Vacuum pumps?

[boilermaker]

G'day all, i need to make a vacuum set up for stabilising wood and horn, but know absolutely nothing about vacuum pumps, does anyone know about these things? or know of any plans for such a set up? thanks in advance cheers!:thumbup:

 

[Redrummd]

PM me and I can help you out with pictures and how to do most of what you want to do. I have a two stage vacuum, a five gallon reserve and two converted HF paint pots so I can do two batches at the same time. I treat stone but the basic process is the same.... It is really easy to use and set up once you have the basic equipment.

 

[Redrummd]

I got a couple of questions so since I took time to write out the basics I figured I would just post it for all right here. If there is a lot of demand for more details I can try to take pictures of any points needing clarification.

If you decide to get set up to treat your own wood or bone for stabilizing here are the basics. I can send photos if you get “stuck”. Here is what you need:

1) Here the item number to a good reserve tank on sale at a big tool store - ITEM 94801-0VGA

2) The 2.5 gallon paint pot is also at a big tool store and on sale quite frequently - ITEM 93119-6VGA Take off the gauges off the paint pot and put a plug in the hole. I think it is a 3/8 inch standard pipe fitting available at a big Home and Garden store. Take off the pick pipe from the bottom of the Paint Pot lid. I mark the paint pot with a paint stripe so that I clamp the lid to the same clamp points every time. It seals better that way.

3) The air hose is at a big tool store - ITEM 91525-0VGA Use the stiff cheap hose as it won’t collapse under full vacuum.

4) Even the vacuum gauge can be bought at a big tool store - ITEM 93547-3VGA

5) Do a search for a 2 stage vacuum pump on a big auction site and you will find probably 30 to 50 for sale.

6) You will need some stiff fuel line hose and a couple of clamps to go from the vacuum port on the pump to the fitting you set up on the air tank. Use the smallest diameter you can fit as you don’t want to collapse the line and not get full vacuum at the paint pot. I haven’t had any issues with the air hoses collapsing under the vacuum.

You will need a few brass fittings and Teflon tape for sealing the fittings. I can't tell you exactly what fittings as I do not know what the fitting to the air tank is or to any given vacuum pump.

You would only have to hook one hose with a clamp to the vacuum pump; take the fitting off the top of the reserve tank. You need to get a fitting set up you can make from brass fittings carried at Home and Garden store for the top of the air tank. You need to set up three points with brass fittings;

1) The point to attach the vacuum hose from the vacuum pump.
2) The point to attach the vacuum gauge
3) The point to attach the air hose that goes to the paint pot.

Vacuum is not dangerous to work with so you do not need any pressure relief valves or even any concern in using the system. The large reserve tank also helps to reduce any potential flammable vapors. I have put acetone under vacuum and tried to see if the vapors could be lit with not a hint of success.

Once you have pulled as complete a vacuum as possible always use the isolation valve on the vacuum pump to prevent any possible suctioning of the oil out of the vacuum pump and damage to the pump….. It is not hard to use one once you do it a couple of times. Most come with a bleed valve but I have found I never need to use mine to get a vacuum drawn. I think it is only really needed when starting to pull down a pressurized system like an air conditioning or heat pump as that is their intended use…..

This set up is remarkably leak free even with two chambers in use. I lose 3 to 5 inches of vacuum in 24 hours so I just run it back to full vacuum any time I change out the stone in a chamber or once a day. I use cheap plastic containers inside the paint pots for my treatment of stone as I an useing thin and medium CA (super glue) for what I do.


If you can't figure out what a big tool store is or what a big Home and Garden store is then go ahead and PM me.....

 

[boilermaker]

Thanks for the reply Redrummd, seems relatively straight forward. My understanding of what you've written is: the paint pot is used to treat wood, or in your case stone, the vacuum is drawn from this into a larger vessle (eg. a small air compressor tank?) then from this secondary tank into the vacuum pump itself. hope i got that right

I've looked on ebay and found heaps of different vacuum pumps, is there anything in particular i should be looking for in one of these pumps? is there a minimum vacuum strength for the pump needed (sorry dont know the proper terminology)? thanks once again for your help:thumbup:

 

[Redrummd]

Yes the system is simple. The big chamber helps hold the vacuum so you don't need to check it as often or run the pump as often. You want a two stage pump to get the most vacuum possible. I would try to find one that is at least 6 CFM as it starts to go slow as you reach maximum vacuum. I have a J/B, 7 CFM, two stage and it is VERY simple to operate. Flip the isolation valve lever, turn the pump on, wait for the vacuuum to get to maximum, turn the pump off, flip the isolation valve lever.

It doesn't get much easier!

 

[Burchtree]

Another simple route is a brake bleeder from an auto store. Cost around 25 bucks and works like a champ.

 

[Redrummd]

I got requests for photos so I have taken three to share.

1) This is the entire setup with both pots under vacuum. You can see the vacuum gauge on top of the reserve tank and the vacuum pump on the little roll around table.

2) This is a picture of the "plumbing" for two vacuum pots. The large black hose goes to the vacuum pump. The small black hose goes to the vacuum gauge.

3) This is a picture of the vacuum pump. The isolation valve is the lever to the far right. Lift it up to start pulling vacuum on the reserve and chambers and down to help keep the vacuum. It just basically isolates the pumps internal works from the vacuum. You can start the pump with it closed without hurting the pump and you can leave it open without hurting anything usually but you may pull the oil out of the pump into your reserve chamber. I have forgotten to set it without harm a couple of times.

 

[B.V.]

How 'bout a picture of the car in the backgroung!