RE: Idiots guide to making a vacuum pump?
Once you have the old fridge pump you will need the following.
Some type of reservior. I use one of those portable air tanks sold in automotive stores, I think it is about two gallons. A properly sealed 1 gallon can or large juice can will also suffice, or a piece of large diameter PVC pipe with the ends capped.
A vacuum gauge to go on the tank.
A vacuum switch to allow you to set a variety of different amounts of vacuum. The switch is connected to the power supply and maintains the preset vacuum by cycling the pump on and off. My system will stay off for hours then come on for a few minutes to make up for any vacuum leak.
Some 1/4" copper tube and some rubber tube plus fittings to connect the whole thing up.
Once I had all the pieces it took me about an hour to hook it all up and amazingly enough it works flawlessly.
Ed S