My Pressure Tank Setup.

[Les in Red Deer]

I set this up a while back to do my Slab Casting.
Works great for me.

Les

[Trent The Thief]

Hi Les,

Have you ever tried to use that pot as a vacuum chamber for stabilizing blanks? We have what is probably the same pot sold by Harbor Freight. I've been thinking about casting and stabilizing blanks for a few months after seeing some really sweet walnut burl pens.

[gawdelpus]

Hi Les,

Have you ever tried to use that pot as a vacuum chamber for stabilizing blanks? We have what is probably the same pot sold by Harbor Freight. I've been thinking about casting and stabilizing blanks for a few months after seeing some really sweet walnut burl pens.

A few have tried with limited success :( Mostly you need to see whats happening while stabilising , as the process can generate a lot of bubbles and the mixtures expand causing problems of overflow and the mixture getting into the vacuum pump , even poly casting will make a mess as the air bubbles through the mixture ,possible solution is a thick clear top with fittings so you can keep an eye on the process and adjust as needed to help solve some of the problems with vacuum. Pressure for casting is a bit different as the levels tend to go down under pressure ,so less problems ,but you need to allow for it and have a well of excess on top of your required or estimated amount for the job and mold , A lot of info on these subjects is in the casting section :) cheers ~ John

[Trent The Thief]

I've watched the videos on TurnTex Woodworks - MesquiteMan's Cactus Juice (http://www.turntex.com/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=121) and seen how much the resin can foam.

I have a bucket full of LEDs and a tiny camera that would be easy enough attach to the underside of the lid and then wire up through the paint suction tube. I'll have to see what I can cobble together before I decide on buying the pot.

I was thinking of something like this:

250249

I definitely want to be able to use the pot for both pressure and vacuum.

Of course, a new lathe is of paramount importance ;-) I've my eye on a sweet Nova 2024 :B

[_fly_]

We just need to talk Neil into being Aussie distributor for cactus juice now that he's not working no more.
OR
Mayne david at timberbits wants to do it for us.

Each of us buying it 1 bottle at a time and paying US postage is going to get costly.

[gawdelpus]

Good thinking there Trent :) Maybe a cheap reversing camera with built in leds :) not sure if that can take the pressure ,should be ok for vacuum though , maybe one of those front door inspection tubes would do the job with the leds :) It could be a harsh environment inside the pot lol. Cheers ~ John

[Trent The Thief]

We just need to talk Neil into being Aussie distributor for cactus juice now that he's not working no more.
OR
Mayne david at timberbits wants to do it for us.

Each of us buying it 1 bottle at a time and paying US postage is going to get costly.

I spent a fair bit of time googling for other resin sources. I couldn't even find any other retail sources in the state, let alone a bulk dealer.

Shipping and handling is a killer even when it is in-country. I would almost always rather do without than pay shipping charges!


Good thinking there Trent :) Maybe a cheap reversing camera with built in leds :) not sure if that can take the pressure ,should be ok for vacuum though , maybe one of those front door inspection tubes would do the job with the leds :) It could be a harsh environment inside the pot lol. Cheers ~ John

I looked at some of the pricier camera/LED combo's. I don 't think any of them are worth risking even if I could fit them through the paint tube. I think the leads might be shielded, too. With my lashup will just be plain wires that I can solder and seal up in the tube. Buying the pot is the only large expense and it's even bigger than the chamber than TurnTex's largest chamber. And there's no shipping since there's a local Harbor Freight :D

I really, really dislike shipping charges.