Replies

1. 
   dgreen | Jan 15, 2009 07:57am | #1

   I find vacuum very handy in the shop not only for the press but for clamps, hold downs, lathe chucks, workpiece holding and etc.

   I made mine with a rotary pump made for refrigeration service. I is designed for continuous operation and other than changing the oil, is maintenance free.

   I mounted the pump to a 30 gal. vertical compressor tank and I plumbed vacuum around the shop much as I did for air.

   I make my own bags out of old waterbed matresses I get for free on Craigslist. Jigs and fixtures I make from UHMW plastic or plexiglas and Lexan.

    

    

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   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.
   ~ Denis Diderot

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jan 16, 2009 05:49am | #10

   Say, Don,Have you tried out those vacuum-seal Zip-Lock bags I brought to the table a few months ago, as per a David Reedsmith article?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   dgreen | Jan 16, 2009 06:15am | #12

   I bought the bags, but no time to try them out yet. 

    

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   Men will never be free until the last king is strangled with the entrails of the last priest.~ Denis Diderot

2. 
   tom77 | Jan 15, 2009 06:24pm | #2

   Chris,

   I made a pump using the JWW design and components, and it works well. My memory is not clear about the compressor, but I think I bought it from a surplus equipment outfit in Omaha. It is a vane pump and requires no lubrication. My bag is 54" by 60", which I chose to handle table top halves. I have probably run more than 100 press cycles through this system, and almost everything still works well. My only problem is with the zip lock type closure, which leaks at the ends. I must fold and clamp the corners to reduce the leakage.

   I would be glad to snap and forward photos if that would help. Let me know.

   Good luck, Tom.

3. 
   ttc | Jan 15, 2009 06:30pm | #3

   I bought the kit from joewoodworker.com and my father-in-law and I assembled it in an afternoon. I made some melamine cauls and was veneering a tabletop the next day. The bag has held up very well and I wouldn't hesitate ordering from them again as they were very helpful recommending certain extras that made assembly easier.

4. 
   Wingdoctor | Jan 15, 2009 06:56pm | #4

   I bought Joe's EVS Kit and the Rietschle Thomas Vacuum Pump, 3.15 CFM,
   Rebuilt, 110-120 VAC. I purchased the pipe for the vacuum tank at Home Depot. I also got Joe's bag. I built the pump in one evening and the unit runs perfect. I had no problems following Joe's excellent instructions, all the parts were there, and it went together easily. I turned it on for the first time and adjusted the control to set the vacuum level, closed the valve, unplugged the unit, and went upstairs for the night. The next morning the vacuum gauge read the very same as the night before. No leaks in the pump or tank. It works very well to veneer, the unit cycles occasionally, no problems. I also bought Joe's closure for the bag and it works well also. You can make your own but the closure kit is inexpensive and there is no experimenting with your own pipe to get a seal. Joe is a straight shooter on the pump and on his veneer. I did buy one batch of veneer that split in shipment for a few inches on one end. When I emailed Joe he instantly refunded a large portion of the cost, the veneer was still usable for me, and I have purchased several lots since from Joe and am very pleased at the quality and price.

   Bruce

   "A man's got to know his limitations." Dirty Harry Calahan
1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jan 16, 2009 05:50am | #11

   Thanks to all for the info. This is what I wanted to hear.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

5. 
   cwalvoord | Jan 15, 2009 11:13pm | #5

   I would like to add a question to this thread and apologize if it is "hijacking" or poor manners. I too have been thinking about trying out vacuum veneering and I seem to recall a "beginner" system that used the little plastic vacuum pumps that were developed for resealing wine bottles. Seems to me this would be a great way to try out vacuum veneering without incurring the expense of a pump. I can't find any reference on line to this system - does anyone here have any info?
   Thanks
   Chris

1. 
   Recounter | Jan 16, 2009 12:39am | #6

   On the small, starter vacuum setup, I think you're referring to this:http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ToolGuide/ToolGuideProduct.aspx?id=25465I have one and I did manage to do some veneering projects for a budget price. However, I found the "black tar" sealer very difficult to work with and the bag to be rather flimsy. The edge seam of the bag split a few inches the first time I used it while I was yanking with all my strength go break open the seal.

1. 
   cwalvoord | Jan 16, 2009 12:51am | #7

   That is the one I was thinking of, thanks. Thanks also for recounting your experience with the kit. I suppose for such a relatively low price one can't expect super high quality bags. Still, if it works in at least a limited way I may give it a shot.
   Chris

1. 
   Recounter | Jan 16, 2009 03:02am | #8

   Chris,Yeah, the thing does actually work and the price point is pretty good! I ended just folding the end of the bag over, putting strips of wood on either side and using C-clamps to seal it rather than using the black sealer stuff that comes with it. Also, I found that the vacuum attachment from one of those kitchen seal-a-meal type gadgets worked well (and much more quickly) than the wine bottle thing that comes with it. Good luck!Lance

2. 
   dloc | Jan 16, 2009 05:29am | #9

   If you want to play, got to Walmart or Kmart and buy a Reynolds Handi-vac and a box of 1 gallon (or 1 quart) bags for it. When you are ready to move up in size, you can use it to cook a sous vide meal to impress the heck out of your spouse (http://amath.colorado.edu/~baldwind//sous-vide.html). She/he will be so impressed that you can buy more tools. There are also vacuum pumps that run off of flowing water (remember chemistry lab?). Water is expensive but is still a good way to try something out.