Thread: Vacuum pump for veneer press

...here ya go Dengy mate, I use the seal a bag for re-using my Festool vac bags.
Sorry, can't help with the pump.

eBay, you'll find an electric one for less than $100.

There was a thread or 2 a while ago for vacuum chucks for turning.

For a general use vacuum pump around the shop it's hard to beat a diaphragm type. Ebay usually has plenty of used units. http://www.ebay.com/itm/GAST-DOA-P70...item3397c85c67

If you don't mind the messier option of an rotary vane oil type pump there are plenty to be had that are for AC service. Again look on Ebay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Single-Stage...item3f2d86bf25

Cheers,
Rob

Many thanks Wolften, that's exactly what I was after. Just hope the shipping cost is not exhorbitant.

I was thinking of using it on the dust bag on my little dust collector too - do you think it would expand over the bag folded over the inner rod?

dust collector.JPG

I use the wine pump too, but first I evacuate the great bulk of the air with a vacuum. Usually, even with a big bag, I can pull max vacuum in a minute or less.

Nonetheless, if you find a good pump at a reasonable price, I would be interested.

Thanks John, I will go down this path with the vacuum cleaner and then the wine pump

...on the offbeat chance could anyone suggest a reasonably cheap 240v pump for bag veneering.
Sorry for the hijack Dengy.
Don't know how strong the seal a bags are mate. I would hate to use one on the dusty bag and it let go when half full.
Maybe in conjunction with a few hand clamps for a bit of peace of mind might be the go.

I have an old fridge pump. I have used one before, and it does a good job

G'day Joe, I bought a single-stage 3.3cfm vacuum pump from eBay for $100 a few months ago to go with a vacuum chuck system, (as mentioned by Cliff)
The seller I bought from has since run out, but here's a similar one:
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Vacuum-Pu...item1c490cd331


Suits my purpose well, and should be fine for vacuum bags as well.

b. 3.3cfm vacuum pump.jpg

(It's getting a good workout at the moment - I have five bowls to finish the bottoms of.)

Thanks very much for this information Steve, looks good. Being a complete newbie on vacuums, what else would I need to use this on a veneer press? A manifold and gauges?

Also, can you leave this running for hours, or would it have some some sort of duty cycle like an air compressor and welder has?

Finally, is it noisy?

Best of luck with your vacuum chuck and turning, I hope it turns out well - unintentional pun, sorry

Originally Posted by Dengue

Thanks very much for this information Steve, looks good. Being a complete newbie on vacuums, what else would I need to use this on a veneer press? A manifold and gauges?

I'm not 100% sure on this. Do you need to pull a specific amount of vacuum, or as much as possible? If as much as possible, you should only need a filter and hose between the pump and the bag, I imagine. (My vacuum pump pulls a measured 28-29 inHg. A perfect vacuum is about 31 inHg.)
I need specific levels of vacuum, so had to add a gauge, bleed valve as a regulator and a couple of filters. (A filter is critical, or the oil in the pump will get clogged with dust.)

I had trouble finding a fitting to connect a hose to the pump, but found that sets of hoses in various lengths, with a fitting on the end, were available from eBay. For the other end of that hose, which only has a 3/16" ID, I ran a 5.5mm drill bit 1/2" into the end, (the hose needs to be well taped down for this, as I discovered the hard way), then used an off-the shelf 1/4" barb to 1/4 BSP fitting pushed into it, with silicon vacuum tube and 1/4 BSP fittings the rest of the way. You'd need to do similar to adapt that end to suit a filter, then something at the other end to suit the vacuum bag.

If you do go this route, I can send you a hose with a 1/4" flare fitting on the end, assuming the pump that you get has the same fitting as mine. I have two spares. (Bought a set of three.)
I also have a heap of other spare fittings with 1/4" barb and 1/4 BSP M & F ends, along with some silicon vacuum hose. An inline filter is about $10-$12. A link: http://www.ebay.com/itm/321155762031...U:3160&vxp=mtr
(The filter has a water-release valve for spray painting, (works backwards so no good for vacuum), but I just flooded it with CA to block it.)

Also, can you leave this running for hours, or would it have some some sort of duty cycle like an air compressor and welder has?

Good question. This could be a problem. My little pump gets hot in about 15-30 minutes, even with a 6" desk fan pointed at it. (In fact, I'm typing this as I wait for it to cool between bowls.)
How fast does your glue set?

Finally, is it noisy?

Not too bad in this department. It makes a little noise, but not much. Far less than a compressor or dust collector. Probably about the same as my 12" disc sander.

Best of luck with your vacuum chuck and turning, I hope it turns out well - unintentional pun, sorry

Thanks Joe. I'm really enjoying the turning, for a change from the other stuff.
So far, the vacuum chuck setup is working really well - no UFOs yet.

Just saw this advertised. No idea of it is any good or not, but might be worth a look if you have a compressor.

http://www.infinitytools.com/Venturi...nfo/VEN%2D001/

Trav