Hose manifold simplifies mud assortment
I borrowed this straightforward concept for a hose manifold from a tip by Chuck Lambert in FWW #229, updating it with dust-hose “splices” from Lee Valley, versus merely drilling holes in plywood. These hose connectors can be found for each 211⁄22-in.-dia. and 4-in.-dia. hoses, so the manifold concept will work for each store vacuums and full-size mud collectors. Not like Lambert, I mounted my manifold vertically, on the wall.
The hose splices are epoxied into holes within the plywood. The splices are tapered, so hoses go on and off simply but in addition match tightly, with no suction loss. I mounted the plywood on the wall with easy angle brackets, and I maintain the devoted hoses in place with one other helpful product from Lee Valley: U-brackets that screw to the wall. The devoted hoses can run to a wide range of benchtop instruments, together with a handheld sander. After I need to use the vac for store cleanup, I simply unplug its hose from the manifold. —JOHN CORDUKES, Cobourg , Ont., Canada
Join eletters immediately and get the newest strategies and how-to from Superb Woodworking, plus particular provides.
