Dust Cyclone Separator (Shop Vac / Dust Collector) From a CD Spindle Cake Box and Toy Cone. Build Your Own Bucket Shopvac With Built in Cyclonic Separation!
Introduction: Dust Cyclone Separator (Shop Vac / Dust Collector) From a CD Spindle Cake Box and Toy Cone. Build Your Own Bucket Shopvac With Built in Cyclonic Separation!
You can build a fairly efficient cyclonic dust separator from just a couple CD cases, a toy traffic cone, and some PVC pipe. This dust separator can be attached to a bucket and used with an existing shop-vac.
You can also use this CD case dust separator to build a whole shop-vac entirely from scratch that performs just as well, is compact as, and is cheaper than an off the shelf shop-vac. All you need is a couple CD spindle cases, a toy traffic cone, a bucket, some PVC pipe, and a vacuum cleaner motor.
A friend challenged me to build something out of a CD spindle case and the first thing that came to mind was a cyclonic vacuum cleaner. Strange but true. A few months later, this product emerged.
You can see some video of early prototypes that I made.
To complete the CD case cyclonic separator module you'll need:
1x 50disc CD spindle case 1x 100disc CD spindle case
1x plastic traffic cone (found it at a department store sports/toy section)
3ft of 1 1/4" thin walled PVC pipe
1x 1 1/4" PVC straight union
1x plastic bucket with lid (doesn't necessarily have to be round)
To complete a DIY shop-vac with incorporated CD case cyclonic separator module you'll need in addition:
1x vacuum cleaner motor (can source from any spare vacuum cleaner)
2x 1 1/4" PVC 90 deg elbow 1x 100disc CD spindle case with lid
4x 3" x 13" boards
4x caster wheels
1x toggle switch
1x power cable
Step 1: Source Materials
To complete the CD case cyclonic separator module you'll need:
1x 50disc CD spindle case
1x 100disc CD spindle case
1x plastic traffic cone (found it at a department store sports/toy section)
3ft of 1 1/4" thin walled PVC pipe
1x 1 1/4" PVC straight union
1x plastic bucket with lid (doesn't necessarily have to be round)
To complete a DIY shop-vac with incorporated CD case cyclonic separator module you'll need in addition:
1x vacuum cleaner motor (can source from any spare vacuum cleaner)
2x 1 1/4" PVC 90 deg elbow
1x 100disc CD spindle case with lid
4x 3" x 13" boards
4x caster wheels
1x toggle switch
1x power cable
Step 2: Build Cyclone Subassembly
- Start with a 50 CD case spindle. Cut out the base of the spindle (the black portion) such that the PVC pipe can fit through it.
- With an extra CD cut a hole in it the same size as the PVC pipe and make a cut to the center of the hole.
- Wrap the CD around the pipe and hot glue it in place to act as a spiral ramp.
- Cut an oval hole out the side wall (the clear cylinder) of the CD case so the inlet pipe can be inserted into the case
- Cut off the base of the traffic cone such that it can fit on top of the CD case
Cut the top off the CD spindle case
Step 3: Assemble and Glue Up the Cyclone Subassembly
- Insert PVC pipe into center of CD case and glue in place
- Insert PVC pipe into side of CD case and glue in place
- Insert the cut CD around the center PVC pipe to act as the spiral ramp and glue in place
- Attach traffic cone to CD case and glue in place
- cut hole in bottom of traffic cone that is same size as PVC pipe diameter
- Cut top off of 100 CD case and cut hole in bottom of the spindle
- Glue the 100 CD case to the cyclone assembly to reinforce the cyclone structure
Step 4: Assemble the Vacuum Module and Mount All Assemblies to Bucket Lid
- Fit vacuum motor along with AC switch and wire into a 100 CD case.
- Cut a hole in top and bottom of CD case to insert PVC Pipe to top and bottom and glue these in place.
- Cut holes in bucket to mount Cyclone sub assembly and Vacuum Module
- Connect with PVC pipe, the suction side of the vacuum module to the top pipe of the cyclone assembly
- Route with PVC pipe, the exhaust side of the vacuum module to the outside of the bucket