My new Vacuum Chucks

**dai sensei** · 18th January 2012, 07:45 PM

After attending 's "Grippy things" weekend

I realised how easy it was to make a vacuum chuck for the lathe. So over Xmas when someone asked me to make a natural edge "bowl thingy" from some Hairy Oak and I was up to finishing the base, I thought to myself, perfect excuse to make a vacuum chuck

. In my normal fashion, I then thought, why make one when you can make four different sized ones

I pulled out a small sheet of 19mm formply and sliced it up into smalled squares. I use 75sq for a tennon on the chuck, 2 squares each tennon, then 3 each of the other sizes for the different sized chuck faces. I glued up the chuck pieces and tennon pieces separately with Titebond II.

The tennons are made by turning between centres then drilling them, soak with thin CA, then tap 30x3.5 (both my lathes have this thread) all the way through, soak again with thin CA, then tap again. I then glued the tennons to the chuck face pieces. Whilst on the lathe, I then turned the face to shape including a grove to seat the rubber seal, and the tennons to true. Then I gave them all with a few coats of shellac.

Finally I glued in the rubber seal, from 6mm rubber round for the smaller two and 10mm rubber round for the larger two, and a small flat of rubber at the base of the tennon.

Finished chucks are 50mm, 120mm, 200mm and 300mm chucks.

More on the lathe connections next.

**dai sensei** · 18th January 2012, 07:52 PM

For the lathes it is a matter of a bearing with a small PVC conduit fixed into the bearing, fixed into a timber plug. For the JET I screwed the plug to the flywheel. For the Woodfast I made a plug that seated into the cone shaped flywheel, with a rubber seal against the inside base of the flywheel.

Next was a set-up for a mini vacuum pump connected to my air compressor, the other for my electric vacuum pump, both connecting to the PVC conduit on the lathes (simply push on). The photos show one on each lathe, both both can be used on both lathes. They also both pull a 29.9" vacuum, just the electric one pulls very fast, whereas the air one takes a while

.

Also shown is the natural edge bowl thingy I started making the chucks for, mounted on the 50mm chuck.

Cheers

**RETIRED** · 18th January 2012, 09:15 PM

Looks like the hand of fate.

**Sturdee** · 18th January 2012, 09:55 PM

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Next was a set-up for a mini vacuum pump connected to my air compressor, the other for my electric vacuum pump,
Cheers

Neil,

Can you give us more details on the vacuum pumps.

Peter.

**dai sensei** · 18th January 2012, 10:18 PM

Originally Posted by Sturdee

Neil,

Can you give us more details on the vacuum pumps.

Peter.

Below is a photo of my electric one, bought off a guy in Sydney ~$150, Ebay sells similar. The other air operated one is a simple (but good one) venturii pump, bought from an air specialist business in Brisbane (that went broke last year) ~$100.

The air one takes longer to draw a decent vacuum, so the electric is definitely better. At 's place a vacuum cleaner was used sucessfully, doesn't pull the same vacuum, but for the larger chucks it is fine. Definately need a decent vacuum for the 50mm one, as smaller area means less holding force.

Cheers

**GPW** · 18th January 2012, 10:37 PM

Hey Neil

You may need to be careful with the extra load placed on your bearings.

**TTIT** · 18th January 2012, 10:38 PM

Good stuff Neil

Be very careful though if you're pulling up to 29" - I crushed a couple of thin bowls by getting over-zealous with the vacuum. These days I regulate it to no more than 15" to 20" unless it's holding a very solid item.

**dai sensei** · 18th January 2012, 10:40 PM

Good point, definately not going to hold my egg forms

**Scott** · 18th January 2012, 10:57 PM

You've got me rubbing my chin, thanks for posting.

**issatree** · 19th January 2012, 01:30 AM

Hi All,
A Good Subject.
I made mine many years ago for about $4, the cost of 2 mouse Pads.
Having A " Tough " Lathe it was made very easy, as there is a plate with 3 screws to hold the back Bearing in. Remove plate, turn a step piece to go over the Spindle, & big enough to take the end of a Vacuum Cleaner. Also needs 3 Holes to screw to where the plate came off.
You must open the V/Cleaner pipe vent, as it has to suck air, other wise you burn out the V/Cleaners Motor.
I had a much bigger hole in front to hold a Bowl or such. I used a home made Face Plate with a bit of 3/4in. thick Pine that I put a Shallow Hollow in, so as to get suction.
Worked fine as long as you kept the Speed down.
This was not my idea, & can't remember who thought of it.

**hughie** · 19th January 2012, 08:44 AM

excellent stuff.

I have a vac pump for several years and have as yet go further. Love the hairy oak, darn! I have got so many things to get off the ground

**hughie** · 19th January 2012, 08:46 AM

You may need to be careful with the extra load placed on your bearings

A thought to consider, but not too serious I would have thought.

**artme** · 19th January 2012, 09:12 AM

Good stuphph Neil!!

The point about the strength of the vacuum you pull is important. Saw afellow destroy a besutifull bowl like that.

Why not just use a vacuum cleaner? They provide plenty of suction.

**Sawdust Maker** · 19th January 2012, 01:41 PM

Neil

great job, worth a greenie

Originally Posted by GPW

Hey Neil

You may need to be careful with the extra load placed on your bearings.

Huon

Wouldn't an unturned hunk of wood be heavier then the nearly finished bowl and this setup

**Interwood** · 19th January 2012, 03:33 PM

Hi Neil,

Great post.

Would you please post details of the Vacuum Pump please. (ie Capacity, Power, Pressure etc.)

I've decided to go the eBay route, and need to make sure that I'm going to buy one that will work.

Best regards, Chris

Originally Posted by dai sensei

Below is a photo of my electric one, bought off a guy in Sydney ~$150, Ebay sells similar. The other air operated one is a simple (but good one) venturii pump, bought from an air specialist business in Brisbane (that went broke last year) ~$100.

The air one takes longer to draw a decent vacuum, so the electric is definitely better. At 's place a vacuum cleaner was used sucessfully, doesn't pull the same vacuum, but for the larger chucks it is fine. Definately need a decent vacuum for the 50mm one, as smaller area means less holding force.

Cheers

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