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A multitude of shopvacs bite the dust

Q. Hello,

I am the manager of a mid-sized decorative plating shop and I have an ongoing problem. We currently vacuum up "messes" on the floor with conventional shop-vacs. We are going through about 25 vac's a year. I realize that the elegant solution would be to keep solutions in the tanks, and we have been working diligently on that, but occasions still arise where we need to clean up corrosive mixtures that hit the floor. My processes include cyanide copper, bronze, brass, bright nickel, acid chloride zinc, black nickel, acid tin, and all the cleaning and rinses associated with them. Does anyone know of a corrosion resistant vacuum? I have tried a stainless steel, air-powered, $1,000 vacuum, but it didn't last much longer than the shop-vacs. If this keeps up I'm going to buy stock in Shop-Vac.

Trent Kaufman
electroplater - Galva, Illinois
2004

A. Trent,

I have felt your pain. We currently use an air-powered "vac" that attaches to the small bung-hole of a 55 gal drum, with the suction end attaching to the large bung-hole. Its made Royal, and its called a "pneuo vac". It works fantastic. The only downside is that it must be used on a steel drum (it will collapse a plastic one) You can purchase 55 gal stainless drums, if you need to store your "messes" for a long period of time. The one I have has been in service for over 8 years, and has yet to have a problem. It was about $250 or so, and can be ordered through McMaster-Carr.

Marc Green
anodizer - Boise, Idaho
2004

A. Trent,

I was wondering what the solution was (hypothetical not liquid type) and Mark's idea is good. I like it.

HOWEVER, he said that a plastic drum would collapse. Right on if one uses a standard thin wall Poly tank ... but, dammit, you can 'make' a plastic tank take full vacuum if you are so minded ... it's what is now called the dual laminate approach where you bond fibreglass to PVC ... or to other bondable plastics (Pe is not normally one of these). Anyhow a standard metal tank wouldn't take full vacuum anyhow.

Freeman Newton [deceased]
(It is our sad duty to advise that Freeman passed away
April 21, 2012. R.I.P. old friend).
2004

Thank you Marc and Freeman for your replies. I'm going to utilize both of your solutions to my solution problem. Sorry, nothing like a bad pun to start out a morning! I truly appreciate your advice. Thank You!

Trent Kaufman
electroplater - Galva, Illinois
2004