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OT: "Dust Collector" as Leaf Vacuum?

Hi all,

I want a quick painless way to clean leaves out of the plantings in the front yard. What if I bent up some metal to form a cart and mounted one of these puppies on it, with a gas powered generator?

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Lousy efficiency, I will grant, but I could use the generator for other stuff as well and a 4" diameter hose would accomodate the leaves I have in mind.

Self bagging leaves, that's what I'm talking about.

Better solutions? Wise comments?

But most importantly, what are the political implications of cleaning my yard in this manner?

Thanks!

--Winston

Reply to
Winston
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I sort of wonder what will happen when the assorted sticks, stones and other s**t you will pick up hits the fan...

Jerry

Reply to
Jerry Foster

On Tue, 05 Dec 2006 21:32:59 -0800, with neither quill nor qualm, Winston quickly quoth:

It would work so well that it would fill those bags in 'bout 20 seconds flat. Then what?

I use a little Toro vac/blower for mine. My neighbor wants the leaves for mulching his garden and such, so I get 'em into piles and he takes them away. I love it! It cuts my work by 2/3.

All your neighbors would quickly be wise to your insanity. ;)

- Press HERE to arm. (Release to detonate.) -----------

Reply to
Larry Jaques

Agri-Fab makes a nice proper towable leaf vac. They have a vac only version and a vac / chipper version. Tow behind riding mower and suck from the mower deck, detach hose from deck and suck from planters and corners. I have the vac / chip model and I'm happy with it. You can get it from Northern Tool.

Pete C.

Reply to
Pete C.

I wouldn't, see below:

I have a similar Jet dust collector (2 hp) as well as 5hp gas powered vac mounted on a trailer and a smaller 3hp gas "air rake" that can be converted to a suction unit. All 3 are direct mounted on the end of the motor/engine shaft and turn at 3600 rpm. Wheels are steel vanes welded onto a round steel plate and suitable hub. Diameters are similar, width of the vanes varies depending on how much airflow and hp is needed.

But the BIG difference between the leaf vac and the Jet vac is the thickness of the vanes and the backing plate. The leaf vac uses 1/4" plate (double the the thickness of Jet's vanes) that is either hardened or alloy. Even those heavy duty vanes get bent when you pick up the occasional landscape rock or oak branch and catch it just right. I get to tear it down every few seasons and have a go at straightening at least a couple of the vanes.

But the leaf pickup idea is great. I have the 5hp unit hooked to a 48" mower deck and blow> Hi all,

Reply to
RoyJ

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Thanks guys. I hadn't thought of the damage angle, Jerry.

I couldn't find the 'Agri-Fab' unit but a couple nice looking units from other manufacturers on the website. Thank you kindly, Pete.

--Winston

Reply to
Winston

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