Replies

1. 
   jptenberg | Jul 21, 2007 06:21pm | #1

   I built the venturi kit from joe.  It was pretty straightforward, and took only about an hour.  I purchased the large bag 4x8 and the pump works very well to evecuate the large area of the bag.  I don't use it for bending to forms, just for pressing veneer to flat panels, but I am able to get a good amount of sustained pressure. 

   The only down is that I have a smaller compressor in the shop, so it tends to run fairly often when using the venturi pump.  Not a big deal, except my compressor is LOUD.

   I recommend purchasing the heavy-duty bag, as I believe that it 's worht the extra$ for the added thickness.

    

   Peter

   www.jpswoodworking.com

2. 
   DickL | Jul 21, 2007 07:54pm | #2

   I too built the venturi kit from Joe Woodworker. As Peter stated, it went together quickly and without incident. I have only used it with a 4' x 4' bag for flat panels, but it works just fine, even with my cheapo HF compressor.

   (If you find yourself in the Tampa area, stop by and take a look.)

   
   

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   Edited 7/21/2007 12:55 pm ET by DickL

3. 
   RickLoDico | Jul 22, 2007 12:03am | #3

   I went the other route and bought this:
   http://www.veneersupplies.com/product_info.php?cPath=60_64&products_id=248
   I just finished pressing some panels with birds eye maple and anigre. This was the first time that I've used it and I'm satisfied with the results. The pumps keeps 23-24 lbs in a 4 X 4 heavy vinyl bag. It's a continuous run pump and is very quiet.

4. 
   Floss | Jul 22, 2007 02:25am | #4

   I have a hi-flow pump from vacu press (http://www.vacupress.com). It works very well. It will evacuate ####4' x 8' bag in less than 10 seconds.

   Of course it really depends on what you want to do.

   If you are pressing a lot of curves then the rapid evacuation is a plus. The pump is really quiet compared to my compressor. However the system was $1400.00 with a 4' x 8' poly bag.

   If you are looking to experiment with vacuum pressing then I would either try the make your own route or go with a small continuous run pump for a few hundred bucks.

   If you are going to spend some money then get a good bag. Makes a difference after doing a bit of pressing.

   J.P.

5. 
   Castlewerks | Jul 23, 2007 06:22pm | #5

   I built one last year and purchased a 4'x4' bag (the higher quality one that they sell) and I use a 30 gallon compressor to run the system. It looks a bit like a high school science project, but it works great. I'd strongly recommend that you look into Darryl Kiel's videos, they are excellent:

   http://vacupress.com/videos.htm

   Cheers,

   Michael

1. 
   danmart | Jul 24, 2007 05:43am | #7

   wondering who your source was for the kit you built??

   it sounds like you built the compressor/venturi system. any second thoughts??

   I have a large compressor that I feel that I should put to use rather than buy a vacuum pump. I could be discouraged with some inputs but it looks like I'll get the parts from veneersupplies.com(joe) and build a small system.

   thanks for the words

   dan

1. 
   Castlewerks | Jul 24, 2007 05:05pm | #8

   I purchased my kit from JoeWoodworker as well. As far as the compressor is concerned, you don't need a large capacity tank if you can adequately seal the bag....Cheers,Michael

6. 
   canoedog | Jul 23, 2007 08:42pm | #6

   Hi Danmart,

   I do a lot of one-off and small runs using a vacuum bag in my shop.

   I bought a used continous duty vacuum pump off E-Bay afew years ago,

   about 100 bucks, hooked it up to a hour timer when glueing.

   I use the 5mil vinyl you can buy at the hobby/craft/fabric stores for bags.

   This vinyl is the clear stuff like Aunt Mildred used to use to keep the kids  from

   peanut and jelly sandwichs on her sofa. I get the tape from the glass store they

   use on windshields for the multiple use bags, and the caulking on a roll for the

   one-off bags.

   For fast removal of air from a large bag, I use my shop-vac.

   The vacuum bag method is one of those methods you start finding using all the

   time.

   Canoedog

    

7. 
   Neil | Jul 25, 2007 03:45am | #9

    

   I assembled my vacuum press from parts that I bought from Joe and an EBay Gast pump.  I paid about $75 for the pump and about $75 for the parts.  The plastic came from a local supplier. 

    

   Unless you make a huge bag, I really don’t think that you need a big pump.  The one I have is rated about 1cfm, and will seal a bag in 30 sec or so.  I have a hard time believing that 1-2 minutes makes that much of a difference, and once most of the air is out it’s just leakage.

    

   The pump runs continuously, and I just bleed a little air to get the correct pressure.  I did not make the slick and fancy closure Joe shows, just a couple of 1X2 wrapped around the open plastic and two or three clamps.  Once you pump it down, the vacuum pressure hold the seal.

    

   I did get the filter.  The air in most shops is full of dust, and it will wreck a pump fairly quickly.

    

   Frankly, this was a quick easy and useful project

    

   Neil