SB

"Steve B"

01/04/2013 8:22 PM

Vacuum question

How much does the length of a vacuum hose affect its performance?

Steve


This topic has 17 replies

Pp

Puckdropper

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 1:33 PM

"Steve B" <[email protected]> wrote in news:[email protected]:

> How much does the length of a vacuum hose affect its performance?
>
> Steve
>

I haven't noticed much of a difference between a shorter shopvac hose
(about 4') and the much longer Fein hose (about 16'.) I like the longer
hose, as vacuums are generally useless at following you around.

Puckdropper
--
Make it to fit, don't make it fit.

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 10:18 AM


"Steve B" wrote:

> Thanks for the answers. I basically thought that there would be
> little loss. What I want to do is add a 25' hose to my Shop-Vac so
> I can go out in yards and vacuum up pecans without having to move
> the damn vacuum so much. I get them free, and they sell for up to $6
> per pound.
------------------------------------------------------
You won't get there from here.

A Shop-Vac just doesn't have the horses.

What you have to factor in is the line drop of the 25' hose as
well as the "plugging" caused by the pecans as the hose gets longer.

May work with a 6'-10' hose depending on diameter of hose.

You need a gasoline powered vacuum sweeper like a landscaper uses.


Lew


En

"EXT"

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 1:54 PM


"Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Steve B" wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the answers. I basically thought that there would be little
>> loss. What I want to do is add a 25' hose to my Shop-Vac so I can go out
>> in yards and vacuum up pecans without having to move the damn vacuum so
>> much. I get them free, and they sell for up to $6 per pound.
> ------------------------------------------------------
> You won't get there from here.
>
> A Shop-Vac just doesn't have the horses.
>
> What you have to factor in is the line drop of the 25' hose as
> well as the "plugging" caused by the pecans as the hose gets longer.

Not to mention dirt, grass, leaves, pebbles and who-knows-what!

UC

Unquestionably Confused

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

03/04/2013 6:37 AM

On 4/2/2013 1:28 PM, Steve B wrote:

> It DOES work, as I went yesterday and tried it. The major factor
> seemed to be that the filter clogged quite a bit after filling one 22
> gallon vacuum completely. Probably fixed by having an extra filter
> or two to change out frequently. As for restrictions, it worked
> well, and only lessened when some got clogged in the hose. Which was
> right at the intake, or at the entrance to the vacuum. And then that
> was fixed immediately by manipulation.

Maybe it's time to consider (depending upon how serious you are about
this project and how much work you're facing) to consider one of those
"Dust Deputies", etc that provide a collection container prior to the
filter/vacuum itself. I've seen the covers for trash cans (with 4"
ports") but you could probably rig something up to fit the 2" hoses or
whatever you have. Theory behind these is the heavy stuff (pecans and
all but the lightest material) drop into the garbage can and only fine
dust passes through to the filter.


LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

03/04/2013 2:59 PM

> Thanks for the answers. I basically thought that there would be
> little loss. What I want to do is add a 25' hose to my Shop-Vac so
> I can go out in yards and vacuum up pecans without having to move
> the damn vacuum so much. I get them free, and they sell for up to $6
> per pound.
------------------------------------------------------

"Lew Hodgett" wrote:

> You won't get there from here.
>
> A Shop-Vac just doesn't have the horses.
>
> What you have to factor in is the line drop of the 25' hose as
> well as the "plugging" caused by the pecans as the hose gets longer.
>
> May work with a 6'-10' hose depending on diameter of hose.
>
> You need a gasoline powered vacuum sweeper like a landscaper uses.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Steve B" wrote:

> Dang. I went out yesterday, and filled a Shop-Vac 22 gal. 6.5 horse
> vacuum to pick up 22 gallons worth. No clogging at all. I did put
> in a deflector plate inside the vacuum so that they did not collide
> with the filter, and so that any that had husks on them had the
> husks jarred loose. It took an hour to fill one 22 gallon
> container. I still have not separated the trash, so am not sure how
> much I netted in pecans.
>
> Now I'm disappointed hearing it won't work ................
------------------------------------------------------
I guess you can define picking up 22 galons of "stuff" in an hour
"working".

Seems a tad slow to me.

A rake and a shovel would probably take less time.

Lew


wn

woodchucker

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 6:26 PM

On 4/1/2013 11:22 PM, Steve B wrote:
> How much does the length of a vacuum hose affect its performance?
>
> Steve
>
>
Not as bad as you would think.
My whole shop has 2" pvc for vacuming up the sawdust. It is not a dust
collector certainly.

I have 4 lines off the trunk. And only one of them suffers really bad,
the longest of the bunch. It is traveling a little more than 50 feet.
It's diminished, but still useful.

I also have 25 feet of 2 1/2 inch hose that I got from Woodcraft, and
you don't notice any loss with that hose.
That is a flex hose. Certainly not the same type of flex hose that comes
with the units. This is smoother.



--
Jeff

GR

"G. Ross"

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 2:56 PM

Steve B wrote:
> Thanks for the answers. I basically thought that there would be little
> loss. What I want to do is add a 25' hose to my Shop-Vac so I can go out in
> yards and vacuum up pecans without having to move the damn vacuum so much.
> I get them free, and they sell for up to $6 per pound.
>
> Steve
>
>

This is pecan country. We use a roller picker-upper. It may get a
rock or short piece of wood but generally clean pecans. When you get
them you don't have to pick out trash.
I also have a power pecan cracker. Around here the pecans have been
on the ground all fall and winter and are getting a little rancid.

--
 GW Ross 

 I xeroxed my watch. Now I have time 
 to spare. 





SB

"Steve B"

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 9:05 AM

Thanks for the answers. I basically thought that there would be little
loss. What I want to do is add a 25' hose to my Shop-Vac so I can go out in
yards and vacuum up pecans without having to move the damn vacuum so much.
I get them free, and they sell for up to $6 per pound.

Steve

Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 11:14 AM

On 4/2/13 11:05 AM, Steve B wrote:
> Thanks for the answers. I basically thought that there would be little
> loss. What I want to do is add a 25' hose to my Shop-Vac so I can go out in
> yards and vacuum up pecans without having to move the damn vacuum so much.
> I get them free, and they sell for up to $6 per pound.
>
> Steve
>
>

Hmm... I wonder what acorns run.
Maybe I need to start charging the deer.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

KN

Keith Nuttle

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 2:05 PM

On 4/2/2013 12:05 PM, Steve B wrote:
> Thanks for the answers. I basically thought that there would be little
> loss. What I want to do is add a 25' hose to my Shop-Vac so I can go out in
> yards and vacuum up pecans without having to move the damn vacuum so much.
> I get them free, and they sell for up to $6 per pound.
>
> Steve
>
>
I am not an expert but I believe this is a fluid dynamics problem.
Theoretically the only loss on the longer hose will be the loss due to
friction between the air and the hose. Practically there will be loss
due to leaks, and such.

However the ability to move pecans through the hose will be dependent on
the the volume of air that the vacuum is able to move. Between the
volume of air and the weight of each pecan, I don't believe you idea
will work.

But if it did it would sure beat stooping over to pick them up.

SB

"Steve B"

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 11:25 AM


"Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Steve B" wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the answers. I basically thought that there would be little
>> loss. What I want to do is add a 25' hose to my Shop-Vac so I can go out
>> in yards and vacuum up pecans without having to move the damn vacuum so
>> much. I get them free, and they sell for up to $6 per pound.
> ------------------------------------------------------
> You won't get there from here.
>
> A Shop-Vac just doesn't have the horses.
>
> What you have to factor in is the line drop of the 25' hose as
> well as the "plugging" caused by the pecans as the hose gets longer.
>
> May work with a 6'-10' hose depending on diameter of hose.
>
> You need a gasoline powered vacuum sweeper like a landscaper uses.
>
>
> Lew

Dang. I went out yesterday, and filled a Shop-Vac 22 gal. 6.5 horse vacuum
to pick up 22 gallons worth. No clogging at all. I did put in a deflector
plate inside the vacuum so that they did not collide with the filter, and so
that any that had husks on them had the husks jarred loose. It took an hour
to fill one 22 gallon container. I still have not separated the trash, so
am not sure how much I netted in pecans.

Now I'm disappointed hearing it won't work ................

Steve

SB

"Steve B"

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 11:28 AM


"Keith Nuttle" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On 4/2/2013 12:05 PM, Steve B wrote:
>> Thanks for the answers. I basically thought that there would be little
>> loss. What I want to do is add a 25' hose to my Shop-Vac so I can go out
>> in
>> yards and vacuum up pecans without having to move the damn vacuum so
>> much.
>> I get them free, and they sell for up to $6 per pound.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>>
> I am not an expert but I believe this is a fluid dynamics problem.
> Theoretically the only loss on the longer hose will be the loss due to
> friction between the air and the hose. Practically there will be loss
> due to leaks, and such.
>
> However the ability to move pecans through the hose will be dependent on
> the the volume of air that the vacuum is able to move. Between the volume
> of air and the weight of each pecan, I don't believe you idea will work.
>
> But if it did it would sure beat stooping over to pick them up.

It DOES work, as I went yesterday and tried it. The major factor seemed to
be that the filter clogged quite a bit after filling one 22 gallon vacuum
completely. Probably fixed by having an extra filter or two to change out
frequently. As for restrictions, it worked well, and only lessened when
some got clogged in the hose. Which was right at the intake, or at the
entrance to the vacuum. And then that was fixed immediately by
manipulation.

Steve

SB

"Steve B"

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 7:41 PM


"G. Ross" <[email protected]> wrote

> This is pecan country. We use a roller picker-upper. It may get a rock
> or short piece of wood but generally clean pecans. When you get them you
> don't have to pick out trash.
> I also have a power pecan cracker. Around here the pecans have been on
> the ground all fall and winter and are getting a little rancid.

Here, there are still a LOT on the trees.

I've seen the rollers, and for their efficiency, simplicity, and
reliability, they are a thought. What kind of power cracker do you have?
All I have seen are spendy.

Steve

EP

Ed Pawlowski

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 5:58 AM

On Mon, 1 Apr 2013 20:22:49 -0700, "Steve B" <[email protected]> wrote:

>How much does the length of a vacuum hose affect its performance?
>
>Steve
>

In theory, it should only affect the time it takes to draw down the
vacuum as it has more volume. If, however, the hose is porous or has
a leak, it would affect the vacuum.

OTOH, my wife says a longer hose would be better.

c

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 12:57 PM

On Tue, 02 Apr 2013 11:14:29 -0500, -MIKE- <[email protected]>
wrote:

>On 4/2/13 11:05 AM, Steve B wrote:
>> Thanks for the answers. I basically thought that there would be little
>> loss. What I want to do is add a 25' hose to my Shop-Vac so I can go out in
>> yards and vacuum up pecans without having to move the damn vacuum so much.
>> I get them free, and they sell for up to $6 per pound.
>>
>> Steve
>>
>>
>
>Hmm... I wonder what acorns run.
>Maybe I need to start charging the deer.
The only problem MIGHT be the restriction to the PECANS, not the
air.

Sk

Swingman

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 6:31 PM

On 4/2/2013 5:26 PM, woodchucker wrote:
> On 4/1/2013 11:22 PM, Steve B wrote:
>> How much does the length of a vacuum hose affect its performance?
>>
>> Steve
>>
>>
> Not as bad as you would think.

You're experience is correct, IME. :)

I can tell you from taking bids on "whole house vacuum systems" that,
for all _practical_ purposes, the overall _length_ of the system vacuum
hose/pipe is pretty well discounted as a huge factor in efficiency.

--
eWoodShop: www.eWoodShop.com
Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://plus.google.com/114902129577517371552/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)

sr

"steve robinson"

in reply to "Steve B" on 01/04/2013 8:22 PM

02/04/2013 10:03 AM

Ed Pawlowski wrote:

> On Mon, 1 Apr 2013 20:22:49 -0700, "Steve B" <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > How much does the length of a vacuum hose affect its performance?
> >
> > Steve
> >
>
> In theory, it should only affect the time it takes to draw down the
> vacuum as it has more volume. If, however, the hose is porous or has
> a leak, it would affect the vacuum.
>
> OTOH, my wife says a longer hose would be better.

not very much unless its several hundred meters long then you start to
get losses through friction, weiught of the air to be moved and heat
build up


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