vacuum pumps

[rocket]

Can anyone point me in the right direction in regards to the sort of pump required to set up a decent vacuum system for say , double tops or laminated arched plates? I'm curious as to whether it would be a worthwhile endeavour.
Thanks in advance, Cheers.

Rod.

[kiwigeo]

Rod, I think I might have a spare pump stashed away somewhere. Let me check and get back to you.

[Craig Bumgarner]

Have a look at Veneer Supplies in Maryland, USA. They sell pumps, vacuum bags, etc. and have some DIY kits / plans. I bought the vacuum bag I use for laminating backs there, has worked well for 15 backs so far. It might be a stretch for you to buy out of country and I'm sure can find what you need locally, but looking at Veneer Supplies will give you some ideas. There is considerable discussion on vacuum systems, bagging techniques and laminating veneers.

http://www.veneersupplies.com/

[johnparchem]

I use vacuum clamps for bridges and I have a vacuum box for gluing braces on to tops and backs. I found out after buying a vacuum pump from a luthier supply house that the amount of air the pump can move can be important. My first pump was a 1.1 CFM and it did work for bridge clamps, but it did not really keep the vacuum in my homemade and probably somewhat leaky vacuum box. I purchased the 5 CFM pump from the above mentioned http://www.veneersupplies.com/ and have been much happier.

[rocket]

All good help, thanks everyone.

Rod.

[simso]

One of the keys to long lasting pumps is having a storage tank that maintains the vacuum rather than the pump running non stop to maintain vacuum. This way the pump turns on and off to maintain a vacuum head

I have four vacuum pump setups in my shop, all for different things.

Steve

[routout]

I use a catch pot similar to this acts as a secondary storage and all the foreign particles end up here not in the pump

[demonx]

Vacuum is something I really need to get sorted.

When I had the engineer design my CNC he showed me a Venturi pump which worked really well. We discussed using an old air compressor tank as a holding tank.

Apparently they are cheap and easy to get hold of from repair places after the motors pack it in and they already have holes threaded for fittings.

[kiwinoz62]

I'm also interested in using vacuum, looked at veneersupplies.com to buy a kit from and import, but with the added cost of freight it begins to become expensive and not a worthy project.
Has anyone built using components bought on the local market in Oz/NZ.

If anyone can pass on their knowledge, contacts or photos of their system, that would be helpful.

[routout]

I have worked on most pumps ,I know a gasket cutter that uses quite a large one he pulls the gasket material down onto a foam bed .For me I was originally going to(still want to ) Vac bag fiberglass so my set up even for cnc is fine have used the small vac bed i routed for quick stuff ,the Vac pump is a two stage one off ebay $ 100 or so built the tank myself I have had it running a lot no problems .First thing I did was buy some good oil ,the rubber in the bed is for vac holding soft as, I have a place up the road Schmalz Vacuum Components I wanted 6 mmm dia they only had 8 .

The panel I made so I can lock off the Vac where i need it and a cheap gauge away you go ,I do have a Veturi it needs constant air works well but with the Vac I can just shut it off and hold ,so thats my easy set up hope it helps .

[kiwigeo]

Stuff pumps..just hook a hose up to this vacuum reservoir...

f3f56eff457be8f84a20d1cfb1156be4.jpg (33.55 KiB) Viewed 20566 times

[simso]

People were being locked up during the crazy clown phase, don't know how they missed that one.

Scary as hell (not talking politics talking the person)

Steve

[kiwigeo]

Still looking for the pumps Rod......buried in the back of my workshop somewhere.

[rocket]

Thanks Martin, having a few ales with the folk from Mainwaring and Connor yesterday and the one with very animate eyebrows said he could help me out with some gauges , fittings etc, the compressor tank sounds like a good option.

Cheers

Rod.

[kiwigeo]

Rod, I had a dig around today and found a complete vacuum kit that I think was part of a group purchase years ago. There are two vacuum pumps...both Thomas 240volt 2688 series pumps with accompanying regulator and filter. The pumps came from Joewoodworker.com in the US so theyve been serviced and ports set up for vacuum clamping use. http://www.joewoodworker.com/docs/thoma ... ctions.pdf

I can spare one of the pumps if youre interested.

[routout]

Plus the Red Head thrown in.

[kiwigeo]

Plus the Red Head thrown in.

yeah you can have her for free...

[rocket]

Thanks Martin done deal, I'll pm you

Rod