DIY attic insulation blower?

jwxr7 · 01-26-09, 10:17 AM

Anybody ever try making thier own blower for cellulose insulation? I have some second hand bags of that stuff I'd like to spread around my attic. I was thinking that a shop vac could possibly be modified for this purpose. It would make things alote easier for sure

.

Daox · 01-26-09, 11:30 AM

I did a quick google on this and found this link to houserepairtalk.com. Looks like it might be a pain for large scale blowing, but something might be adaptable to a larger scale. Maybe use a garbage bin that seals or something. I copied his pic since you have to register to see it.

jwxr7 · 01-26-09, 12:16 PM

That's cool

. I think that could work well if you put a longer flexible section after the bin (if it won't clog), and use a larger bin like you said. Then you could easily aim it around and do larger loads. Would probably need larger diameter flex hose after the bin to keep it flowing decent, but then you might need a higher flow blower.

I should try using my electric leaf blower

. It has a vacuum attachment and maybe I could just process the insulation thru the blower and blow the stuff out the exhaust. If that would work I could dump the bags into a pile in the middle of the attic and blow out around me (good dust mask needed).

Daox · 01-26-09, 12:23 PM

Someone on that forum suggested that as well. I'm not sure if it would damage the blower in any way. You'd need to make sure that the cellulose was adequately chopped and fluffed before you blew it through. Perhaps some sort of drill attachment could be made?

jwxr7 · 01-26-09, 12:27 PM

Yeah, I could imagine it choking on big chunks of insulation. That could overwelm the motor and blower wheel.

I got thinking about it, and the velocity from the leafblower would be so high that it would probably just make a huge dust cloud in the attic (even on low speed).

digger doug · 09-02-09, 08:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jwxr7

Yeah, I could imagine it choking on big chunks of insulation. That could overwelm the motor and blower wheel.

I got thinking about it, and the velocity from the leafblower would be so high that it would probably just make a huge dust cloud in the attic (even on low speed).

Wrong....

Sorry but I renovated an existing pass thru insulation machine that
was missing the blower.

I used a sears electric leaf blower (the largest model) and it worked
just fine. The unit is rated at continous duty, and the lexan blades
are made to chop up sticks.

I have since procured a couple of the correct blue blower's made for the
machine, and there is really no difference in output. The correct
blower (tornado blower) may put out higher
pressure, but for an attic fill operation, the slightly lower pressure
from the leaf blower shouldn't bother you.

The volume of air verse's cellulose will always be high, I believe
an attic fill job should be done with a large fan to remove
the dust (negative pressure on the house) and this would keep down
the infiltration into the living area's

BTW: I ran the leaf blower with 50' of hose, and I was using it for a wall spray
application.

Daox · 09-02-09, 09:11 AM

Welcome to ER Doug.

Sounds like a great alternative to the shop vac. Do you have any pictures of your setup?

digger doug · 09-03-09, 08:14 AM

The actual blower was ty-wrapped onto the outlet of the machine.
The system is quite simple, the 1/2 h.p. motor has a belt reduction,
then onto a simple chain reduction to drive both the mixer,
and then an auger to feed into the blower.

I've also included some pix of the nozzle I built to do wall spray,
an older 600 psi electric powerwasher provided the glue/water mix.

The blue machine could be fabbed up out of 1/2 plywood and 2x4's,
with a simple hand crank for the mixer.An attic fill application
does not need the consistancy of feed that the wall spray needs.
The only thing for feeding, is to not feed so much (or allow it to be drawn
in by itself) that it clogs the pipe or the blower. Note, this machine
has an auger (much like the hand held ice fishing auger...hint,hint)
driven by a variable speed belt pully, but it pushes the material into a small
box, that is open on the top, to allow the fan to suck from here.

If this box was not there, the fan would pull the material right thru
the auger, and not be metered, hence it would pull too much and overload.
(found this out when I duct taped it over)

dremd · 10-15-09, 08:44 PM

I wonder if you could use a Blower/ vac alone . . . . . For small jobs . . . .
I just got the free rental at home depot for mine . . . .

hamsterpower · 10-16-09, 05:26 AM

if all you are doing is spreading the cellulose around the attic you could just open the bags there and spread by hand. Isn't the blower more for filling walls through a small hole?

01-26-09, 10:17 AM	#1
jwxr7 Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: mid michigan Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	DIY attic insulation blower? Anybody ever try making thier own blower for cellulose insulation? I have some second hand bags of that stuff I'd like to spread around my attic. I was thinking that a shop vac could possibly be modified for this purpose. It would make things alote easier for sure .

01-26-09, 11:30 AM	#2
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	I did a quick google on this and found this link to houserepairtalk.com. Looks like it might be a pain for large scale blowing, but something might be adaptable to a larger scale. Maybe use a garbage bin that seals or something. I copied his pic since you have to register to see it. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

01-26-09, 12:23 PM	#4
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Someone on that forum suggested that as well. I'm not sure if it would damage the blower in any way. You'd need to make sure that the cellulose was adequately chopped and fluffed before you blew it through. Perhaps some sort of drill attachment could be made? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

09-02-09, 09:11 AM	#7
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 5,525 Thanks: 1,162 Thanked 374 Times in 305 Posts	Welcome to ER Doug. Sounds like a great alternative to the shop vac. Do you have any pictures of your setup? __________________ Current project - To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. & To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 0 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

09-03-09, 08:14 AM	#8
digger doug Lurking Renovator Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 8 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The actual blower was ty-wrapped onto the outlet of the machine. The system is quite simple, the 1/2 h.p. motor has a belt reduction, then onto a simple chain reduction to drive both the mixer, and then an auger to feed into the blower. I've also included some pix of the nozzle I built to do wall spray, an older 600 psi electric powerwasher provided the glue/water mix. The blue machine could be fabbed up out of 1/2 plywood and 2x4's, with a simple hand crank for the mixer.An attic fill application does not need the consistancy of feed that the wall spray needs. The only thing for feeding, is to not feed so much (or allow it to be drawn in by itself) that it clogs the pipe or the blower. Note, this machine has an auger (much like the hand held ice fishing auger...hint,hint) driven by a variable speed belt pully, but it pushes the material into a small box, that is open on the top, to allow the fan to suck from here. If this box was not there, the fan would pull the material right thru the auger, and not be metered, hence it would pull too much and overload. (found this out when I duct taped it over) Last edited by digger doug; 09-03-09 at 08:25 AM..

01-26-09, 12:16 PM	#3
jwxr7 Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: mid michigan Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	That's cool . I think that could work well if you put a longer flexible section after the bin (if it won't clog), and use a larger bin like you said. Then you could easily aim it around and do larger loads. Would probably need larger diameter flex hose after the bin to keep it flowing decent, but then you might need a higher flow blower. I should try using my electric leaf blower . It has a vacuum attachment and maybe I could just process the insulation thru the blower and blow the stuff out the exhaust. If that would work I could dump the bags into a pile in the middle of the attic and blow out around me (good dust mask needed).

01-26-09, 12:27 PM	#5
jwxr7 Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: mid michigan Posts: 191 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Yeah, I could imagine it choking on big chunks of insulation. That could overwelm the motor and blower wheel. I got thinking about it, and the velocity from the leafblower would be so high that it would probably just make a huge dust cloud in the attic (even on low speed).

10-15-09, 08:44 PM	#9
dremd Need More Eco Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Scott, La Posts: 172 Thanks: 2 Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts	I wonder if you could use a Blower/ vac alone . . . . . For small jobs . . . . I just got the free rental at home depot for mine . . . .

10-16-09, 05:26 AM	#10
hamsterpower Apprentice EcoRenovator Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 142 Thanks: 0 Thanked 11 Times in 11 Posts	if all you are doing is spreading the cellulose around the attic you could just open the bags there and spread by hand. Isn't the blower more for filling walls through a small hole?