vacuum pump question

Dave38

Dave38

theemperorhasnoclotheson
Silver Member
Does anyone have a source or advice on vacuum pumps? I'm looking at building a small tank for stabilizing soft woods, just single turnings at a time, and am looking for ideas on a vacuum method. I was going to use a pressure method with my compressor, but have been told told that the vacuum method is better results. I looked at some on ebay and found that I know nothing about what the specs really mean. Would something like this work? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96677
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Dave
 
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it will work

i vacuum some of my shafts in acryloid b-72 and use a pump kinda like that. my set-up is home made tank, wood 2 by 4's and 1 by 6's, and sealed inside using auto fiberglass repair kit. i used window weather stripping around the top. a piece of 1/4 inch plate glass so i can see whats going on inside. put vaseline on the weather stripping for the seal. when you start the vacuum process the liquid will begin to froth and it will rise [ i made the first one to shallow and sucked liquid into the vacuum pump] when it starts to fall again the process is complete. any questions 660 723 1346. hope this helps chuckl
 
Vacuum

Dave:

Try using a venturi from McMaster. In my other life (before retirement) we
made our own venturis for our automotive cooling system equipment. You
can pull about 21 inches in just a few seconds. I believe (without looking it up) that the Mcmaster cost about $50. Vacuum pumps are expensive. The draw back with venturis is that they require a lot of air. I now use a vacuum bag with a hand pump I got from Woodworkers Supply. Works fine for what I am doing (same as your project).

Bob


Dave38 said:
Does anyone have a source or advice on vacuum pumps? I'm looking at building a small tank for stabilizing soft woods, just single turnings at a time, and am looking for ideas on a vacuum method. I was going to use a pressure method with my compressor, but have been told told that the vacuum method is better results. I looked at some on ebay and found that I know nothing about what the specs really mean. Would something like this work? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96677
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Dave
Click to expand...
 
Thanks Bob and Chuck, I'm interested in the handpump(Bob) and the homebuilt tank (Chuck). I'm thinking on using an old 'dutch oven' that will allow using full 20" pieces and will be okay with the chemicals. Is acryloid b-72 a recommended polymer or are there others that will work also?
I must ask though, why does a vacuum work better to impregnate the wood, verses a positive pressure such as using compressed air into a chamber? I have read a few articles, and still can't wrap my mind around how it works.
Thanks again for the ideas,
Dave
 
Vacuum

Dave38 said:
Thanks Bob and Chuck, I'm interested in the handpump(Bob) and the homebuilt tank (Chuck). I'm thinking on using an old 'dutch oven' that will allow using full 20" pieces and will be okay with the chemicals. Is acryloid b-72 a recommended polymer or are there others that will work also?
I must ask though, why does a vacuum work better to impregnate the wood, verses a positive pressure such as using compressed air into a chamber? I have read a few articles, and still can't wrap my mind around how it works.
Thanks again for the ideas,
Dave
Click to expand...

Dave: I think the bag is better for this application than a tank. I have collapsed cylinder tubes by pulling a vacuum on them. I do not remember the correlation between vacuum and pressure but 21" of vacuum is equal to a tremendous amount of pressure with less potential for a vessel rupture and also more even distribution of the liquid you are using. Check out this website--it should answer all your questions: /www.edcousa.net/vacuum-training.html. Good luck .

Bob Flynn/Denali Pool Cues
 
i agree. the bag is prob the best way.

although i am fond of the old dutch oven :grin: :grin: :grin:

serioudslt will this effect the wood in any way. crushing the pores or whatever.

ive been thinking about doing this for a bit now.

i like to see when other azers have similar ideas.

sometimes i cant sleep at night bc my brain wont stop working lol
 
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Dave38 said:
Does anyone have a source or advice on vacuum pumps? I'm looking at building a small tank for stabilizing soft woods, just single turnings at a time, and am looking for ideas on a vacuum method. I was going to use a pressure method with my compressor, but have been told told that the vacuum method is better results. I looked at some on ebay and found that I know nothing about what the specs really mean. Would something like this work? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96677
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Dave
Click to expand...
If you look at www.penturners.org,search stabilizing you will find a lot of info,most use pressure pots,ive used wood fr some of them,its real good
 
Dave38 said:
Does anyone have a source or advice on vacuum pumps? I'm looking at building a small tank for stabilizing soft woods, just single turnings at a time, and am looking for ideas on a vacuum method. I was going to use a pressure method with my compressor, but have been told told that the vacuum method is better results. I looked at some on ebay and found that I know nothing about what the specs really mean. Would something like this work? http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=96677
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
Dave
Click to expand...

Just some food for thought. I made one years ago that worked very well for my purpose. I used a vacuum pump for working on an engine tune up. I got a few fittings at the hardware store. You need a shut off valve for sure to hold the vacuum.
What I used for a tank was a large mason jar with a metal lid just put the fittings on the lid and a piece of tubing and that is about it. I was just using it to stabilize pieces of wood I was using for inlays and butt caps and joints. I don't know how to do pictures or I would post what it looks like. When you do it the air comes out of the wood like foam, it is pretty neat.
 
Are you guys using a heat cured resin or just a stablizer? I am not familar with the one listed in the first post. I looked into a resin the 3M made a couple years ago but never did anything with it. Chris.
 
You asked for a source of a vacuum pump. I made one years ago with an old refrigerator compressor pump. Just remove it from a discarded fridge and attach a coupling from hardware store brass fittings. I can pull way more vacuum than you will ever need with mine. I just close a valve when I have enough pulled down. I use it all the time with a plastic bag to do veneers. Just turn it off when you reach your desired vacuum, I plumbed a gauge into my setup as well.
 
vacuum pump

Salvedged compressor from household refrigerator will pull decent vacuum. Need to install a guage inline to measure inches of vacuum. need to install a shut off valve to hold the vacuum. One of the best commercial vacuum pumps on the market is made by " Robinair". New wholesale cost at refrigeration supply house is around $300 or if you can find a good used one, they go for about half ( 150 ).30 inches of vacuum is considered normal pull down foe refrigeration work. Unsure how deep of vacuum is needed for your application. They use a special oil made specifically for vacuum pump use.
 
acryloid b-72

was developed to use to restore old masters oil paintings. when applied it softens the paint in the cracks so they can be smoothed back in place, when it drys its rock hard and completely colorless. chuck
 
almer said:
If you look at www.penturners.org,search stabilizing you will find a lot of info,most use pressure pots,ive used wood fr some of them,its real good
Click to expand...
Great site, tons of reading material! Thanks. I really appreciate the input and ideas. I was reading on the penturners site that most tend to pull a vacuum, then let it set for a period, then reverse it and apply air pressure for a period of time.
Where can one purchase the acryloid b-72 or a similar type polymer? I did a google search and came up empty. I hope to have a working method by the end of this month, if I have enough free time.
Again, thanks for the great advice and info, I didn't realize so many people did this themselves.
Dave
 
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