Computer Blower Fan/Vacuum?

[munzieb]

My wife said to clean up the attic and I had an old computer I pulled the HD and also the 2 blower fans (12vdc). Has anyone ever tired to make a vacuum from one of these fans? I have a 12vdc power supply and they both work. Smaller fan diameter mount is 3.25". I can manufacture a mount and cobble together assorted hoses but what's the  point in reinventing the wheel if someone has already done one.

[jerry1939]

Hi Friend.  My first thought is that you build housing around the fan, build a nozzle & attach something for a dust bag.

We have a nice Goodwill store nearby, are you able to go to someplace like that and buy a regular vac?  If you are cramped for space, see if you can locate a hand held Dust Buster.

Goodwill allows you to try before you buy.  When finished, you could donate the vac back to most any organization.

[Sycamore67]

I do not think the fans are powerful enough plus the can easily get dirt in bearings.  They might be good for blowing dust away but barely.

[JustLarry]

There was a post on one of the sites where this had been done.  Been awhile back. Believe it was something like a mini home made cylcone dust extractor.

 

Larry

[JustLarry]

Links to vaccumn with cpu fan:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VddCFE_z78

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Homemade-Vacuum-Cleaner-Using-Computer-Cooling/

 

Larry

[munzieb]

OK! I dove in with both feet. I had a bunch of clear plastic containers and a piece of old shop (small) vac hose. A little hot glue, some wire splices and switch a computer fan motor. I hooked it up to the foot switch. I'll probably put the container under my bench.  Here it is. Not very strong but it does remove light surface dust and it is very quiet. I may need a smaller container and narrower hose nozzle but it's a first attempt. Heck, it took Edison a hundred try's for tungsten to light the way.

[Sycamore67]

A little reality check is needed.......

  A shop vacuum generally has 75-120 cfm at up to 100" static pressure.  That is a lot of suction and low flow.

A good dust collector can give over 1000 cfm with up to 12" of static pressure.  That is lots of flow at lower suction. 

There are lots of very high end computer fans and there are performance curves for them. But you probably have a fan that gives 35 cfm or maybe a little better.  The real issue is the static pressure is maybe 2 mm or less than 0.1".  It has almost no suction.

The fan might be good for cooling you off but I think you might look elsewhere for a vacuum.

[munzieb]

You are probably right. If I make a venture like a carburetor, Would it increase the suction?

[Sycamore67]

Probably not at all..that fan blade  is just not designed for suction and has very low power.  Sorry...

[OCtoolguy]

18 hours ago, munzieb said:

You are probably right. If I make a venture like a carburetor, Would it increase the suction?

This is "fan"tastic? The most important thing here is, you are thinking. Anytime you can use the old noggin, well, that's great. As to the venturi, yes, it will speed up the flow of air thus pressurizing it. Keep going, you're gonna get something great before long.

Ray

 

[JustLarry]

Couple more links that might give you some ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnCyBPvp0Sc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icdf1wURsf8

Larry

[Rockytime]

41 minutes ago, JustLarry said:

Couple more links that might give you some ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnCyBPvp0Sc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icdf1wURsf8

Larry

Those were amazing videos!

[munzieb]

Thanks for the great links, ideas and encouragement. This is just a "between Scrolling" project and a work in progress. I'll keep tinkering.

[OCtoolguy]

6 hours ago, JustLarry said:

Couple more links that might give you some ideas.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnCyBPvp0Sc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icdf1wURsf8

Larry

I watched the video that was in English. Great video except if you follow the link to Amazon to buy that vacuum motor, it's only $130 CDN. I'm not sure how much that would be in U.S. dollars but I get the feeling that it would still be too much. You can go to Home Depot and buy the bucket buddy vacuum that fits any 5 gallon bucket for $20. 

Ray

 

[JustLarry]

13 hours ago, octoolguy said:

I watched the video that was in English. Great video except if you follow the link to Amazon to buy that vacuum motor, it's only $130 CDN. I'm not sure how much that would be in U.S. dollars but I get the feeling that it would still be too much. You can go to Home Depot and buy the bucket buddy vacuum that fits any 5 gallon bucket for $20. 

Ray

 

Redesign for computer fan to be used.

 

Larry

 

Edited November 7, 2017 by JustLarry

[Kragax]

Usually a venturi for creating vacuum requires air pressure so now you need an air compressor

[Jim Finn]

I have killed three shop vacs trying to vacuum away sawdust from my scrollsaw.  I finally gave up, and now have an eight dollar hair dryer blowing the dust away.  Works like a charm. 

[munzieb]

Sorry guys, I have moved on to other projects. My detached garage project died (HOA AC Killed it) so I am now cleaning and fine tuning my workshop garage. I have thrown out all those (most) extra and weird pieces of wood from under my bench just to make more room. I've sorting all the extra nuts and bolts and screws that have been laying around. You know how it goes, you only need 2 but the package has 5. I bought a new p-touch machine and starting labeling all the trays for my parts bin. I  bought 4 of the 30 bin cabinets from HF and taped them back to back and mounted them on a lazy Susan in one of my white Stor-It-All melamine storage cabinets (Lowes). I've become the master of melamine. I just finished 2 under window cabinets (waiting for euro hinges) and finishing up a cordless drill storage rack. I'm getting pretty good at ironing on the melamine tape edges. After years, I finally fixed that leaking compressor with a new regulator. At some point I will build a new router cabinet. That old Sears table rubs off aluminum and not very accurate.

I'll probably get back to scrolling in the next week or two. I have a fretwork box I've been working on for a while I need to finish.

Spring cleaning has come early.....

[amazingkevin]

7 hours ago, munzieb said:

Sorry guys, I have moved on to other projects. My detached garage project died (HOA AC Killed it) so I am now cleaning and fine tuning my workshop garage. I have thrown out all those (most) extra and weird pieces of wood from under my bench just to make more room. I've sorting all the extra nuts and bolts and screws that have been laying around. You know how it goes, you only need 2 but the package has 5. I bought a new p-touch machine and starting labeling all the trays for my parts bin. I  bought 4 of the 30 bin cabinets from HF and taped them back to back and mounted them on a lazy Susan in one of my white Stor-It-All melamine storage cabinets (Lowes). I've become the master of melamine. I just finished 2 under window cabinets (waiting for euro hinges) and finishing up a cordless drill storage rack. I'm getting pretty good at ironing on the melamine tape edges. After years, I finally fixed that leaking compressor with a new regulator. At some point I will build a new router cabinet. That old Sears table rubs off aluminum and not very accurate.

I'll probably get back to scrolling in the next week or two. I have a fretwork box I've been working on for a while I need to finish.

Spring cleaning has come early.....

Nice shop! Too clean!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[nwoscroller220]

New to scrolling. What vac system

do most of you use? Not to good at diy so any ideas on buying a good but economical one would be appreciated. Thanks. 

[Jim Finn]

I have a grizzly 2 HP 240 volt dust collector but I have heard good reports on Harbor Freight dust collectors. (cheaper)  Remember the duct system will cost as much as the dust collector.

Edited February 8, 2018 by Jim Finn

[Scrappile]

The Harbor Freight DC is one of their jewels, but you have to add some to the price to get good filtration.  Their bags and not very good.  At least from all I read about dust collectors.  I have had my HF one for years, but I added another $150+ (something around there) to get a good canister filter, plastic bag collector and I made a whicha-ma-call-it baffel for mine.  

Edited February 9, 2018 by Scrappile

[kmmcrafts]

2 hours ago, Jim Finn said:

I have a grizzly 2 HP 240 volt dust collector but I have heard good reports on Harbor Freight dust collectors. (cheaper)  Remember the duct system will cost as much as the dust collector.

I have the Harbor Freight dust collector.. It works awesome.. however it's much louder than the Jet they have at my local woodshop store.. I sure wish I had gone with a higher end one like the Jet....

[OCtoolguy]

On 1/14/2018 at 1:51 PM, munzieb said:

Sorry guys, I have moved on to other projects. My detached garage project died (HOA AC Killed it) so I am now cleaning and fine tuning my workshop garage. I have thrown out all those (most) extra and weird pieces of wood from under my bench just to make more room. I've sorting all the extra nuts and bolts and screws that have been laying around. You know how it goes, you only need 2 but the package has 5. I bought a new p-touch machine and starting labeling all the trays for my parts bin. I  bought 4 of the 30 bin cabinets from HF and taped them back to back and mounted them on a lazy Susan in one of my white Stor-It-All melamine storage cabinets (Lowes). I've become the master of melamine. I just finished 2 under window cabinets (waiting for euro hinges) and finishing up a cordless drill storage rack. I'm getting pretty good at ironing on the melamine tape edges. After years, I finally fixed that leaking compressor with a new regulator. At some point I will build a new router cabinet. That old Sears table rubs off aluminum and not very accurate.

I'll probably get back to scrolling in the next week or two. I have a fretwork box I've been working on for a while I need to finish.

Spring cleaning has come early.....

Very nice. I envy you all that space.

Ray

 

[OCtoolguy]

On 2/8/2018 at 5:49 PM, Scrappile said:

The Harbor Freight DC is one of their jewels, but you have to add some to the price to get good filtration.  Their bags and not very good.  At least from all I read about dust collectors.  I have had my HF one for years, but I added another $150+ (something around there) to get a good canister filter, plastic bag collector and I made a whicha-ma-call-it baffel for mine.  

What the H*** is a "whatchamacallit" baffle?