Better seal between shop vac blower and bucket?

[®smpr_fi_mac®]

I'm in the process of building a 2-stage shop vac for general cleaning and as DC on my router table and ROS. It'll be modeled after this one: https://youtu.be/8J986uRQFTI


My question: How do I get a better seal between the vacuum head and the bucket? I'm thinking a strip of foam, maybe? I tried weather stripping last night but it was too thick to get the vacuum to clamp shut.

I imagine that with a 2-stage system, a vacuum bag inside and a HEPA filter, I probably won't need to open it up...ever. Maybe once every few years to inspect the filter. So I'm not against something that might be a pain to separate later, such as simply caulking the seam.

Any thoughts?

(edit)

Cabinet Monkey--I purchased that hose you recommended from Amazon. It should arrive soon.

[Cabinet Monkey]

Closed cell foam tape should do the trick.  Home centers and hardware stores should have a 1" wide size.  

let us know how you like the hose (or don't)

[®smpr_fi_mac®]

I'll look for that.

Thanks.

[nodima]

I'll look for that.

Thanks.

I used a strip of bicycle inner tube wrapped around the dust deputy outlet and that has provided a solid seal.  I cut approximately a 10" piece of it, and wrapped it around and over itself, then carefully put the hose over it.  Sort of like how plumbers tape is done.

[®smpr_fi_mac®]

I have an old tire on hand. I'll give that a try.

[Hank Knight]

Brad, try this stuff. It is made for exactly your situation. It's stretchy and adheres to itself without the traditional sticky stuff found on all other tape. I use it to seal the joint between my cyclone's down chute and the chip bin. You'll find other uses for it too.

https://www.rockler.com/x-treme-tape-for-dust-joints

[Sam Hightower]

Brad, try this stuff. It is made for exactly your situation. It's stretchy and adheres to itself without the traditional sticky stuff found on all other tape. I use it to seal the joint between my cyclone's down chute and the chip bin. You'll find other uses for it too.

https://www.rockler.com/x-treme-tape-for-dust-joints

Search Amazon for F4 tape. We used it as electricians in the fighter aircraft community. It is actually called silicone rubber tape.

[®smpr_fi_mac®]

I bought the Rockler tape and it seems (pun intended) to be working well.