Converting a Pass-Through Skimmer to a Recirculator

[Saveafish]

If you can do wood you should be able to do it. Here is where I went. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
http://barraquatic.com/access.php
You should be able to do the jigs and use the router to do it.
https://www.rockler.com/rockler-com...E8GZU22uSFhxxPPMSC3yvF91XFtaVL1xoChLwQAvD_BwE

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Milescraft...LW_OqNbAnF3FwmdTe4ATqesX5FfTBdRxoCLncQAvD_BwE

 

[Saveafish]

Nice! HSA-1000 or 3000? Interesting to me that the Beckett is much more sensitive to output pressure than the mazzei. Unless you raise the former up above the water level in the skimmer, it won't work well at all.

Mine is MVX line with 8" tube. I think he was trying something with them and just never got it fully going. I think he also did a 5000 series but as a test thing.

Its very weird on the placements on the Beckett. Its still a Venturi. One is pinched from the outside form and one is pinched with a ball filling it on the inside. You wouldn't think there be that much difference..

 

[ca1ore]

If you can do wood you should be able to do it. Here is where I went. Scroll to the bottom of the page.
http://barraquatic.com/access.php
You should be able to do the jigs and use the router to do it.
https://www.rockler.com/rockler-com...E8GZU22uSFhxxPPMSC3yvF91XFtaVL1xoChLwQAvD_BwE

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Milescraft...LW_OqNbAnF3FwmdTe4ATqesX5FfTBdRxoCLncQAvD_BwE

LOL, I'm a big Rockler fan! Don't think I have that particular jig, but I do have one ….. somewhere. This just seems like a good excuse to break out the trim router. Gonna have to let the weather warm up a bit first. Ordered a 24" length of 8.5" OD cast tube - man that stuff is expensive. Now Isee why these bigger skimmers cost what they cost.

 

[ca1ore]

Mine is MVX line with 8" tube. I think he was trying something with them and just never got it fully going. I think he also did a 5000 series but as a test thing.

Interesting. MTC was a mostly make-to-order shop in recent years, so I think Leo would pretty much make whatever one wanted. I have seen pictures of an HSA-5000, with four becketts, but never saw one in person.

 

[Saveafish]

My gosh 4. I wanna see it run hear it feel the roar.

 

[Saveafish]

That's why I went 16" it got costly after that.

 

[ca1ore]

Neck cleaner added

 

[Saveafish]

Mine has that handle piece. How would you go through it. Or would than need to be replaced. I was thinking of turning it upside down and drilling my hole through it. I'll pic in a bit so you can see.

 

[ca1ore]

Well, I went with the brute force and ignorance approach ...... clamped the lid into my vice and whacked the handle part with a hammer. Handle part came off, but the lid split down the middle ..... oooops. Glued the halves back together but had to put that black acrylic patch under the swabbie motor. Probably should have sawed it off.

Turning it over is a clever idea. Didn’t occur to me LOL. You should be able to notch out the handle part underneath and that way you’ll retain the warp resistance of the handle at least in part.

 

[Saveafish]

I'll try in a few days I might be putting the lid together in pieces too. Lol.

 

[Victoria M]

I have discovered a whole slew of threads to enjoy while chilling and healing. I don’t know why but I just enjoy your writing Simon. “Brute fires and ignororance” just cracked me up.

 

[joseserrano]

Very handy

 

[ca1ore]

Acrylic tube I ordered is now back ordered. Clearly there’s a vast left/right wing (take your pick) conspiracy afoot ..... gives me more time to overthink things. Occupational hazard in this hobby. 1/2” acrylic panel came in so broke out the trim router and circle jig. Used the skimmer gaskets to map the holes. New bottom flange just has pass through holes for the nylon bolts to screw into the old column; new top flange needs 1/4-20 threaded holes. Tap set gets you the latter. Some progression pictures.

 

[ca1ore]

I’m going to route a dado into the two flanges to accept the acrylic tube. Just cannot do that until I actually have the tube. It’s nominally 8.5” OD with 1/4” walls, but the dado needs to be a precise fit. I’ll then use the router with a flush cut bit to make sure the flange is completely flush with the ID of the tube.

The key to successful woodworking is to make practice cuts first. I’ll route the tube dado into a piece of scrap ply to assess fit before cutting into the plastic. This is kinda fun, just be mindful of safety.

 

[Saveafish]

That's sweet. How do you find the center of a circle disk. O know if your using the jig it'll center itself. But if you didn't have the center hole already marked and it was cut out? Can you use two squares and square it off than mark the center point.

 

[jda]

Are you going to make/buy a skim mate locker for it, or just have it drain into an open drain?

You are about to blow some people's minds who are all about bubble plates, controllable pumps and cones and stuff. Well done.

 

[Saveafish]

Its all about horse power.

 

[Saveafish]

Am I doing this right to center?

 

[Saveafish]

I'm hoping turning it upside down will be ok. I don't think the gasket groves will hurt it. The handle/anti warp strip will be ok in the neck a bit.
How much off center can the swabie be? Center of the strip is off by 1/16"

 

[ca1ore]

I'm hoping turning it upside down will be ok. I don't think the gasket groves will hurt it. The handle/anti warp strip will be ok in the neck a bit.
How much off center can the swabie be? Center of the strip is off by 1/16"

The swabbie really does need to be perfect center, good news is that there’s some ‘slop’ in the lid so you can move it a bit to adjust. I don’t recall how long the neck is on your skimmer. Both mine are long so I got swabbies with the extra long, double wiper blades. Never been entirely sure of the purpose of the gasket groove. Not planning on doing that on my riser.