Shop Tips

Boom Arm for a Shop Vacuum

By Dyami Plotke Jul 18, 2012

To help keep my bench clean, I built this boom arm that lets me reach every corner of the work surface with a vacuum hose while keeping the hose up and out of the way.

I made the arm from scrap 3⁄8-in. plywood and mounted it to the wall with butt hinges. I attached the vacuum hose and an electrical extension cord with small eyebolts screwed into the side. For the vacuum hose, I installed springs between the hose and the boom arm to allow added play. All of the connections were made with plastic tie-wraps.

Drawing: Jim Richey

Jim Richey

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