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May 20, 2014, 07:00 PM
#1
My $45 Gold Vac
Although AZViper makes a nice gold vac, and I commend him on his helping others out by showing them how to build one, I just never could warm up to the idea of using a bucket with a motor on top of it… let alone paying $400 for one from the prospector supply stores. Just seemed way too unstable for my tastes. Sure I could fill the bucket with rocks or boulders to help keep it stabilized when out in the field, but then that would kinda defeat the whole purpose by lessening my volume. I want to fill my bucket up with as much gold bearing material as I can possibly vacuum up… not rocks or boulders!
So I got to thinking… what platform would offer me the stability of a shop vac, the suction of a shop vac, the already included hose and attachments of a shop vac, and the engineering of a shop vac? Hey…. how about using a shop vac! So off to the internet I go...
Echo PB2100 leaf blower with gunked up carb but good compression - $20 purchased off Craigslist
6 gallon shop vac with hose and attachments - $10 purchased off Craigslist
black nylon stockings for dust/fine gold filter - $5 from WalMart
weather stripping for lid gasket - $4 from Ace Hardware
5 inch PVC sleeve - $3 from Ace Hardware
misc. nuts and bolts - $3 from Ace Hardware
plywood for mounting motor to vac (already had) - $0
Time spent cleaning the motor and carb, using a Dremel tool to shape, drill, grind, and route all the plastic nubs and plywood so it would mount flush on the shop vac lid, and then assembling all the components to make a "factory" looking gold vac... priceless! 

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May 20, 2014, 07:10 PM
#2
 I can dig it! "WP"
I like the way you think 
Last edited by Goodyguy; May 20, 2014 at 07:17 PM.
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May 20, 2014, 07:19 PM
#3
 Minning Tools: 12" Trommel, Royal Drywasher, Viper-Vac, Miller Table, Blue Bowl, Footprints, Google Earth, These Are Just Tools As You Still Have To Be On The Gold
 Originally Posted by azblackbird
Although AZViper makes a nice gold vac, and I commend him on his helping others out by showing them how to build one, I just never could warm up to the idea of using a bucket with a motor on top of it… let alone paying $400 for one from the prospector supply stores. Just seemed way too unstable for my tastes. Sure I could fill the bucket with rocks or boulders to help keep it stabilized when out in the field, but then that would kinda defeat the whole purpose by lessening my volume. I want to fill my bucket up with as much gold bearing material as I can possibly vacuum up… not rocks or boulders!
So I got to thinking… what platform would offer me the stability of a shop vac, the suction of a shop vac, the already included hose and attachments of a shop vac, and the engineering of a shop vac? Hey…. how about using a shop vac! So off to the internet I go...
Echo PB2100 leaf blower with gunked up carb but good compression - $20 purchased off Craigslist
6 gallon shop vac with hose and attachments - $10 purchased off Craigslist
black nylon stockings for dust/fine gold filter - $5 from WalMart
weather stripping for lid gasket - $4 from Ace Hardware
5 inch PVC sleeve - $3 from Ace Hardware
misc. nuts and bolts - $3 from Ace Hardware
plywood for mounting motor to vac (already had) - $0
Time spent cleaning the motor and carb, using a Dremel tool to shape, drill, grind, and route all the plastic nubs and plywood so it would mount flush on the shop vac lid, and then assembling all the components to make a "factory" looking gold vac... priceless! 

Hmmm, well thanks for the kind words. First I have never had any stability issues while in the field. As the vac begins to fill the weight is in the bottom of the bucket. Hey all the power to you on saving money although I believe you will find that the sock on the intake will clog and you will lose suction power. Also your vac does not have the power of a shop vac as the Echo motor is providing the suction so your limited to the CFM of that blower. The blower I use has the highest CFM for its size. Not sure what CFM that old Echo blower has. Personally I just like the vac to be a little more compact in size to haul on a pack frame.
Good job though. Hope it works out for you.
“He who builds their own equipment has a better understanding of what works and what does not work” 
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May 20, 2014, 09:20 PM
#4
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May 20, 2014, 11:32 PM
#5
 Minning Tools: 12" Trommel, Royal Drywasher, Viper-Vac, Miller Table, Blue Bowl, Footprints, Google Earth, These Are Just Tools As You Still Have To Be On The Gold
Where others fail with gas blowers that are sold is the design.You will never eliminate the dust. In my testing I had placed a sock over the blower exhaust and never found any gold and that was after peppering the dirt with gold. The key is forcing the pay dirt downward away from the suction of the rotating impeller. The sock will clog, been there done it. Think of an air filter over time it clogs. It's better to design the inside correctly and allow the air to move freely within the vac. Just my two cents...
Last edited by AzViper; May 31, 2014 at 07:41 PM.
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May 31, 2014, 07:29 PM
#6
 Dan Gamache
A little water in the bucket keeps the dust down.
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May 31, 2014, 07:38 PM
#7
 Minning Tools: 12" Trommel, Royal Drywasher, Viper-Vac, Miller Table, Blue Bowl, Footprints, Google Earth, These Are Just Tools As You Still Have To Be On The Gold
 Originally Posted by elgatodelnoche
A little water in the bucket keeps the dust down.
Only works for a very short time as the incoming dirt will absorb the water.
“He who builds their own equipment has a better understanding of what works and what does not work” 
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Jun 05, 2014, 09:47 PM
#8
 Keith
The blower that he is using is my all time favorite. I was really mad when they stopped making it. I use blowers daily on the roof, and that old grey one is powerful and light. The new Calif Carb ones I don't like. They work, but in my opinion, they like to stop working too easily.
Men are strong so long as they represent a strong idea they become powerless when they oppose it. Sigmund Freud
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Jun 06, 2014, 12:59 PM
#9
 Minning Tools: 12" Trommel, Royal Drywasher, Viper-Vac, Miller Table, Blue Bowl, Footprints, Google Earth, These Are Just Tools As You Still Have To Be On The Gold
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Jun 06, 2014, 03:10 PM
#10
 Wolf Pack!
Great thread.
So I'm going to guess that any of the battery powered shop vacs, just can't get the job done?
No one seems to talk about them.
Freedom is something that dies unless it's used.
Time is like a river. You cannot touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again. Enjoy every moment of your life.
A student said to his master, "You teach me fighting, but you talk about peace. How do you reconcile the two?"
The master replied, "It is better to be a warrior in a garden, than to be a gardener in a war."
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Jun 06, 2014, 04:34 PM
#11
 Minning Tools: 12" Trommel, Royal Drywasher, Viper-Vac, Miller Table, Blue Bowl, Footprints, Google Earth, These Are Just Tools As You Still Have To Be On The Gold
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Jun 06, 2014, 06:05 PM
#12
 Wolf Pack!
 Originally Posted by AzViper
Battery powered vacuums lack suction power and batteries do not last. Check out my thread on building a gas vacuum nor do they hold much paydirt. Viper-Vac
Very nice.
Very practical.
I like the cost too!
All your "build your own" stuff are A+.
Freedom is something that dies unless it's used.
Time is like a river. You cannot touch the same water twice, because the flow that has passed will never pass again. Enjoy every moment of your life.
A student said to his master, "You teach me fighting, but you talk about peace. How do you reconcile the two?"
The master replied, "It is better to be a warrior in a garden, than to be a gardener in a war."
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Jun 06, 2014, 07:04 PM
#13
 Minning Tools: 12" Trommel, Royal Drywasher, Viper-Vac, Miller Table, Blue Bowl, Footprints, Google Earth, These Are Just Tools As You Still Have To Be On The Gold
 Originally Posted by Oregon Viking
Very nice.
Very practical.
I like the cost too!
All your "build your own" stuff are A+.
Thanks... AzBlackBird has offered a nice alternate to the expense ($300.00) of my Viper-Vac to build. Buying used equipment can be frustrating though with these small engines. Save your money and stay away from the battery powered vac's, I know they have one advantage and that being quiet over the gas powered vac's but replacement batteries are over $100.00 and over time battery output goes downhill if your not using the batteries daily. If your on a budget find a good used blower on CL. Also Echo makes a PB-251 of which is the same as the PB-255 just a different year in which it was built.
“He who builds their own equipment has a better understanding of what works and what does not work” 
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Jun 07, 2014, 01:58 AM
#14
I built a bucket model last year with a backpack blower I never used. I may try to retrofit to a shop vac lower like yours nice job....
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Jun 09, 2014, 01:05 AM
#15
 Dan Gamache
Sometimes you can find older shop vacs at yard sales that are made out of metal and have metal lids. Much stronger than the plastic ones sold today.
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