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I'm looking to do a cheap vacuum setup because I plan on making only a few boards this winter at a borrowed workshop. I live in an apartment right now so I can't justify expensive equipment yet.

The best I can come up with is this venturi vacuum pump from Harbor Freight ($15): http://www.harborfreight.com/air-vacuum ... 96677.html

I already have a compressor that I can use with this.

Wondering if anyone has experience with this pump.

I was thinking about using it in conjunction with a 5 gallon tank that I already have, similar to: http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/ ... 7AodfXcAhw

Any worries of the thing imploding at 28" of vacuum?

Using fridge compressor as a vacuum pump is a tried and true method!.

You can usually get a free fridge compressor.

Very nice, like the propane tank reservoir.

All I really need is the venturi device and the assurance that my 5 gallon tank won't crumple.

UnbelievablyRed wrote:Very nice, like the propane tank reservoir.

All I really need is the venturi device and the assurance that my 5 gallon tank won't crumple.

suck it and see!!!... I doubt your ventury device will have enough suck to implode your cylinder.

UnbelievablyRed wrote: ...
The best I can come up with is this venturi vacuum pump from Harbor Freight ($15): http://www.harborfreight.com/air-vacuum ... 96677.html
...

That's a really REALLY DUMB idea ; go back & read what --plummet-- had to say !!!

What can be cheaper than FREE ? My frig-vac was Free ; found it next
to a Dumpster, & it's ran for 20 years now !

Bille

Bille wrote:

UnbelievablyRed wrote: ...
The best I can come up with is this venturi vacuum pump from Harbor Freight ($15): http://www.harborfreight.com/air-vacuum ... 96677.html
...

That's a really REALLY DUMB idea ; go back & read what --plummet-- had to say !!!

What can be cheaper than FREE ? My frig-vac was Free ; found it next
to a Dumpster, & it's ran for 20 years now !

Bille

Hehehe some times you are brutal Bille. But I like it. 20 years life from a free fridge motor! now that is value for money. How many vac jobs have you done in 20 years? tell me yourve mate

Something in the order of the first 300 boards made by Decay Kiteboards used a compressor extracted from a freezer my father had scrapped due to damaged feon pipes.

It was replaced with a commercial vacuum pump when I decided a 'proper' pump had to be better.

It wasn't.

The freezer compressor ran clean and quiet, the vacuum pump was noisy - making it hard to detect vacuum leaks and exhausted oil vapor into the workshop - pretty much the last thing you need in a place where you want stuff to bond.

A very short time after that we went away from vacuum altogether and built a press. I took great pleasure in dumping that commercial pump in the bin.

Even after all my experience with other systems - there is nothing that beats the cost/performance ratio of the humble free fridge compressor.

Cheers

DK

decay wrote:Something in the order of the first 300 boards made by Decay Kiteboards used a compressor extracted from a freezer my father had scrapped due to damaged feon pipes.

It was replaced with a commercial vacuum pump when I decided a 'proper' pump had to be better.

It wasn't.

The freezer compressor ran clean and quiet, the vacuum pump was noisy - making it hard to detect vacuum leaks and exhausted oil vapor into the workshop - pretty much the last thing you need in a place where you want stuff to bond.

A very short time after that we went away from vacuum altogether and built a press. I took great pleasure in dumping that commercial pump in the bin.

Even after all my experience with other systems - there is nothing that beats the cost/performance ratio of the humble free fridge compressor.

Cheers

DK

300 boards! Nice. I must admit all of my wood core lay ups are with a mechanical press. You dont need to worry about the vacum failing. Sometimes with an additional vac bagging at the same time.

decay wrote:Something in the order of the first 300 boards made by Decay Kiteboards used a compressor extracted from a freezer my father had scrapped due to damaged feon pipes.

It was replaced with a commercial vacuum pump when I decided a 'proper' pump had to be better.

It wasn't.

The freezer compressor ran clean and quiet, the vacuum pump was noisy - making it hard to detect vacuum leaks and exhausted oil vapor into the workshop - pretty much the last thing you need in a place where you want stuff to bond.

A very short time after that we went away from vacuum altogether and built a press. I took great pleasure in dumping that commercial pump in the bin.

Even after all my experience with other systems - there is nothing that beats the cost/performance ratio of the humble free fridge compressor.

Cheers

DK

300 boards! Nice. I must admit all of my wood core lay ups are with a mechanical press. You dont need to worry about the vacum failing. Sometimes with an additional vac bagging at the same time.

Super quiet. Air filter, vacuum advance on left side. Added a micro switch with manual pressure control. Added a timer to run every 5min for 30 secs.





No compressor + venturi can beat a cost of running this.

I was told that old fridges grow by the roads:)