Thien Cyclone, 2x5=10(approx)

[Salty]

For those considering the Thien Cyclone on a 5 gallon can, think twice!

Twice the capacity I mean. By combining two 5 gallon plastic cans, I now have something just shy of 10 gallons. I can now do a lot more planing before emptying the cyclone. That's nice. And there is less chance I'll overflow and fill up the paper bag in the vac, like I did the other day!
After cutting out the bottom of the upper can, I cut about 1-1/4" of the bottom of the lower can. This allowed me to pound them together and the fit is so tight that they seal themselves. A few short sheet metal screws and...done.

Salty

[rberrybabylon]

Now, there's a thought.

Great idea. I've been looking for a 10 gal. can for the same reason. Never occurred to me to use two 5 gal cans. Does that make me dumb or just slow?

[chopnhack]

I would say neither rberry, just inexperienced. Once you start doing a lot of woodworking projects, your brain starts thinking in different dimensions and your creativity and problem solving skills improve. You'll see

[crokett]

Hmm.... I will have to remember this idea. You might still think about a bead of silicone around the joint on the buckets. My experience is things like that will eventually leak if they are allowed to.

[LinuxRandal]

A lot of five gallon buckets, will fit into one another (at least the ones I have access to). Why did you place the open end down, with a lid on the bottom instead of using the existing bottom?

[LCHIEN]

A lot of five gallon buckets, will fit into one another (at least the ones I have access to). Why did you place the open end down, with a lid on the bottom instead of using the existing bottom?

Because when they stack top to bottom they don't get twice as tall???
and you only get 2 x 5 = 6....

[Salty]

Because when they stack top to bottom they don't get twice as tall???
and you only get 2 x 5 = 6....

Exactly. And if you join them end to end without cutting off part of one of them, they will not slip one inside the other.
An additional word about this. I looked at the bucket stack this evening when I was vacuuming up the tools and I realized that the center was sucked in to an oval shape. That's without any real resistance as I was using an open 1-1/4" hose on the end of the 2-1/2".
I guess I'll have to figure out how to make a wooden yoke to go around the center to keep them round. 2 pieces of some old 1/2" plywood should do it.

[Mr__Bill]

I guess I'll have to figure out how to make a wooden yoke to go around the center to keep them round. 2 pieces of some old 1/2" plywood should do it.

You could just put an X inside. Let the screws that hold the pails together hold the wooden X in place too.

Great idea, I was just thinking of how I can increase the capacity of the vac and started looking at garbage cans and the like to fit the top part to. For the intended application a separater won't work. I'm vacuuming the old insulation out of an attic, and the mouse droppings too. When done it's back to a normal vac.

Bill

[Salty]

I'm wondering if a wooden support inside would interfeer with the cyclone action. Being that far down it may not. It would be worth a try. No harm in that.