Building a Gas Powered Vacuum

This faq describes the construction of a small gas engine powered vacuum cleaner for moss mining, bed rock cleaning or crevicing -- it is probably the best (if not only) method for thoroughly cleaning out a dry crack or crevice. Commerically made units are available using the Echo and the Mac blowers for roughly twice the price!!!

This description utilizes a Homelite HB-290 leaf blower (a model HB180 can also be used) and a five gallon bucket. Echo and McCulloch blowers can also be used but construction using these two brands is a bit more complex. The Homelite has about the same efficiency as the Mac and the Echo. I estimate that the Echo is the highest quality motor of the three and the Mac the lowest -- Echo is the most expenscive, and the Mac the cheapest. The Homelite has a clearly marked idle speed adjustment screw, a good high speed lock (which is also the shutoff button), and the largest fuel tank of the three. Homelites use a 40:1 gas oil mixture rather than a 32:1 mix.

This project shouldn't take more than a couple hours once all the parts are in hand.

PARTS LIST

Qty  Description Estimated Price

1      Homelite HB-290 leaf blower $llO-$120

1      2 1/2" ShopVac brand 6 foot vacuum hose $15-$20

1      2 1/2" crevice nozzle attachment for hose

6     #8 X 3/4" pan head sheet metal sheet metal screws (to attach blower)

1      5 gallon plastic bucket

1      lid for bucket $1-$2

1     ShopVac hose adapter for bucket

3     #8 X 5/8" sheet metal screws (to attach hose adapter)

OPTIONAL PARTS AND ACCESSORIES

1      pair ear protectors

1      plastic 1 gal gas can

1      2 1/2 to 1 1/4" vacuum hose adapter

1      1/4 crevice nozzle attachment (for smaller crevices & holes)

1      two prong garden weeder (crevic~nq tool)

1      ice pick (crevicing tool)

1     1 foot crow bar (for splitting open fractured rock)

1     wire bristled paint removal brush (for loosening dirt on rocks)

1     sharp pointed treasure hunter type small trowel (Gator Digger)

1     backpacking frame and 3 bungee cords (the unit can be carried easily on your back)

Shovel with rounded tip (not a digging tip) with full handle and medium size blade   (good for scraping large patches of moss off of rocks and as a walking stick)

One liter aluminum fuel bottle (beats carrying a one gal can to mining site if you anticipate being on site for six hours or less -- you won't be running the vac continuously)

Virtually all of the above except the gas can will fit into the 5 gal bucket when transporting the unit to a mining site. The balance can be carried in a second bucket along with food and water.

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