a minimum area. It was decided to cook the body of the installation from metal. A frame made of a profile pipe determines the dimensions of the future installation.

With a vertical layout, there is a possibility of tipping over. To reduce this probability, you need to make the base as heavy as possible. For this, a 50x50x5 corner was chosen as the material for the base, which took almost 3.5 meters.

The tangible weight of the trolley is offset by the presence of swivel wheels. There were thoughts, if the structure is not stable enough, to fill the cavity of the frame with lead shot or sand. But this was not required.

In order to achieve the verticality of the rods, it was necessary to use ingenuity. The recently purchased vise came in handy. Thanks to this simple equipment, it was possible to achieve precise installation corners.

It is convenient to move the trolley by holding on to the vertical bars, so I strengthened their attachment points. In addition, this is an additional, albeit not large, weighting of the base. In general, I like reliable things with a margin of safety.

The barrel will be fixed in the installation frame with the help of clamps.

At the top of the rods is a platform for a vacuum cleaner. Further, holes will be drilled in the corners in the lower part and wooden planks will be fixed with self-tapping screws.

Here is the whole frame. It seems to be nothing complicated, but for some reason it took four evenings to assemble it. On the one hand, I did not seem to be in a hurry, I worked at my own pace, trying to complete each stage with high quality. But on the other hand, low productivity is associated with the lack of heating in the workshop. Goggles and a welded mask fog up quickly, impairing visibility, bulky outerwear hinders movement. But the task is done. Besides, spring is only a couple of weeks away.

I really did not want to leave the frame in this form. I wanted to paint it. But on all the cans of paint that I found in the store it is written that they can be used at a temperature not lower than +5, and on some even not lower than +15. The thermometer in the workshop shows -3. How to be?
Esteemed thematic forums. People write that you can safely paint even in frost, as long as the paint is not on water based and there was no condensation on the part. And if the paint is with a hardener, then do not bathe at all.
I found an old, slightly thickened can of Hammerite in the stash, which I used to paint a horizontal bar at the dacha in the summer -. The paint is quite expensive, so I decided to test it in extreme conditions. Instead of the expensive original thinner, Hammereit added some regular degreaser to make it a little thinner, stirred it to the desired consistency and began to paint.
In summer, this paint dried in one hour. It is difficult to say how long it dried in the winter, but when I returned to the workshop by the evening of the next day, the paint had dried. True, without the promised hammer effect. Probably the degreaser is to blame, not the negative temperature. Otherwise, no other problems were found. The cover looks and feels secure. Perhaps it is not for nothing that this paint costs almost 2,500 rubles in the store.

The body of the cyclone is made of good plastic and has fairly thick walls. But fastening the filter to the lid of the barrel is rather flimsy - four self-tapping screws screwed into the plastic. At the same time, significant lateral loads can occur on the hose, which is attached directly to the filter. Therefore, the attachment of the filter to the barrel must be strengthened. People approach this problem in different ways. Basically they collect additional frame stiffness for the filter. The designs are varied, but the idea is something like this:

I approached this a little differently. A holder for pipes of a suitable diameter was welded onto one of the rods.

In this holder, I clamp the hose, which accounts for all the twists and jerks. Thus, the filter housing is protected from any stress. Now the unit can be pulled behind you right by the hose without fear of damaging anything.

I decided to fix the barrel with tie-down straps. When choosing locks in a hardware store, I made an interesting observation. A five-meter tie-down strap with a foreign-made ratchet lock cost me 180 rubles, and a naked frog-type lock lying nearby Russian production would cost me 250 rubles. That's where the triumph of domestic engineering and high technology.

Experience has shown that this method of fastening has an important advantage. The fact is that on the forums dedicated to these filters they write that barrels like mine, when connected to a powerful vacuum cleaner, can be crushed due to the vacuum that occurs when the inlet hose is clogged. Therefore, during the tests, I deliberately blocked the opening of the hose and, under the influence of vacuum, the barrel shrank. But due to the very tight grip of the clamps, the barrel did not shrink completely, but only in one place below the hoop a dent appeared. And when I turned off the vacuum cleaner, the dent straightened itself with a click.

At the top of the unit is a platform for a vacuum cleaner

As a household vacuum cleaner, I bought a bagless almost two-kilowatt monster. I was already thinking, and at home I would need such a thing.
When buying a vacuum cleaner on an ad, I encountered some inexplicable human stupidity and greed. The people sell used things without a guarantee, with a depleted part of the resource, flaws in appearance at prices lower than store prices by some 15-20 percent. And okay, these would be some running things, but second-hand vacuum cleaners! Judging by the period of placement of ads, this trade sometimes drags on for years. And as soon as you start haggling and calling an adequate price, you come across rudeness and misunderstanding.
As a result, after a couple of days, I still found for myself great option for 800 rubles. Well-known brand, 1900 watts, built-in cyclone filter (already the second in my system) and another fine filter.
For its fastening, I did not come up with anything more elegant than pressing it with a tie-down strap. In principle, it holds securely.

I had to fiddle a bit with the hose connections. As a result, we have such a setting. And she works!

Usually when you read reviews from the first use of such gizmos, people choke with delight. Here is something similar and I experienced the first time I turned it on. It's no joke - vacuuming in the workshop! Where everyone walks in street shoes, where metal shavings and sawdust fly everywhere!

I have never seen this concrete floor, impossible to sweep due to dust stuck in the pores, so clean before. Persistent attempts to sweep it only lead to an increase in the density of dust in the air. And such purity was given to me in a couple of easy movements! I didn't even have to wear a respirator!

In the barrel, we managed to collect what was left after the previous cleaning with a broom. During operation of the device, due to the translucence of the filter, you can observe dust wisps swirling inside. There was also dust in the dust collector of the vacuum cleaner, but it was a small amount and these were especially light and volatile fractions.

Very pleased with the result. No more dust storms in the workshop. You could say I'm entering a new era.

Advantages of my design:
1. Occupies a minimum area, due only to the diameter of the barrel.
2. The unit can be dragged and pulled by the hose without being afraid to pull out the filter.
3. The barrel is protected from crushing when the inlet pipe is clogged.

After some time of using the installation, I still ran into the problem of a lack of barrel rigidity.
Bought a more powerful vacuum cleaner. Household, but sucks like a beast - sucks stones, nuts, screws, tears off plaster and pulls bricks out of masonry))
This vacuum cleaner slammed the blue barrel even without clogging the inlet hose! Tight girth of the barrel with clamps did not help. I didn't have my camera with me, sorry. But it looks like this:

Thematic forums warn of such a possibility, but still I did not expect this. With great difficulty he straightened the barrel and sent it, fairly dented, to the dacha to store water. She is not capable of more.

There were two ways out of this situation:
1. Buy a metal barrel instead of a plastic one. But I need to find a barrel of a very specific size so that it fits exactly into my installation - diameter 480, height 800. A superficial search on the Internet did not give a result.
2. Self-assemble a box of the desired size from 15 mm plywood. Here it is more real.

The box was assembled on self-tapping screws. The joints were sealed with double-sided foam tape.

The trolley had to be altered a little - the rear clamp was digested for a square tank.

The new tank, in addition to strength and volume increased due to right angles, has another important advantage - a wide neck. This allows you to install a trash bag in the tank. It greatly simplifies unloading and makes it much cleaner (I tied the bag right in the tank and took it out and threw it away without dust). The old barrel did not allow this.

The lid was sealed with foam insulation for windows

The lid is held in place by four locks. They create the necessary tension to seal the cover on the foam gasket. A little higher, I wrote about the pricing policy for these frog locks. But I had to fork out.

Well done. Nice, functional, safe. How I love.

It all started with the fact that I began to fall asleep with sawdust. Any action with a power tool generates sawdust. I tried to use the Karcher construction vacuum cleaner right away, but it stops working after 5 minutes of operation - the filter just clogs up. Therefore, it was decided to make a vacuum cleaner myself. Honestly, this is my third vacuum cleaner, and there will be many more, people ask to repeat.

It all starts with a container. It was decided to make the container on our own, because I could not find a 100-liter barrel without narrowing and light. Therefore, I made a plywood frame and filled it with cellular polycarbonate. There is a ring inside to keep the barrel from collapsing.

With the help of a milling compass, I cut rings and made a separator body, into which a stream with debris enters tangentially and, under the action of centrifugal force, falls through the slot down the barrel. Foolishly took fiberboard for a round wall, do not repeat my mistakes! Plywood 3 or 4mm is better suited for this. The branch pipe is made of a 50mm plumbing pipe.

The top of the separator is covered with a lid with a hole on which the filter housing is mounted. The filter element is used from an injection VAZ car, they have an affordable price.

An engine from a powerful vacuum cleaner with a native damper ring is mounted on the cover of the filter housing, which reduces sound and vibrations.

To prevent the barrel from being crushed when the hose is closed, a safety valve. Simple and reliable design, can be adjusted even :)

The body is lined with noise. Installed a switch and sockets for connecting power tools.

The block of autostart of the vacuum cleaner from the connected load with a delay of switching off is assembled. A kind of current relay. :) The photo shows a prototype.

Here is a photo of the vacuum cleaner test. near Karcher. He has wheels from an old chair to carry around :) And a handle to shake out.

The vacuum cleaner has taken its place on the stand in the corner and climbs out of there only for cleaning. The hose from it goes up to the ceiling, along with the cable for connecting the tool, to all the working surfaces of the workshop.

I will post a photo of other brothers of my vacuum cleaner. First option. He has been working for a long time in someone else's garage, the owner asks to repeat :) A bucket of 25 liters. A trial version without any frills, pure functionality.

This terrible monster is with my father. not a very stable design, but he's just a beast! When the air is blocked, half a meter of the hose sucks in and collapses the bucket. :)

In the woodworking industry, the dust and chip removal system is an invariable part of the general technical equipment of workshops and therefore must be calculated, designed and installed in accordance with a number of established rules.

Why is a dust extraction system so important?

Carpentry is always associated with the abundant formation of by-products. It would not be an exaggeration to call the amount of dust and chips emitted mind-blowing, because dust suspension in woodworking workshops is a real scourge that both home and professional craftsmen overcome with varying degrees of success.

But what is really the need and complexity of wood waste disposal? They are represented by a combination of a number of factors, each of which requires the solution of rather specific tasks:

• Problem number 1: low weight of waste products. Unlike the metalworking industry and even plastics work, wood chips and dust are very light, they settle slowly under the influence of gravity, and the particles are extremely poorly bonded to each other due to static electricity.
• Problem #2: Complexity technological process. Even in a modest carpentry workshop there is an impressive list of processing equipment: planing, thicknessing, sawing, milling and grinding machines - each technological unit serves as a source of chips and dust. With such a variety, it is extremely difficult to organize an aspiration system.
• Problem #3: High diversity of waste fractions. During processing, chips, large and small chips, sawdust, dust and powder can be formed. It is difficult to imagine a unified filtration system, at each stage of which particles of a certain size are retained, while the creation of a universal filter seems even less likely.
• Problem number 4: impact on the quality of processing. Both chips and microscopic dust can build up on cutting edges or adhere to the surface of a part. All this negatively affects the cleanliness of the surface, in addition, the likelihood of contamination of the functional components of the equipment increases.
• Problem #5: The danger of processing by-products. This is not at all about the fact that a huge amount of dust settles on tools and materials or harms the respiratory system. And not even that the abundance of flammable particles is a negative factor fire safety. Explosions in woodworking workshops are truly catastrophic, because a suspension of fine combustible particles in the air is nothing more than an aerosol-type explosive, similar in destructiveness to a gas-air mixture. No kidding.

The conclusion from the above is as follows: any object of the woodworking industry must be equipped with a dust and chip removal system, and it is desirable that the execution of such a system be performed at a professional level.

General configuration

In general, two types of aspiration systems can be distinguished. The first is local filtering complexes, which are equipped with each of the units of installed processing equipment. The advantages of local installations are most obvious with a significant remoteness of equipment on spacious sites. There is no need to lay main channels, there is no need to organize an increased power air pump unit. At the same time, there is an obvious benefit in energy saving, because the local filtering unit works only when a certain part of the equipment is involved.

Centralized chip and dust removal systems are also not without advantages. They are most advantageous to use in cramped workshops where space is limited and the layout of the equipment is made as compact as possible. Each piece of processing equipment is connected to the main exhaust stack, which functions almost all the time the workshop is open, at least if at least one of the machines is involved. The advantages of centralized aspiration systems are most obvious with a high workload of production, however, this approach requires a high-quality organization of the technological process. It is worth noting that the overall system for the removal of wood by-products requires less investment in the organization, but entails more significant costs in the process of use.

At the same time, the organization of hybrid systems is not forbidden. For example, the most involved parts of the complex, such as a circular saw, thickness gauge, milling machine and others like them, can be combined with a common dust removal system. At the same time, machines used from time to time, such as a grinder or drum grinder, have their own local filtration units. The key rule is this: the issue of organizing a system for removing chips and dust should be put at the forefront when creating a closed woodworking workshop and carefully thought out before the final decision on the placement of equipment and the approval of the technological cycle.

Which air pump to choose

The heart of the entire aspiration system is the air pump. Regardless of whether the system is local or centralized, its efficiency depends entirely on the performance of this node. Several options can be offered: an industrial vacuum cleaner, one or more duct blade fans, or one centrifugal.

In home workshops, vacuum cleaners are most often used as the central unit of an aspiration system. This is explained quite simply: firstly, the performance of such equipment is often quite enough, and secondly, the vacuum cleaner itself can be used to clean the workshop, or quickly clean the workplace and tools. For such purposes, both industrial (construction) vacuum cleaners and household electrical appliances with a power of over 2-2.5 kW can be successfully used. It should be noted that there is a big difference between a vacuum cleaner and a chip blower, but we will touch on this topic in more detail a little later.

Another type of aspiration systems involves the use of high power duct fans. In fact, this option represents an attempt to adapt equipment for uncharacteristic purposes, however, such projects have the right to life and, moreover, are successfully used in home and small industrial workshops. It must be remembered that inline blade fans are extremely vulnerable to the presence of solid particles in the pumped air stream, therefore they are always installed at the end of the cleaning cycle, in other words, such an air pump pumps already cleaned air, despite the fact that all elements of the system operate in a rarefaction mode, but not injection.

Talk about key parameters the pumping unit is better in the context of comparing modern vacuum cleaners and chip extractors. There are three such parameters in total: power consumption, the volume of air moved, or simply performance, as well as the vacuum created. If you do not go into technical details, the vacuum cleaner is more designed to tear off particles from the surface, while the chip blower is focused on capturing airborne particles that have flown out from under the working body, whether it be a milling cutter, saw blade or sanding belt. Among other advantages of the chip blower, it is necessary to highlight the presence of a collecting bag of an impressive volume, as well as the undemanding to the presence of a separation unit in the system, that is, a cyclone separator. At the same time, centrifugal fans, which are used in the vast majority of chip blowers, lose a lot in productivity if there is a narrowing of the section in the piping system. Vacuum cleaners included common system aspirations require plugging leads on equipment that is not currently in use. Therefore, systems based on vacuum cleaners are best used in tandem with hand tool or, for example, grinding machines, where the gripping area should be located as close as possible to the processing area in order to remove fine dust, which is the most dangerous, as efficiently as possible. In turn, centrifugal fans are especially useful because of the ability to pump air even with a high content of coarse particles, because the “snail” motor is located out of the flow.

Pipelines and flexible ducts

Both centralized and local aspiration systems need connecting pipelines, through which waste is moved from the capture zone to the filter unit. The list of materials suitable for the installation of a piping system is very wide.

Initially, flexible ventilation ducts are of the greatest interest. They consist of a polyethylene or polyurethane sheath reinforced with a spiral reinforcing cord. Such a high distribution of flexible pipelines is due to the ease of installation, low cost, no need to use swivel fittings and the ability to quickly change the configuration of the system. One of the most important advantages of flexible channels is the smoothness of the turn of the stave, which reduces the overall aerodynamic drag.

However, flexible conduits are not without drawbacks. We must not forget that a fairly strong vacuum acts inside the channel, especially if the system is connected to a powerful air pump. If most of the conclusions of the aspiration system are muffled, the pipeline may simply collapse, such cases are by no means rare. Also, due to the low mechanical strength, the channels are not recommended to be laid on the floor or in areas where their damage is potentially possible. The most budgetary representatives of corrugated hoses have an internal ribbed surface, due to which, during the operation of the aspiration system, the pipeline begins to whistle quite noticeably, while the resistance to air flow increases. Also, they are very characteristic of dust sticking to the walls due to the accumulation of static charge.

The advantages and disadvantages of rigid pipelines are exactly the opposite. Yes, in this case, a reliable fastening system is required, there will be more connections, however, thanks to the internal smooth surface pipes in them there is no blockage, sticking of wet chips and a decrease in flow rate. However, it must be remembered that the cost of a rigid one will cost significantly more than a flexible one, moreover, the equipment connected to the aspiration system will remain immobilized. In view of the latter, a combination of rigid and flexible pipelines is often practiced: a line of a dust removal system is bred along the ceiling from metal or PVC channels of a round or square section, and then with the help of special branch pipes shaped products a transition to corrugated hoses for connecting equipment is underway.

Filtration systems

The most important functional element of the aspiration system after air pump— unit for filtration, absorption and disposal of by-products of processing. In this regard, there are a fairly large number of variations, but only a few are suitable for home workshops.

The first and most important element is the separation filter, otherwise called the cyclone. Its main purpose is to separate the largest fragments, such as chips and chips, so that only a suspension of small particles enters the further cleaning cycle. The device of the cyclone filter is primitive, which is why many craftsmen make it on their own, however, the purchase option provides additional benefits. For example, more effective particle settling is achieved due to the distributed supply, in addition, in some models, the possibility of wet absorption is provided, which reduces the amount of fine dust at the exit.

Sometimes aspiration systems do not have a filter element other than a cyclone filter. For example, if the air is discharged outside, a fine filtration system is simply not required. This approach is not always reasonable winter time when the exhaust system with a powerful air pump is operating, the heat from the room is ejected almost instantly, which forces the installation of fine filters. In the simplest case, these are ordinary collection bags that retain the main part of fine dust; this option is most typical for local installations. The highest quality of air purification is characterized by dust removal systems, in which the main unit is a vacuum cleaner with two or more cleaning stages. Main vacuum cleaners can also be equipped with a wide range of cleaning elements, although paper bags and car-type pleated air filters are most commonly used.

Catchers and other accessories

In conclusion, it is worth talking about those elements that are given the least importance, although their importance cannot be overestimated. We are talking about all kinds of sockets, receiving funnels and casings, as well as the appropriateness of their use with one or another type of equipment.

As already mentioned, when working on grinding machines an impressive amount of microscopic dust is formed. When connecting an aspiration system to such equipment, the main focus is on capturing the smallest particles, while large chips can freely fall to the floor and then collect manually or vacuum cleaner. If suction funnels are used in such cases, the air flow from the working body itself will create turbulence and the capture of fine dust will only be possible if the suction is strong enough. It would be most reasonable to exclude the intake bell and place the suction pipe in close proximity to the treatment area.

But where bells are really needed is in milling, turning and sawing machines, as well as on planing equipment. Here the main emphasis is on the retraction of large chips and sawdust, therefore the best option will equip the working area with a receiving casing, as closely as possible repeating the shape of the working body and adjacent to stationary surfaces as tightly as possible. Please note that the optimal total gap cross-section on all sides of the casing should be 1.5-2 times greater than the nominal passage of the channel through which the machine is connected to the dust removal system. For larger values, the use of sealing brushes is recommended, especially for milling equipment.

Anyone who has ever encountered construction, repair or finishing works, knows that these processes are always accompanied by the formation of very a large number debris, dust and dirt. By the way, it is precisely this circumstance, judging by the statements on the forums, that in many ways stops or slows down the desire of many owners to transform their home - few people want to do constant tedious cleaning during such events.

But the problem is completely solvable if the owners have a reliable and productive construction vacuum cleaner at their disposal. And of course, such a tool should be in the arsenal of a professional builder or finisher who respects himself and his clients. Such a device, by the way, will become a faithful assistant to those home craftsmen who, even at an amateur level, regularly engage in, for example, woodworking or metalworking, are fond of carpentry. It also helps in everyday homework housekeeping, including - and in some operations even on the site adjacent to the house.

In a word - a very necessary and useful thing. So let's take a closer look at the topic: which construction vacuum cleaner to choose, so as not to pay too much and at the same time not be disappointed in the purchase.

What is a construction vacuum cleaner for?

Construction debris and dust are already unpleasant in themselves - they are carried on their feet over considerable distances, and are able to transform even those rooms where works are being done, in the "pigsty". But this is far from the most important drawback - in the conditions of a construction site, one could probably put up with it to some extent to a certain extent. There are things even more serious.

• Dust, as you know, is a powerful allergen that can cause very serious irritation of the respiratory tract, mucous membranes and even unprotected skin. Working in a dusty room, even with the use of protective equipment, is extremely inconvenient and unsafe.
• Dust, dirt, sawdust, shavings that accumulate in the working area make it extremely difficult to perform operations, worsening visibility and reducing the quality of work.
• The contamination of the working area provokes much faster wear of the cutting tool or replaceable nozzles - files, knives, abrasive cutting or grinding wheels and so on .
• Many finishing technologies directly prohibit work without very thorough dedusting of the surface. Otherwise, a positive result is not guaranteed.

One way or another, it will not be possible to do without cleaning. And if everything is clear with large construction waste - it is “packed” manually and with the help of shovels in strong bags for subsequent removal, then everything is much more complicated with small debris. Banal sweeping with a broom or brushes helps little - the quality of cleaning cannot be achieved in this way, and you can only additionally raise a cloud of dust into the air.

It is unlikely to become a good assistant and - there are several explanations for this. Firstly, its power may not be enough to pull in rather large and heavy fragments (pebbles, debris). Secondly, its filtration system is not designed for fine construction dust, which is formed, for example, when sanding putty walls. That is, this dust, passing through the filters, will be thrown back into the “atmosphere” of the room. Thirdly, as a rule, the housings and prefabricated containers of household vacuum cleaners do not have either the proper level of strength or sufficient capacity. And, finally, the degree of protection of such household appliances is clearly insufficient for cleaning up construction debris - small abrasive particles can, in a very short time, render the collector assembly with brushes on an electric motor completely unusable.

Prices for construction vacuum cleaners BORT

Construction vacuum cleaner BORT

In a word, such an approach will simply “kill” even the most reliable household vacuum cleaner in record time. It is clear that one or two such cleanings will not do the weather, but if you use home appliances that are not designed for such loads all the time, its age will be very short.

Another thing is a construction powerful vacuum cleaner. It can be used in various "guises":

• The suction nozzle can be fixed in the immediate vicinity of the working area. Thus, the resulting waste and dust will be removed in a timely manner.

• The result will be even better if you use a power tool equipped with a special adapter for connecting the suction hose of a vacuum cleaner. It may be a little more difficult to work with a connected hose, but all the waste is removed immediately with almost no residue. Such adapter pipes, for example, are currently equipped with the vast majority of woodworking tools.

Even the most dusty grinding operations, for example, or concrete floors, can be carried out relatively clean if special grinding equipment is used with a powerful construction vacuum cleaner connected to it.

• It is clear that a construction vacuum cleaner is also suitable for routine cleaning during or after work, for thorough dedusting of surfaces for subsequent finishing operations. Many models allow for both conventional dry and wet cleaning.

By the way, nothing prevents the use of a construction vacuum cleaner for general cleaning in residential premises. He will perfectly cope with this task - there would be the necessary brushes or nozzles. Solved are the problems of cleaning in the backyard - putting in order, for example, sites or paths.

• Some models of construction vacuum cleaners even allow you to eliminate blockages in your home or storm sewer.

So, let's summarize what advantages a construction vacuum cleaner provides to its owners:

• The workplace is kept clean.
• The absence of debris and dust in the working area significantly improves the quality and accuracy of workpiece processing operations.
• The resource of the used tool, working nozzles or consumables for it is significantly increased.
• Carrying out cleaning, cleaning the tool will require much less time and effort. And this speeds up and to a redistributed degree - even reduces the cost of the overall construction or repair.
• There is another important nuance, which is especially worth paying attention to those craftsmen whose main field of activity is repair or finishing work. Agree that a professional whose work site is constantly clean deserves much more trust from potential customers. Thus, the presence of a construction vacuum cleaner and its proper use seriously raises the reputation of the master, allows him to count on a higher level. pay for your accuracy and professionalism.

How does a construction vacuum cleaner work?

The device of a construction vacuum cleaner does not fundamentally differ from the design of a household appliance. In any case, a mechanism is used to create rarefaction of air in the body of the device, which forms a powerful retracting flow.

The "heart" of any vacuum cleaner is a powerful Electrical engine(pos. 1). It is equipped with an impeller, which, when rotated on high speed just creates a strong vacuum in the body. Some powerful models can even be equipped with two electric drives, which are switched on simultaneously or selectively, depending on the power required for specific working conditions.

Prices for construction vacuum cleaners Bosch

construction vacuum cleaner Bosch

The housing has a branch pipe or connection socket to which the suction hose of the vacuum cleaner (pos. 2) is connected. Due to the vacuum created, dust and solid waste, together with air, are sucked into the hose through it into the compartment (container) for collecting the main part of the garbage (pos. 3). In this compartment there is a dust collector of one design or another.

However, it is very difficult to keep all the dust in the dust collector, so the air coming out of it is subject to mandatory additional filtration. Air filters (pos. 4) can have a different design, and the entire system in modern models often includes several levels of flow purification.

As you can see, the principle is about the same as that incorporated in the design of a household vacuum cleaner. But there are also differences. These include a more durable body that can withstand the dynamic impacts of solid particles of construction debris dispersed by the air flow, of course, increased power so that there is enough vacuum to capture heavy fragments. Significantly higher and the ability of the engine to work for a long time without the risk of overheating. Construction vacuum cleaners always have a much larger dust collector. The hose, as a rule, has a larger diameter, and is made of a durable material that prevents the accumulation of static charge. And, of course, given the characteristics of construction or other industrial dust, Special attention given to the airflow filtration system

It is clear that air filters need periodic cleaning. Many modern vacuum cleaners are equipped with self-cleaning systems that can operate in semi-automatic or automatic mode. In the example shown, the semi-automatic cleaning system is shown in pos. 5, and its activation key - pos. 6.

The self-cleaning system can work in different ways. In some models, due to the special configuration of the compartments, it is possible to temporarily redirect air flows through the filter in the opposite direction. That is, the filter is simply blown through, freeing itself from dust particles trapped in its structure. Another option, implemented in some models, is the periodic creation of a vacuum, which then ends with a light pop, shaking the filter and throwing off the stubborn dust from it.

Significant differences can be in the design of the main dust collector. Here, either disposable or emptyable bags, containers of the so-called cyclone type or aqua filters can be used. It is worth saying a few words about each of these options.

• Reusable fabric bags can be safely called the most "budget" option. Many consumers are well acquainted with them from household vacuum cleaners - there is no difference, except, perhaps, only for an increased volume.

The advantage of such dust collectors is their reusability. When filling the bag, it is enough to empty it, shake it out well, then close it again with a lock and install it in the vacuum cleaner. Of course, the bag is also not eternal, but still it has a solid resource. And it turns out that in terms of the cost per filling cycle, they win many times over compared to their paper counterparts.

But still, with such bags, too, not everything is safe. Unfortunately, we have to admit that the fabric is unable to retain fine construction dust, which, penetrating through the walls of the bag, quickly clogs air filters or is completely thrown back into the room air.

True, the usual satin, from which such bags were previously made everywhere, was replaced by interlining - modern fabric material based on natural cellulose fibres. Such bags, especially in a two-layer version, are already capable of providing enough serious filtration of collected dust.

• Paper disposable bags. With them, everything is simple: as soon as the bag is full, it is removed from the vacuum cleaner's waste bin and sent to the landfill in this form. Comfortable? - of course, since there is no excess dust and dirt from pouring or shaking out garbage. In addition, paper pores are capable of trapping dust particles with sizes of tenths of a micron by passing air. And this, in turn, means that the air filters of the vacuum cleaner will last much longer, they will have to be replaced or serviced less often.

But not everything is so "rosy". The main problem is that these bags are very expensive. Their cost sometimes reaches several hundred rubles, that is, the operation of a vacuum cleaner (especially if large-scale work is planned) becomes much more expensive. In addition, according to the “law of meanness”, there are situations when bags run out at the most inopportune moment, and their acquisition is associated with certain problems. For example, lack of available funds, shops closed for weekends or holidays, temporary lack of sale of the desired model, etc.

In addition, although the bags are made of durable paper, their walls can be damaged by sharp fragments of construction debris - for example, small pieces of glass or ceramic tiles. That's when there will be a "catastrophe" - the dust from the broken bag will instantly fill the compartment of the vacuum cleaner's garbage collector and clog the air filters. Eliminating the consequences is an unpleasant business.

Another significant disadvantage of paper bags is that the volume of the waste collection chamber is not fully used - in this they are clearly inferior to more elastic fabric ones.

However, very often models of construction vacuum cleaners allow the use of both a fabric and a paper bag. That is, depending on the characteristics of cleaning, you can use them alternately. For large volumes of garbage, install fabric, and use paper only for especially responsible “clean” work when cleaning the premises from fine construction dust.

• Container waste bins - they are also often called "cyclones". Great for picking up large amounts of large debris.

Due to the thoughtful arrangement of the inlet pipe and outlet filter, centrifugal force is included in the "work", which helps to remove debris from the air stream. In addition, due to a sharp increase in volume, the speed of movement of polluted air in the container drops, which also leads to the settling of large particles of debris at the bottom of the container. As the container fills up, it is simply emptied, cleaned - and it is ready for use again.

The disadvantages of such a scheme are many. The work is always accompanied by a rather high noise - large fragments hit the walls and bottom of the container. Dust in such bins practically does not linger, and therefore an additional filter must be installed at the outlet, which, of course, will quickly become clogged and require cleaning.

Such vacuum cleaners show high efficiency when cleaning large waste. For example, it is better not to come up with anything for the timely collection of chips and sawdust when processing wood. This scheme copes well with moistened garbage; it can be used to collect water and liquid mud.

Many models in which the cyclone type of garbage separation is implemented, quite allow you to work in the mode using dust bags. That is, the vacuum cleaner turns out to be very versatile.

By the way, for home workshops, you can purchase a separate “cyclone”, which becomes an intermediate link between a suction hose that removes waste from the working area and a construction vacuum cleaner. The main volume of large debris will be retained in the "cyclone" hopper, and already small fragments and dust will be finally eliminated by the filtration systems of the vacuum cleaner itself. Both convenient and productive, and there is not such a big load on, say, a vacuum cleaner bag and air filtration system. True, this implies, as a rule, a stationary installation of equipment.

An additional cyclone can be purchased ready-made. However, if you look at the forums of home craftsmen, you can see that it will not be possible to assemble a fully functional similar device on your own. Moreover, for this, improvised materials are often used, which are either available in every household, or their not difficult at all and not expensive to buy.

• Vacuum cleaners with aquafilter. This is a separate category. similar technology, in which the principle of waste separation is completely different. As an example, let's look at the illustration:

The air stream with the debris it has captured (pos. 1) enters through the hose into the bin. This compartment (pos. 2) is pre-filled with water up to a certain level. That is, polluted air is passed through water. In this watery environment, of course, all large wastes immediately “slow down”. And besides, water also binds most of the fine dust, which settles with dirt at the bottom of the container. The air then passes through a sponge filter-separator, which absorbs residual contaminants and mist. And the air stream already cleaned in this way is thrown out (pos. 4). Please note that in order to prevent moist air from contacting the power part of the vacuum cleaner, this model has separate paths for the flow necessary for air cooling of the electric drive (pos. 5).

The example shown is not the only option for aquafilters. So, in some models, the scheme is somewhat changed - the built-in pump constantly creates a “water wall” in the path of the polluted flow, and only then the air enters the water tank.

The aqua system of garbage separation and air purification can be considered the most effective - dust has practically "no chance". But vacuum cleaners operating on this principle also have their drawbacks.

Firstly, this is a very high price for such equipment, which stops many potential consumers.

Secondly, such vacuum cleaners are not designed for large volumes of garbage - you will have to clean the aquafilter tank quite often.

By the way, use as consumable ordinary water can sometimes be not only a virtue, but also a disadvantage. Since the cleaning of the container (which, by the way, also requires washing it from dirt) and the next refueling will have to be done quite often, an appropriate supply of water will also be required. It seems to be nonsense, but often during construction at individual facilities, this becomes a considerable problem. In addition, work in unheated rooms in winter is completely excluded.

How is the model evaluated when choosing a construction vacuum cleaner

Many of the evaluation criteria are probably already quite clear from the above. Nevertheless, it is worth "walking through" the main points that you need to pay attention to when choosing a construction vacuum cleaner.

Purpose of the chosen model

Probably, it is necessary to immediately bring some clarity to the definitions. We have already talked about the difference between a household and construction vacuum cleaner. But the fact is that construction vacuum cleaners, in turn, can be conditionally divided into models of household (amateur, if anyone elselike) class and professional (industrial). It is clear that the term "household construction vacuum cleaner" still does not mean its purely household "brother" intended for home cleaning - the difference between them is great, and it has already been discussed.

The difference between industrial and “amateur” construction vacuum cleaners is in the volume of garbage collectors, in the power of the electric drive, in the created air rarefaction and pumped volume per unit of time, in the ability to work for a long time without interruptions.

This means that when choosing a vacuum cleaner for construction work or for use in a home workshop, it is necessary to imagine in advance how intensively the equipment will be used, how much garbage it will have to deal with. There is probably no point in purchasing a professional-grade model if the work is supposed to be infrequent, and accompanied by an excessively large amount of pollution. It is quite possible to choose a vacuum cleaner with more moderate characteristics.

Immediately it is worth deciding what functionality the model should have.

• So, there are vacuum cleaners that can perform exclusively dry cleaning. They are among the most affordable, and do a good job with all the basic tasks. Including - with the cleaning of fine building dust. Perhaps the most demanded category of such equipment.

• More functional is a model that can collect not only dry garbage, but also wet dirt and even spilled water. True, such a vacuum cleaner can cost a little more.

The “functionality” of some vacuum cleaners with the possibility of wet cleaning also includes the cleaning of liquid dirt, for example, when cleaning sewer pipes, storm water inlets, storm sewer gutters, etc.

• . Their difference from those discussed above is that the design includes a container for a cleaning solution, a compressor for supplying it through hoses and working nozzles with sprayers for distribution over the floor surface. That is, when cleaning, the operator simultaneously processes the area to be tidied up with a water washing solution, and then removes all impurities to dryness together with water.

This technique is usually used in cleaning companies, is used for high-quality cleaning of large areas in office centers, train stations, large stores, hotels and etc.. However, there are also quite compact models that are suitable for home use The main thing is that the acquisition costs are still justified - that the additional functionality is used for its intended purpose.

There are also more narrow-profile vacuum cleaners designed for work in special conditions. This is, for example, the collection of fire - and explosive dust or liquids, hot waste, etc. It is clear that it is unlikely at home conditions of this expensive specialized equipment there is an appropriate application.

Features of the removed garbage

This is very important aspect , which must be taken into account when choosing a construction vacuum cleaner. But the fact is that the collected dust can vary greatly in its composition. And if some types of dust-forming materials are unpleasant in themselves, then others can turn into a flammable or even explosive mixture in a redistributed concentration. In addition, the nature of the work may involve the presence of mold or fungus spores, pathogens, toxic substances and other invisible hazards to human health in the dust.

On this basis, all vacuum cleaners are divided into four classes:

Class designation	Brief description of the class
	L-class. Vacuum cleaners intended for cleaning ordinary dust, which does not pose a particular danger (except for allergic irritations in people with a tendency to it). Under this concept, most construction waste is suitable for repairs or decoration. The equipment is equipped with the simplest filters that provide filtration of up to 99% of contaminants. Most affordable.
	M-class. Models designed for cleaning dust with a medium degree of danger. This can include wood dust, waste generated during the processing of certain types of metals, including copper and its alloys, manganese, nickel. More advanced exhaust air filtration system - the degree of purification reaches 99.9%.
	H-class. Vacuum cleaners designed to collect dust that is a serious hazard to human health and must not be allowed to spread in the room atmosphere. Such contaminants include waste affected by microorganisms, mold, fungus, asbestos, lead dust, aggressive chemical compounds, etc. Equipment of this class is equipped with multi-level air filtration systems, the degree of purification of which is brought to almost one (99.995%). In addition, such vacuum cleaners necessarily provide for a “clean” disposal of the collected waste, in which even small losses of dust are excluded. And the devices themselves are equipped with sensors for measuring the speed of the air flow.
	ATEX- a special class of cleaning equipment designed to work with explosive or flammable substances. Such substances include coal, sugar, flour dust, aluminum powder and others. In such vacuum cleaners, brushless electric motors are used, and the security class is at least IP54. IN living conditions this technique is not used.

Maybe, the best choice, so to speak, the “golden mean” will be a class M vacuum cleaner, which will allow you to efficiently clean almost any construction debris and technological waste that is possible in a home workshop.

The power of the vacuum cleaner, its performance and the vacuum created

All these quantities are very closely interconnected, and may well serve as a guideline when choosing the optimal model.

• Power can range from 1.0÷1.5 kW for construction vacuum cleaners of a household class and up to 6.0÷7.0 kW for industrial models. It is clear that other performance characteristics, as well as the inherent resource of the electric drive and its ability for long-term non-stop operation, largely depend on the power value.

It is clear that in order to ensure the operation of the vacuum cleaner, there must be a power line corresponding to its power consumption. And if it will work "in tandem" with any processing tool, then their combined power should be taken into account.

• Performance shows how much air the vacuum cleaner is able to pump per unit of time. A common indicator for models designed for home use, it is considered 50 liters per second - this completely allows you to cope with almost any construction work. For professional equipment, the productivity can reach up to 70 ÷ 100 l / s.
• The created rarefaction of air in the area of ​​​​the suction pipe shows what kind of garbage the vacuum cleaner can handle, whether it can draw in heavy fragments. This value varies from 150 to 250 mbar. It is clear that the higher this indicator, the more heavy debris can be removed using the selected model. It is considered quite sufficient for everyday use an indicator of 170 ÷ 200 mbar.

Many models have the ability to adjust the drive power, that is, both performance and vacuum level change simultaneously with it. This is very convenient - sometimes a certain “delicacy” is required when cleaning, and you can set the parameters for the most comfortable work.

Design features

Here it is worth evaluating the volume of the garbage collection chamber, the body material, the diameter and length of the hoses, and the dimensions of the vacuum cleaner.

• We have already talked about the types of garbage collectors. But another important parameter will always be their volume. This indicator determines how often you have to stop working in order to free the compartment from accumulated debris and prepare it for further use. And you have to choose again with an eye to the expected operating conditions of the device.

If you plan to use a vacuum cleaner for cleaning not too large volumes of construction waste, then a capacity of 20 ÷ 30 liters may be enough. On a larger scale or for constant waste collection when working in a home workshop, you can purchase a model with a tank of about 50 liters - this will allow you not to be distracted very often by emptying the bin. And professional vacuum cleaners, designed for long-term non-stop operation, can have volumes of garbage containers up to 100 liters.

Chasing large volumes, if there is no particular need for this, is hardly reasonable. Too bulky vacuum cleaner will become much more inconvenient to use, will cost more - and all this without any "preferences" for the owner. It will be easier to perform periodic cleaning of a less capacious model.

• The housing of a construction vacuum cleaner can be made of metal or plastic. There is no particular difference if this is a high-quality model, since modern reinforced polymers are in no way inferior in strength. Maybe, metal surfaces it's just easier to clean from adhering dirt (drops of building or finishing mortar).

For greater safety of the body, a safety bumper is often provided, launched along the lower part - in this case, the surface simply cannot physically hit, for example, a wall or partition.

• You should evaluate the quality, reliability and ease of use of the locks, through which the individual blocks of the body are connected into a common structure.
• Since construction vacuum cleaners are rather large and heavy units, and they still have to contain a considerable amount of garbage, you should also think about the convenience of moving within the work site or room. This means that attention is drawn to the presence and reliability of the wheeled trolley, to the location of the handles for rolling the device (it is strictly forbidden to pull it by the hose, and even more so by the power cord).

• It would be useful to ask about the length of the suction hose and power cord - they should be sufficient for the expected working conditions.

Additional equipment of the construction vacuum cleaner

In order for the operation of the construction vacuum cleaner to be as comfortable as possible, and for the collection of garbage or waste to be carried out most efficiently, it makes sense to get acquainted, which includes attention to a number of points.

• Model completeness. Please see what is included with specific model. It is desirable that there is a set of interchangeable nozzles for various cleaning operations, as well as an adapter for connecting a hose to a power tool. Attention is drawn to which bags are included in the kit, how many of them, and whether it makes sense to immediately buy spare ones. Not bad when the supplier adds a spare air filter to the kit.

• The function of switching the vacuum cleaner hose to blowing is useful. Some types of cleaning are best done in this way, for example, sweeping paths from fallen leaves or clearing sewer blockages. That is, the vacuum cleaner turns into a compressor for a while.

• Additional conveniences for both operation and storage will be provided by the presence of a network cable folding mechanism, a special built-in box for storing working attachments.
• If the vacuum cleaner is designed to work with liquids, then it will be much more comfortable to use it if it has a drain pipe in the lower part of the body, closed with a removable plug.

• If you plan to use a construction vacuum cleaner paired with another power tool, then the model equipped with a power outlet on the body will be the best choice. It is clear that the power of the tool connected to it should not exceed the established value, which, as a rule, is indicated in a warning label near the outlet.

Such an outlet allows you to synchronize the operation of the resulting "tandem". That is, when the processing tool is turned on, the vacuum cleaner starts at the same time. At the end of the operation, suction also stops. True, a certain delay is provided for turning off the vacuum cleaner (about 10 - 15 seconds), for complete removal of waste from the work area.

• The operation of a construction vacuum cleaner will be greatly simplified if the model is equipped with an indication system. This will allow the owner to receive timely visual signals about the critical filling of the bin or clogging of the air filters. That is, it is less likely, having laid down work, to miss the moment when cleaning is required, and thereby overheat the device.

The air filter self-cleaning system has already been mentioned. Of course, this is very convenient, and the only question is whether the potential owner of the vacuum cleaner is ready to pay extra money for this option.

• Finally, since the discussion in the previous subparagraph was about ensuring security, it is worth asking if the cut model has the necessary levels of protection. As a rule, all modern vacuum cleaners are equipped with a thermal relay that is triggered in case of unexpected overheating.

Now, after considering the main selection criteria, it probably makes sense to briefly familiarize yourself with the popular models of construction vacuum cleaners.

Brief overview of models of construction vacuum cleaners

Probably everyone already knows this, but still it can be repeated. Acquire household appliances it is necessary only in trusted trade organizations where you can get competent advice, get acquainted with the documents confirming the originality of the product, where the buyer will make a mark in the technical passport, which will be the basis for warranty service.

And preference, of course, should be given to well-known, proven brands when choosing. Unfamiliar, although often very "flowery" names should at least cause wariness and encourage the future owner to still get more information about the manufacturer. Luckily, there are no problems with this now. But if the information is vague, the official website is either completely absent, or “sloppy” and is clearly unprofessional, or the forums are full of negative reviews about this brand, it would be wiser to refuse such an acquisition, no matter how attractive the cost of the vacuum cleaner may seem.

Find out which detergent is from our new article on our portal.

Kärcher, Bosch, Makita, DeWalt, Metabo, Sparky, Bort can be safely attributed to the "authoritative" brands that have earned the trust and even appreciation of consumers. Trying to reach the world level of quality and domestic manufacturers - "Soyuz", "Interskol" and other companies.

The table below provides a summary of a few top-selling models in 2017.

We hope that the information received will make it easier for the reader to choose the optimal model of a construction vacuum cleaner.

Prices for construction vacuum cleaners Karcher

construction vacuum cleaner Karcher

And in conclusion - a short video with a demonstration onefromcompany vacuum cleaner models Karcher :

Video: An excellent assistant in construction, repair and in the home workshop - the Karcher 3.5 vacuum cleaner