15 Gal Coal Vac System Tutorial

Items to make Coal Vac
a) steel drum
b) 3-4 inch toilet flange
c) pvc pipe sizes (1/2 inch) & (2 inch) & ( 1 1/2 inch)
d) One 2 in 90 elbow & One 1/2 in 90 elbow & Two 1 1/2 90 elbow. Note more maybe needed for your set-up
f) Shop vac minimum 4 hp
g) Micro filter BAG for shop vac
Drum lid Design lid to create a cyclone. This is done by placing a 1 1/2 (90 degree elbow) on the bottom side of lid. Image shows what you need to create.

Intake pipe Intake pipe size 2 in. You'll need to connect 1/2 in pipe using 90 degree elbow as shown on image.. This will allow pipe to be buried in coal, without it'll become air bound.

Steel drum 15 gal drum with removable lid ( grease drums) Attach toilet flange on bottom of drum. Note location of drum will determine a how full hopper gets. Gravity will stop once coal in hopper meets coal in discharge chute.

Vac line connected to shop vac use 1 1/2 in pipe

Here is video of system. Note I've added 1/2 air vent pipe that isn't on this video clip. Since it was installed there is no more air bound causing lost vacuum. Intake pipe is now 4 ft deep to the floor of bin. If you to get a shock from static electric add a ground wire. Attach to the end of intake pipe to steel drum then to water pipe. Don't use fiber drum because it'll collapse.

Very cool! Lots cheaper and fewer moving parts than my auger system. I'd like to see more detailed pics too when you get a chance. So all the dust is going into the shop vac?

90% of dust is collected in shop vac. Making hole in bottom of drum to about 2 1/2 inch will help slow coal speed which it turn keeps rest of the dust down.

I like this idea.Interested in how many filters it uses.

I'm using 1 micro filter bag in shop vac.. Don't use fiber dust filter. Using bag will contain dust in shop vac

I wonder if a shop vac would lift pea sized coal?

Very slick, Wiz

I had an old shop vac that had a fitting on the outlet that would accept a hose. I haven't seen a modern unit with something like that. I wonder if one could make a housing for the vac and vent it to the outside? You'd never have to worry about getting coal dust in the house.

Very slick system.

Very nice! I like that. You done good!

from your experience, do you think it would work with buck sized coal? neat idea and well planned out

from your experience, do you think it would work with buck sized coal? neat idea and well planned out

.

I'm going to burn buck nexts year, I'll get couple of buckets of buck this weekend to test. I've use this method on 50/50 corn and pellet with no problem.

Would this work with the ash.... Hmmmmm
Put Steel 55 gallon barrel outside with piping....
Park dump trailer under it

cArNaGe wrote:Would this work with the ash.... Hmmmmm
Put Steel 55 gallon barrel outside with piping....
Park dump trailer under it

Here is idea for ash... Put 55 gal drum with shop vac motor mounted on lid. Then place it on your trailer, once filled haul away.

nice one wiz. now ya got me thinkin about bulk + storage. the wife is going to hate me lol!!!

Wiz,

Did you use the commercially available lid or did you create your own. I'm beginning my search for a 15 gallon metal drum. 30 gallon trash can would be too big for me.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/200431 ... e-lid.aspx

This place did not mention a lid for other than a 30 gallon or 5 gallon size. Any additional thoughts and photos would be helpful.

Oh, what is the flapper device on the bottom also? Is this a "gerry rigged" item or available on box stor shelves? If your creation- is it spring loaded?

Thanks for your help,

Steve

I have been thinking of an ash removal system to an outside drum similiar to what you guys are talking about. I have a dust collector blower that I retrieved from a dumpster at work and thought it would work well to attach a hose and blow the ash outside to a drum. this is on my to do list. or should i say to try list.

Did you use the commercially available lid or did you create your own. I'm beginning my search for a 15 gallon metal drum. 30 gallon trash can would be too big for me.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/200431 ... e-lid.aspx

This place did not mention a lid for other than a 30 gallon or 5 gallon size. Any additional thoughts and photos would be helpful.

Oh, what is the flapper device on the bottom also? Is this a "gerry rigged" item or available on box stor shelves? If your creation- is it spring loaded?

Steve the image was just to show what your steel drum lid needs to look like.. On steel drum lid you need to make 2 holes one for intake pipe that will be straight . Air take pipe will have a 90 degree elbow inside. Go to your local garage to get your drum, they'll most likely just give it to you. free is for me https://www.motionindustries.com/motion ... 44_W_L.jpg

The flapper is Jerry Rigged. I used plastic lid from coffee container. You can use a ball valve but that's just wasting money. Attach lid with anything that will give it movement to swing open and closed. Once you turn shop vac on it'll create a vacuum and lid will close.

Great idea Wiz, thanks for posting. A few questions.

1.) I didn't even see where you had the Shop Vac. Can it be placed anywhere?

2.) What did you clean the last bit of the grease out of the barrel with or did the garage already have it cleaned out for you?

3.) 15 gallons of coal is about 150 pounds? So once a day you can feed your hopper slowly but surely all the coal it would need, maybe even 2 days. That is really a great idea