This toy sucks

You run the risk of impacting suction performance if you add filters.

I recall using a filter spray that increased the pickup of the filters. These were metal filters. The spray made the surface tacky. It did require additional cleaning to remove the build up.

You run the risk of impacting suction performance if you add filters.

I recall using a filter spray that increased the pickup of the filters. These were metal filters. The spray made the surface tacky. It did require additional cleaning to remove the build up.

Yes. We started using that goop around '85. We had been using a vacuum cleaner to clean the filters, but had to start cleaning the metal mesh filters with water first. Not a lot of fun, but our racks of custom boards and computers stayed clean. 

We purchased duplicate set of filters for the equipment. Since the equipment was remote, travel and accommodations were necessary for maintenance trips. The rookies became responsible for cleaning the filters back at the shop. Since maintenance trips could be six months intervals cleaning the filters sometimes required the mechanical garage part cleaner to remove the build-up. Rookies learned that using to much filter tack was never a good thing:) 

Instead of the tacky spray, stanto could just go for the standard vacuum upgrade of a deflector on the inlet inside the bin.  This creates a mild cyclonic effect that causes the heavier particles to collide with the walls, lose energy and fall down - thereby not getting onto/into the filter.  My shop vac has this feature and I recently bought a cyclone dust collector for my table saw - in hopes of making the filter last longer.

 kmikemoo Yes, it will but why buy the stupid things?? You can make one out of two Home Depot (pick your poison)  staked on top of each other you need a funnel in  site the the top one and a hole in the bottom where the stuff exits. A small hose in the top on the side for an inlet, and hose then going to VAC.. fins. 

kmikemoo said:

could just go for the standard vacuum upgrade of a deflector on the inlet inside the bin

This sounds interesting, are we talking about simply a cone inside the vacuum?

stanto The deflector is the simplest path.

The cyclone dust collector... less simple.

phoenixcomm I did try to build my own.  I was unhappy with the results/functionality.  I haven't given this one a good run for its money yet, but for $35, I was willing to try.  The bucket lid set me back $2.50.

phoenixcomm said:

why buy the stupid things??

Great question!!  I dunno.  Hope?    I ask that question almost every time I use my Wonder Winder - one of the only dang Ron Popeil things that did what it was supposed to.  The Popeil Pocket Fisherman also worked as advertised.  Wish I'd have kept it.

I don't know why we're drawn to the cute little things - or why we want to improve them.  I think they call it "the knack".  I hear it's incurable and once you have it, it never goes away.  It's like common sense - part blessing, part curse. 

Thanks, that's very helpful.

You have a problem with your air intake as pictured above. I show to be in line with the desired flow which means you will not make a tornadic effect. The inlet should be parallel to the side so the air will spin.