vacumn pumps?

[TJ Smith]

Does anyone have a cheap source for a vacumn pump? Like for a handle stabilizing set up.
Would a seal a meal type work?
Thanks
TJ Smith

 

[Bruce Bump]

TJ Someone once told me a refrigerator compessor will suck enough. Are you going to Yakima? Bruce

 

[Jon Christensen]

Seems like a handheld vacuum pump would work fine. I have one that I got at an autoparts store. It's part of a one man brake bleeder kit. Has a gauge also. Might work.
Jon

 

[e_utopia]

I have no idea what is necessary for the stabilizing process, but those compressors out of refrigerators are pretty powerful (that's relative, of course; a molecular sieve will empty a 12 cube chamber down to just a few molecules). You can probably pick one up pretty cheap if you go to some appliance repair people and get a used one. I got one for free, bolted it to a slab of wood, mounted casters underneath, attached a swithc and cord, and hooked up a hose. Nothing was purchased, it was just stuff laying around the shop. Make sure to run it in the correct position (bottom down, that is), or the oil drains away from wher it needs to be, which is why I don't still have that thing laying around.

--JB

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e_utopia@hotmail.com

 

[LRICE]

I use a York A/C piston type compressor off of the older Ford vehicles. I can get about 27" Hg vac. out of it. If you are interested in getting set up, e-mail me at sattley@hotmail.com and I will share my very limited knowledge with you. Also do a search in the shop talk archives, I found some info there and there are 2 articles at www.knifeart.com.
Leonard

 

[TJ Smith]

Thanks Guys for all the good ideas. I think I will try and find a hand auto pump for testing.If I can get anything to work you.ll hear about it right here.
Thanks again
TJ