Vacuum Pump for Vacuum Forming/Bag Pressing Plywood

[4xsama]

Hi All,

In these times of uncertainty (and in my case reduced work hours) I thought I'd have a go at vacuum forming/bag pressing some ply. At the moment I'm making some small scale chair models and using decent laminated cardboard and a food storage vacuum and bags but eventually SWMBO or the food storage vacuum capability will dictate otherwise.

What I'm after is either a second hand vacuum or bodge from a fridge pump etc. I'm looking for suggestions on what others have done and how they work. It might be I need to bite the bullet eventually but for now I need to do this on a tight budget.

Cheers

[oka374]

If you have a wrecker that wrecks volvo's nearby, all the 7 series turbo models and some of the other models had a 12v electric vacuum pump down behind the front bumper, there is also a vac tank there as well. It was to provide vacuum to operate the HVAC controls when the welly was buried on the turbo models but other variants had them as well to provide a steady vacuum for the HVAC system.

[gromit]

Hi All,

In these times of uncertainty (and in my case reduced work hours) I thought I'd have a go at vacuum forming/bag pressing some ply. At the moment I'm making some small scale chair models and using decent laminated cardboard and a food storage vacuum and bags but eventually SWMBO or the food storage vacuum capability will dictate otherwise.

What I'm after is either a second hand vacuum or bodge from a fridge pump etc. I'm looking for suggestions on what others have done and how they work. It might be I need to bite the bullet eventually but for now I need to do this on a tight budget.

Cheers

You could also use a venturi vacuum generator, I've sold these to a company making prosthetics.
Only problem is you need to keep supplying it with compressed air until the glue cures.


Colin

[bee utey]

Car air conditioner compressors work quite well as vacuum pumps, just tack weld the clutch to the pulley and belt drive it off an old washing machine motor or similar. Twin piston York compressors have an oil sump and if you take the head off you can block the oil passage from the suction port to the sump. Mine's still working after 20+ years of little care.

[ian4002000]

When an air conditioner gets regassed it needs to be vacced down to remove all the air. I would check with Repco or air conditioning supply companies and see what a universal vacuum pump is worth. I dont think they cost a lot. You may also get them second hand with an air con regas kit.

Ian
Bittern