This toy sucks

The amazon prime sale is ending today, and in the post I received this little chap:

I thought that it was a gimmick. No way this little thing that runs on three AA batteries would do anything. I gave it a go anyway and attempted to clean the front of my computer.

How surprised I was.

It performed really well!

I am now thinking it would benefit from a bit of modification, a second grille over the air 'intake' inside the vacuum, so that the 'filter' which is a sponge, doesn't directly get filled with dust.

I am also curious if I can increase the power capability, maybe I should do a teardown and check it out. It'd be great if I could 'connect it to mains' such as USB for an added boost, but otherwise use battery power.

Also it's cute.

Top Replies

kmikemoo 10 months ago in reply to colporteur

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.
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battlecoder 10 months ago in reply to bradfordmiller

I want to know the inductance of the motor coils. They should be exactly one Henry ;)
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dougw 10 months ago in reply to bradfordmiller

Hmmm.... its a Henry Hoover ... presumably that means it hoovers up henrys ....

If a Henry Hoover could hoover henrys, how many henrys can a Henry Hoover hoover?
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inavitech 10 months ago

Buy an new gadget and the first thing you want to do is boost its performance!
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phoenixcomm 10 months ago in reply to bidrohini

for What the Hell for???
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phoenixcomm 10 months ago in reply to kmikemoo

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.
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phoenixcomm 10 months ago in reply to bradfordmiller

Suction or Mass Flow Rate = Density of Air * Velosity * Aera

so you don't get slap-happy here's a video to explain it.
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stanto 10 months ago in reply to phoenixcomm

Oh I see, an alternate cargo hold.
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stanto 10 months ago in reply to kmikemoo

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?
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kmikemoo 10 months ago in reply to stanto

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.
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