vacuum cleaner

[joeh]

hello all
question is would a vacuum cleaner (1600w) be able to suck out water trapped in the space/crevices of a hull/skeg joint ? This is after some grinding of a crackline damage before applying epoxy/glass. The boat is on the hard. I'm trying to dry the unreachable/unseeable areas. Ta.

 

[sarabande]

you need a machine which can tolerate water going into the bag area, Some are definitely drystuff only, and water will compact the contents YUK.


Why not use compressed air to blow any water out, though ? If the compressor has water trap, you'd be putting dry air into the gap, and the pressure in PSI is greater than the suction from a normal vac..

Wear eye protection as hard bits of filler, etc, might be blown out.

 

[boatmike]

You can also use a Pela oil change suction device if you have one.

 

[maxi77]

To me the compressor looks good as as well as displacing the water it has a drying effect, and if you haven't got one they are no more expensive than a vacumn and are very useful to have around

 

[William_H]

most household vacuum cleaners have just a bag before the air goes through the motor. Any water sucked up and not caught by the bag will smoke the motor with sheets of flame.
You need a wet and dry vacuum (big steel barrel) or perhaps run the hose into a drum to trap the water with another hose coming out to the job.

Around here the super markets all rent a carpet cleaner. This includes a very powerfull vacuum to suck up the water.

good luck olewill

 

[TonyS]

We have a 12V machine that has a plasic see-through front end. It sucks the water out of the crevices in the bilges with no problem. You can see when the chamber needs emptying. It is on the boat so I don't know the make. As a carpet vacuum cleaner it is useless!

 

[rogerdog]

one of the wet 'n' dry ones or hire a carpet cleaner as already suggested. Remember to get it bone dry before attempting any epoxy work - warm air over/in area for a day or so at least then recheck as any exposed matting can absorb and trap the water, so don't rush the drying process and ensure it is really dry.

 

[bedouin]

I think a hair-dryer would be more effective

 

[jamesdestin]

disposable nappies are very absorbant if you can squeeze them in the crevice (ooohh matron!)