Posts: 194
Joined: 5/29/2003 From: simpsonville,
SC, USA Status: offline
Do any of you know if this pump would work for vacuum bagging foam wings? It looks like its intended use is for drawing a vacuum on a car AC system for service. Thanks, Chris
Posts: 1499
Joined: 9/28/2004 From: FrederickMD, USA Status: offline
That looks like an interesting system - has anyone used one for any length of time? I ask because normally refrigeration pumps rely on some quantity of oil in the refrigerant being pumped. Used strictly as a vacuum pump, it will not get that lubrication.
Posts: 163
Joined: 3/9/2007 From: Greenville, SC, USA Status: offline
yes, that pump will probably work well from harbor freight. Refrigerator pumps will work ok - but why not use something as it was intended? That price on that pump from Harbor Freight is pretty incredible. I have been using a very similar unit (same china manufacturer) and it works well. Mine is a little beefier and is two stage...go for the 2.5 cfm unit - it will work great.
< Message edited by TeamSeacats -- 8/30/2008 3:18:38 PM >
Posts: 258
Joined: 4/21/2005 From: Tracy,
CA, USA Status: offline
The unit I have is similar, but I made a vacuum reservoir system from (2) 12" long pieces of 3" PVC pipe with glued on caps. I drilled into the caps to thread in a stub of 1/4" pipe, then plumbed that to/from the pump and my connection to the bagged part. That way, once I reach max vacuum (23.5" Hg) I can shut the motor off and let the reservoir maintain the vacuum. Running the motors continuously is pretty tough on them. Yeah, it's possible to reach 28" Hg vacuum with an expensive system, but 23.5" translates into 1750+ pounds per square foot! Good enough! If anyone's interested, I'll take and post some photos, but it's really a simple thing to build.
Posts: 2577
Joined: 4/19/2006 From: Enterprise,
AL, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: TeamSeacats
Refrigerator pumps will work ok - but why not use something as it was intended?
that is exactly what it is intended to do, pump a gas, amazingly as it is, air is a gas. I've got a fridge compressor (actually came out of a water fountain) that I've used for 15+ yrs and never had a single problem out of it. i also use it for freon recovery and evacuating HVAC systems before charging. the only cost was the 10min time it took to take it out of the fountain and braze the fittings on.
Posts: 6979
Joined: 4/17/2002 From: Cedar Park,
TX, USA Status: offline
KC, you are wasting key strokes dude. These guys can't wrap their head around the fact that pulling a vacuum is pulling a vacuum. They have to buy the "right" hobby related with the correct name. Improv, is not their thing. To some extent, I can understand that. They need someone or something to blame it on, other than their selves, when it does not work.
Like I said before, this is not rocket science, I have pulled vacuums on fuse layups using a fridge pump, some painters drop cloth, paper towels, and white painters caulk. All I was able to make with that stuff was this:
Yup, picked up a coil of it at Home Depot here in Canada as well. The two ball valves were only about $5.00 each.
I really like those quick disconnect fittings, they work the same as the small festos. They have the similar tab on the top. Just press it down, and pull the hose out.
< Message edited by Mike Emilio -- 9/5/2008 2:58:25 PM >
Posts: 6979
Joined: 4/17/2002 From: Cedar Park,
TX, USA Status: offline
You should also consider a broken air compressor on craigslist or the like. You can evacuate the compressor tank, and then you have CAPACITY when bringing something down. Someone else suggested a couple of pvc pipes, I have a 30 gallon steel tank from a broken compressor. I can suck down a very large bag, in a very short amount of time, helps when I am doing big 96" fuse..
Posts: 163
Joined: 3/9/2007 From: Greenville, SC, USA Status: offline
quote:
ORIGINAL: seanreit
KC, you are wasting key strokes dude. These guys can't wrap their head around the fact that pulling a vacuum is pulling a vacuum. They have to buy the "right" hobby related with the correct name. Improv, is not their thing. To some extent, I can understand that. They need someone or something to blame it on, other than their selves, when it does not work.
Like I said before, this is not rocket science, I have pulled vacuums on fuse layups using a fridge pump, some painter
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vacuum pump from Harbor Freight - 
