Studiotronics Finishing Process

SSDiver2112 said:
Thanks for the idea.
I ordered one so I can try it out on the next one.

The little plastic reservoir that comes with it is small so I got a glass jar that is easier to get the cup in and out of, plus is heavier and stays put.

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I like this. how did you go about getting the hole in the glass lid? I'm think of doing the same but with a larger jar.
 
tg_vegas said:
I like this. how did you go about getting the hole in the glass lid? I'm think of doing the same but with a larger jar.
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I used a dremel diamond bit. Squirting water on it as it went. It drilled through pretty easy. I also had a flat sided bit to widen the hole to fit the fitting.

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studiotronics said:
Let us know how that goes. I bet there’s a dozen people reading this that would go buy one if successful.

I’ve priced out all the gear needed for a pretty serious cactus juice stabilizing setup many times but never pull the trigger. There’s so many facets of cue making to focus on, for now I’ve been happy outsourcing that stuff. One day though!
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I tried to use the food saver unit to pull the bubbles out of epoxy and I don't think the vacuum pressure is enough. The only difference between a batch of epoxy in the vacuum container and out was that the vacuum container gathered and created bigger bubbles in the mix but never enough time to pull them up to the surface before the pot life or working life was over. I was using West system 207 special clear so it thickened up before it had a chance to suck the bubbles out. Looks like I'll have to make a set up with the brake bleader.

How long did it take for the bubbles to rise to the top for your setup?


I'm experimenting now. With dye and a couple chunks of wood about 3/8 of an inch thick, so I can cut into them and see how deep the dye went. I'll give it a few days to a week to soak and get back with information on how it worked.
 
We seem to be using the terms pressure and vacuum interchangeably here. A pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber are very different animals.
 
tg_vegas said:
We seem to be using the terms pressure and vacuum interchangeably here. A pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber are very different animals.
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Vacuum is negative gauge pressure. A perfect vacuum is zero absolute pressure. A vacuum chamber is a chamber that will not collapse at negative gauge pressure. It's all pressure.
 
DeeDeeCues said:
20 what?

A perfect vacuum is -14.7psi. you don't get more (less?) than that.
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tg_vegas said:
We seem to be using the terms pressure and vacuum interchangeably here. A pressure chamber and a vacuum chamber are very different animals.
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Thank you for the correction.
I was reading the gauge incorrectly.

It was -21 inHg or -540 mmHg
Which if I am converting correctly that is 70-71% vacuum or 4.3psi.

It seemed to pull a lot of bubbles out and that may be the best that cheap bleeder kit can do. Obviously as close to 100% would be best but is 70% good enough?
 
I have a Gast vacuum pump that will pull up to22- 25 in inch something or other that I use for vacuum chucking certain pieces of wood when finish turning. I just adjust it with a relief valve to get the amount of vacuum needed. I went to some seminars on how to stabilize and color wood for woodturning with cactus juice. I may still have the handouts at home, but still fishing for a few days.
Not sure a hand pump will get you to the extended negative pressure needed, maybe it would though.
 
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Turn Tex, the supplier of Cactus Juice has a vast amount of info on wood stabilization and coloring. Also great info on pumps needed, many in the $50-$100 range
 
muskyed said:
Turn Tex, the supplier of Cactus Juice has a vast amount of info on wood stabilization and coloring. Also great info on pumps needed, many in the $50-$100 range
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Lots of pen turners have good information as well as they use various vacuum and pressure systems. Penturners.org has good information on the topic.
 
tg_vegas said:
I like this. how did you go about getting the hole in the glass lid? I'm think of doing the same but with a larger jar.
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I would now recommend not putting the hole directly over the cup like I did. I have to be careful bleeding the vacuum off since it blows directly into the cup.
 
SSDiver2112 said:
I would now recommend not putting the hole directly over the cup like I did. I have to be careful bleeding the vacuum off since it blows directly into the cup.
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Hadn't thought about that. Good Call. I found a glass iced tea jar with a sealed lid and a spigot at the bottom. I am going to replace the spigot with a fitting for the vacuum line. The jar seems heavy enough to safely take a vacuum.
 
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