Un-clog my Shop Vac hose!

Jun 10, 2007 21 Replies

I often have vacuum hoses plugged with chips. However the chips are cast iron which has short chips vs steel that has curlies. If raising the hose vertically while sqeezing at obstruction doesn't work, I try reversing the hose. If all else fails, I take it to the wash rack and use a water hose and rag to blow the chips out.

With steel curlies, I was a bit suprized that the op could get enough sucked up to plug the hose but then I don't know the nature of the cuts or chips since drilling and interrupted cuts can make something a vacuum can try to handle.

Wes

My 30 foot vac hose is now clear.

I got a 1" dia wood plug and sucked it in. Turned off vac and shook hose in sections. Spot where I hear plug rattling is the clog. Had three glogs. Placed hand pressure on clogged spots to compress metal swarf ball. Ball moves 4 feet - repeat over and over. Fifteen minutes to clear the hose.

The problem with clearing metal chips off the lathe with a vac is, even small fines and strands will form a ball as bits get stuck in the corragated hose. I'm going to make a 10' smooth-wall poly hose and get the cyclone separator from Grizzly.com

Thanks to all for the ideas.

Ed

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