Thread: vacuum chuck help needed please!

If no one comes up with an answer on the forum , I suggest you give Vismarc a ring .I have always found them very helpfull .
Ted

I've only used the outboard version of their union on my lathe but could you be leaking vacuum from the outboard side of your headstock?
Maybe some pictures could help?
Good luck
Cheers
Josh

You're just plugging the rotating union into the vac hose? Is it fitted to the head-stock spindle or not?

I had similar problems with a different brand, when I ran the vac pump too high and damaged the internal seals.

No the rotating union has the vacuum going straight to it. The RU is held by a 4 jaw chuck.

One picture shows the general set up.
The other is the brass connector at the end of the plastic tube. I hold my thumb on this and get great suction. Once I connect it to the RU no more suction!

Looking at the top picture, I see 14 possible leak points. Then you have a bunch more that is not seen. Because of the numerous leak factors, I went another route. I invented the Tail Stock Steady. It is such a simple device that I'm surprised it hadn't already been invented. I've been using it now for 10 years with my only 3 failures occurring in the first 2 weeks of using the first prototype.
562992E2-10A2-428C-9829-D09AE35049B9.jpg28FB8768-6405-4ED1-BB33-E6AD34BF3863.jpg
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It also allows bottom embellishments like decorations and finials if you have a pedestal form. This is done safely between centers and you never have to worry if will launch unless you forget to tighten tailstock. I've done pieces with a foot as small as 1 1/2" and diameters all the way up 19 1/2". Never worried if it was going to fail.

I'm not trying to sell you one because of the international shipping and taxes. The cost is about half of what a vac system would be but is a whole lot more secure. If you think you might have some interest, go to my website Wood Turning Tools | Tucson | WoodTurners WorkHolding Solutions. From there, click on the youtube icon, and watch a few boring videos. I'm basically trying to get more exposure on a simple tool that isn't noisy, isn't dependent on a bunch of leak prone hoses, and is as easy to install as a live center. ........... Jerry (in Tucson)USA

You have a leak and its the rotary union send it back. If it all works before using the union then thats it, not unusual to have a failure. Try connecting the union directly to the vac pump to test it.

Originally Posted by hughie

You have a leak and its the rotary union send it back. If it all works before using the union then thats it, not unusual to have a failure. Try connecting the union directly to the vac pump to test it.

good idea!
I did return it to Vicmarc and they were good enough to send a new one out. This one I can feel the vacuum come through but its very weak and will barely hold paper. I've since made one myself just using a sealed bearing some wood, silicon and the vacuum cup I also bought and that works so much better!

The chances of getting 2 dodgy ones must be slim so I don't know if I've done something wrong or not. I have a friend who has a better vacuum pump, hopefully it works for him. I've spent the last 2 or 3 weeks on it and have produced nothing but frustration so maybe I'm being told something by the turning gods!!!

Originally Posted by brainstrust

good idea!
I did return it to Vicmarc and they were good enough to send a new one out. This one I can feel the vacuum come through but its very weak and will barely hold paper. I've since made one myself just using a sealed bearing some wood, silicon and the vacuum cup I also bought and that works so much better!

The chances of getting 2 dodgy ones must be slim so I don't know if I've done something wrong or not. I have a friend who has a better vacuum pump, hopefully it works for him. I've spent the last 2 or 3 weeks on it and have produced nothing but frustration so maybe I'm being told something by the turning gods!!!

You may have to go over all the joints and replace the ptfe tape making sure its wound on the correct way. Be mindful of over tightening may crack a fitting, It doesnt look like there's much ptfe tape on the vac head fitting. I use something like this although not this brand, it seals better than tape IMHO.
https://www.automegastore.com.au/per...hoCq70QAvD_BwE