Lawn Vac & Leaf Shredder

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Here's a project that I have tinkered with for a couple years.  A while back, I used to rake about 1 1/2 acres of leaves into piles and haul them over to my mulch pile on a large tarp.  It was pretty aerobic exersize...  Well, it got to the point where I thought f**k it - there has to be an easier way, so I built a vac attachment for my lawn tractor.  I used my utility trailer as the base and made up some sides and bought some heavy lawn chair seat netting for the top.  I bought a 7hp Tecumseh off EBay and made up the blower and fan from scratch.  Works good, at least until this past fall when it got a bit low on oil and started making bad noises...  OK, so now I've got my leaves being picked up, actually, I've got a few more leaves now - another acre that the wife would like clean.  I mean I've got a s**tload of leaves.  What to do?Hmm, well, over there in the corner of the shed is.... a 20hp Onan just setting there.  Screw those woosy 6hp Troybilt shredders - I want MORE friggin' power....  Well, I fired up the old cad system and designed up a shredder and the attached image is what it ended up as.  If you look in the combined image, you can see how much finer it chops it.  I leave it in a pile to compost for a year and then move it into the garden to make room for next month's pile. Attached ImagesLast edited by Garauld; 12-22-2005 at 08:09 PM.- "If ya can't be handsome, ya may as well be handy!"   HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln SP125+Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38
Reply:nice work.....im longing to be back working on the yard.....hate SNOW !dawg
Reply:Wow!  If I may ask, what is the "day job" you hold?  Both that you obviously have some experience using the old grey matter and also that you have the time to put these toys together!
Reply:Beyond Excellent Work!!Would you be willing to post some more pictures detailing the interior of the impeller?   Better yet, would you be willing to share your CAD files?    P.M. me if so.What does the impeller blade look like?    Are the cutting edges cut into the impeller or attached to it?    What you've show in the pictures is exactly what I need to build.There are no small projects
Reply:Hi imagineer - attached are a couple of early images showing more details.  Since these photos were taken, I have changed the blade design - I now use a set of 3 standard mower blades.  The ones shown had a tendancy to clog the V-notch.  I also modified the end of the blower - the necking down at the discharge nozzle clogged regularly with damp/wet leaves.  A straight sided elbow fixed that.  I plan to add a belt guard some day. Attached Images- "If ya can't be handsome, ya may as well be handy!"   HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln SP125+Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38
Reply:cool,,,20hp
Reply:Will you explain about the 3 blade setup you now use or maybe a picture? I must say that you do some of the finest work I've seen on the internet or in any of the stores that sell their "professional" machines. Thanks for sharing.
Reply:Oops. Forgot a question. What rpm do you turn the shredder at? Looks like you geared it down by looking at the pulleys on the motor and shredder.
Reply:Thanks ronj - actually, it's geared up about 15% higher than engine speed.  I took 3 lawn mower blades and attached them similar as shown in the exploded photo so the sharp edges slice through the leaves. and directing the shards through the pipe towards the blower.  I can't get a photo as it's all together and stored until next year, but I can make a 3D cad model of it and post it shortly...- "If ya can't be handsome, ya may as well be handy!"   HTP Invertig 201Lincoln Power Mig 255CLincoln SP125+Thermal Dynamics Cutmaster 38
Reply:It looks really great and I'd love to have one myself as I too have many many leaves, but couldnt help but wonder if you used mulcher blades (  they look like a lawnmower blade with a comb above the sharp side) might the results be better?