Carl Eyman
06-08-2007, 9:58 AM
I need help deciding if the following idea will work before spending the money to try it,
In front of my condo are four magnolia trees. They are pretty, give good shade, but are messy. They drop leaves all year long and these are hard to pick up. Not so bad when they land on concrete. The yard people blow them into a pile and pick them up, but on the areas with ground cover, they are tough to harvest. The grounds maintenance people will not pick them up there without an extra charge. So, My Solution:
I propose to get one of the plastic covers for a 30 gal. trash can that converts the can to a cyclone. Then with a shop vac pull a suction on the can, suck the leaves into the can lined with a plastic bag, and set the bag out for trash pick-up.
I've tried this without the cylone directly into the vac with a 2 1/2" hose. One would need a 4" hose. While the vac has enough air movement to pick up the leaves, the 2 1/2" hose is too small and clogs up. A 4" hose would probably do it. My QUESTION IS:
Would a shop vac move enough air to allow the use of a 4" hose? My reasoning is that the velocity of the air movement is an important factor in moving materials pneumatically. The velocity will be down in a 4" hose compared to a 2 1/2". Will enough remain? I hate to buy the hardware and find it won't work.
Ok, you wise woorworkers, share your knowledge.
In front of my condo are four magnolia trees. They are pretty, give good shade, but are messy. They drop leaves all year long and these are hard to pick up. Not so bad when they land on concrete. The yard people blow them into a pile and pick them up, but on the areas with ground cover, they are tough to harvest. The grounds maintenance people will not pick them up there without an extra charge. So, My Solution:
I propose to get one of the plastic covers for a 30 gal. trash can that converts the can to a cyclone. Then with a shop vac pull a suction on the can, suck the leaves into the can lined with a plastic bag, and set the bag out for trash pick-up.
I've tried this without the cylone directly into the vac with a 2 1/2" hose. One would need a 4" hose. While the vac has enough air movement to pick up the leaves, the 2 1/2" hose is too small and clogs up. A 4" hose would probably do it. My QUESTION IS:
Would a shop vac move enough air to allow the use of a 4" hose? My reasoning is that the velocity of the air movement is an important factor in moving materials pneumatically. The velocity will be down in a 4" hose compared to a 2 1/2". Will enough remain? I hate to buy the hardware and find it won't work.
Ok, you wise woorworkers, share your knowledge.