J. Phil Thien's Projects

Excellent all.

Many thanks for everyone's responses.

Nice idea.

Meanwhile I have dropped my panel-beaten tin with a sheet metal fabricators who are going to make a 1.5mm thick walled "tin can" to drop inside. This will aid as a collector and as something a bit stronger for the forces to play with. In fact, it'll possibly make the internal walls a bit rounder than it was before.

I'll look into the valve once I have it back from them.

And whilst the original post awaits moderation on a US clock, back in the UK I can keep playing :D

It seems one of the problems with a previously "collapsed box" is the box's ability to continue collapsing with much less pressure each time. I definitely need to try and rig up some kind of skeleton to keep this thing from needing to be replaced every few days.

I was considering a ring of MDF siliconed into place about half way between the bottom of the baffle and the bottom of the can. So I guess I'm just looking for opinions and experiences.

So, I successfully followed the plans and made myself a fantastic separator which works beautifully. Found myself using my Festool vac in situations I wouldn't have dreamed of before. Especially now I know most of the junk wouldn't make it as far as the bag. Fantastic.

Then I got a blockage whilst I had the vac turned to the max, which took my 1mm thick steel drum (only about 350mm across) and made it look like something rescued from the bottom of the Marianas Trench. With my minimal panel beating skills I have made it kind of circular again, but wondered if anyone has managed to strengthen the inside with the use of a hoop of MDF (as an example) below the drop zone in the baffle? Although not so close as to stop the drop zone working efficiently of course.

The drums are available to buy for about £5 (GBP), which means the hard part (ie. the top) is done already and is interchangeable easily enough, so it's not the end of the world, and was clearly my own fault. I must be more careful in future  :-\