"I built it because I didn't want to spend the money for a conventional grain vac and I wanted a simpler design with less maintenance," says Andy Orosz, Dubuc, Sask.

The "Econo-Vac", as Orosz calls it, uses a fan instead of a positive displacement pump and a transfer auger instead of an air lock. Grain is sucked up through a plastic hose fitted with a wheeled nozzle into a 3-ft. long steel pipe mounted on one side of the separator. The fan creates enough vacuum in the pipe to transfer as much as 2,000 bu. per hour. A transfer auger behind the fan delivers grain into the hopper of any conventional auger. Air from the fan exits through an exhaust pipe on top of the unit. The pto-operated unit requires only a 65 hp tractor.

"The problem with conventional grain vacs is that they use high tolerance components such as positive displacement pumps which can quickly wear out due to grain dust, dirt and gravel. My Econo-Vac works great for cleaning up grain piles on the ground because stones and dirt go right through it with little problem.

"One disadvantage is that it doesn't deliver grain into the truck like a conventional grain vac so I still need an auger. However, with the money I saved I can buy an auger and also use it for other jobs after I'm done cleaning out bins," says Orosz.