I know we have a diversified group of people here... I need to find a small "WET VACUUM" with a 1/4" hose that has about a quart holding tank that runs off either AC or DC doesn't matter... Preferably "off the shelf", I don't have time to build a vacuum pump...

anyone know of such a beast ?... I've been searching the internet without results...

Those members who took a look at my post about the intake manifold and saw the photos of the varnish "crap" that has decided to take-up residence in my engine will understand my immediate need...

Since I have the top-engine removed which exposes the intake valves I'm going to use spray MAF cleaner to remove the varnish, but do not want the residue to seep into the cylinders... So my thought is to use a small wet vac adjacent to the spray tube so as the "CRAP" breaks loose it is immediately sucked back up... Kinda like that little suction tube your dentist uses...

PS: MAF cleaner really takes that stuff off fast...

 

You might want to look at this:

http://www.shopvac.com/vacs/list.asp...dex&Browse=1hp

Larger than what you asked, but with the crevice tool attached, should do what you want.

 

I would think you could fabricate a suitable sucker attachment using your existing shop vac, a PVC nipple, and a length of 3/8" copper tubing.

Do you have a TopSider or Mityvac? You could possibly use them to suck up the crud as well.

WORD OF WARNING: MAF cleaner fumes are most likely flammable. If they get sucked into a vacuum cleaner and come into contact with the sparking brushes in the motor you stand a chance of igniting them. Granted, it's not going to make a rocket engine (like the Mythbusters tried to do) but you could get a nasty surprise if they ignited.

 

Bobs: What a great word of warning... I had never considered that... MAF cleaner has a really low flash point especially when vaporized... perhaps I will just make a standalone vacuum bottle using my existing shop vac to prevent some sort of conversation with my wife saying "see I told you so".

 

Never considered that either. THANK YOU!!

 

Derek, you were pretty close with your dentist reference. A medical pump would be the only safe thing to use (since the motor is isolated from the pump itself) but the cost would be most prohibitive. Unless you can find a used one somewhere, I wouldn't chance using any other electrical type vacuum.

We used to modify them to make automatic chlorinators for swimming pools and transferring hazardous chemicals from one tank to another, etc. Good luck in your search.

 

Thanks DANIMAL... I'm harkening back to my high school science days when we used beakers with two holes in a rubber plug on the top to create a vacuum inside the beaker... Where's Bill Nye the science guy when you need him...

This is more fun figuring out than it is pulling the entire engine apart to clean it...

 

HDDP, You can also look at using a non-flammable solvent such as MIL-C-81302. I used to clean missile components with the stuff and I can tell you it's real good. You might be able to find a local source for it if you poke around google a bit.

 

Have you tried to find a REALLY big solder sucker?

 

What about one of those vacuum tools used to bleed brakes and check for leaks? They have good suction if you keep pumping the handle and a fluid reservoir.

 

Alright, i just did the "BILL NYE SCIENCE GUY" project... and it works perfectly...

Don't laugh at the way I resolved the problem... Lab Beaker with 2 hole rubber stopper, shop vac with 1" hose outlet and 1 hole rubber stopper in hose outlet, Surgical Tube from shop vac to beaker stopper hole 1, Surgical Tube from inside of beaker outside via stopper hole 2...

IT REALLY SUCKS and only cost me $15 in parts from a hobby shop...

 

Okay...MR. WIZARD!!!

LMAO...we need video of you using this thing!!

 

What about an air amplifier.

http://www.vaccon.com/air.html

I first came across them nearly 20 years ago when I was a uni and someone was doing a project on materials handling. The idea is a venturi is fed with compressed air, out of one end you get a high volume, low pressure blast of air, the other is a negative pressure air flow. Not a huge vacuum but it can pick things up, move shells etc.

My thinking would be a tube in a tube with the inner carrying an air feed into the chamber and the outer attached to an air amplifier and sucking the cleaner and debris out.

As an aside the guy doing the project had an idea that by attaching an amplifier on an carb he could get some boost, time ran out and he never did it, would have needed a large sized compressor even for the small engine cars we ran. (sounds like something to package and sell on ebay - nitrous amplifier LOL, would disperse well though)...