I thought I would share the hack I did to my MityVac evacuation pump. These are the vacuum pumps that you hand pump and **** up fluids (oils, fluids, etc.) from small engines, automobiles, etc. This solution should work for most any brand evacuation pump that is built similarly and most of us have the required materials on hand to do the hack.
The problem I was trying to solve was how do you store the 2 or 3 long hoses/tubes that are provided. After use they are typically oily. Sitting after usage allows a small amount of oil to pool in a section of tube. As you start to use the hose, it invariably drips that oil on you and whatever you might be working with. I know, a real first world problem.
My first attempt was to store the tubes half coiled in a trash bag. It did not work for me. Using the trash bag solution I have to get the pump and trash bag (2 things) and of course the tubes have leaked old oil in the trash bag etc. etc. etc.
My solution is shown below. What you will need to roughly 2 10” sections of PVC pipe (mine had roughly a 1.75” interior diameter) and 4 long zip ties.
Pic1, Pic2 and Pic3 show the solution. Basically, I mounted the PVC pipes on either side of the evacuation pump using the zip ties. Pic3 shows oil pooling in the bottom of one of the hoses. Not an issue as the ends of all of the hoses point up.
Pic 4 shows the pipe and zip ties I used.
Pic 5 and Pic 5.5 show how I used a rotary tool to grind grooves in the PVC pipe to fit the ridges on the side of the evacuation pump. Note, my example in these photos show a smaller PVC pipe than I actually used.
Pic 6 and Pic 7 show where I drilled the holes in the PVC pipe to allow the zip ties to go through. Note how I kept them very close to one side so they would not interfere with inserting the hoses.
When I need 1 or more hose sections, I pull them from both sides of the bottom so the residue oil stays in the hose. I reinsert them the same way when done.
Finally, if I cut the zip ties, it is right back to how it was if I no longer want to use the solution.
It has worked well for me. Again, I thought I would share.
The problem I was trying to solve was how do you store the 2 or 3 long hoses/tubes that are provided. After use they are typically oily. Sitting after usage allows a small amount of oil to pool in a section of tube. As you start to use the hose, it invariably drips that oil on you and whatever you might be working with. I know, a real first world problem.
My first attempt was to store the tubes half coiled in a trash bag. It did not work for me. Using the trash bag solution I have to get the pump and trash bag (2 things) and of course the tubes have leaked old oil in the trash bag etc. etc. etc.
My solution is shown below. What you will need to roughly 2 10” sections of PVC pipe (mine had roughly a 1.75” interior diameter) and 4 long zip ties.
Pic1, Pic2 and Pic3 show the solution. Basically, I mounted the PVC pipes on either side of the evacuation pump using the zip ties. Pic3 shows oil pooling in the bottom of one of the hoses. Not an issue as the ends of all of the hoses point up.
Pic 4 shows the pipe and zip ties I used.
Pic 5 and Pic 5.5 show how I used a rotary tool to grind grooves in the PVC pipe to fit the ridges on the side of the evacuation pump. Note, my example in these photos show a smaller PVC pipe than I actually used.
Pic 6 and Pic 7 show where I drilled the holes in the PVC pipe to allow the zip ties to go through. Note how I kept them very close to one side so they would not interfere with inserting the hoses.
When I need 1 or more hose sections, I pull them from both sides of the bottom so the residue oil stays in the hose. I reinsert them the same way when done.
Finally, if I cut the zip ties, it is right back to how it was if I no longer want to use the solution.
It has worked well for me. Again, I thought I would share.
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