For what it's worth,

If you need to do smaller item vacuum bagging, I just tried out a really slick thing. It is called handi vac and is made by Reynolds Wrap. http://www.alcoa.com/reynoldskitchen...ac/en/home.asp

It is a handheld vacuum pump that is used with special ziploc baggies. The baggies have a check valve in them. You mate the pump to the check valve on the baggie and suck the air out. The vacuum draw seems sufficient for our needs. It isn't perfect and can't maintain a continuous vacuum. but for smaller items and fab parts it works great.

I made a CF laminated firewall. Came out looking professional. Nice, smooth, shiny, minimal epoxy.

Steve Hannah.