Jay Caughron
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Found this on Marketplace I think I scored
- Thread starter Jay Caughron
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Yes you did.
I'm not sure what the original planned use for the pot was for, or why you bought it, but a few vacuum pods attached to your work bench and lines run from the vacuum pump to them will make a great vacuum hold down for routing, sanding, etc. I do this, but paid about $100 for my vacuum pump and another $60 for the Rockler vacuum pods. You can make vacuum pods yourself in most any shape and size. The readily available 100 mm hard plastic tubing and some push insert 1/8" brass pipe fittings will adapt the pads to the hose and your vacuum pump, and these fittings release the hose just by pushing in the ring around the tubing in toward the fitting. No tools required to change the configuration. One of those disposable inline paint spray filters connected inline to keep sawdust and debris out of your vacuum pump, and you will be in business.
The pods are just a groove in a solid piece of wood or plastic with a large O-Ring 2 inches or more in diameter that fits in the matching groove. When installed, this O-Ring needs to sit partially above the surface, so it seals well to the work piece. A 3/8" center hole about 1/2 way through this piece that intersects with a horizontal hole makes the vacuum passage. This horizontal hole can go from one side through to the other, for attaching additional vacuum pods, or only 1/2 way, if it will be the last vacuum pod in a string. Rockler sells, or has sold these pods made from plastic and they work well. You can make irregular shaped seals using closed cell foam Weatherstrip too. The larger the area inside the O-Ring, the stronger it will grip when vacuum is applied, if there are no leaks. It's amazing how strong even the 2" vacuum pods can hold a work piece. A ew seconds after switching off the vacuum pump, your work piece will be released as if it was just laying there waiting to be picked up. With the vacuum on, you will likely lift the work bench by lifting up on the work piece.
This link should get you started -
https://www.google.com/search =rockler+vacuum+pods&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS814US814&oq=rockler+vacuum+pods&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyBwgDEAAY7wXSAQoxMzQ2NWowajE1qAIIsAIB8QXYIzHTktTkdPEF2CMx05LU5HQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Charley
I'm not sure what the original planned use for the pot was for, or why you bought it, but a few vacuum pods attached to your work bench and lines run from the vacuum pump to them will make a great vacuum hold down for routing, sanding, etc. I do this, but paid about $100 for my vacuum pump and another $60 for the Rockler vacuum pods. You can make vacuum pods yourself in most any shape and size. The readily available 100 mm hard plastic tubing and some push insert 1/8" brass pipe fittings will adapt the pads to the hose and your vacuum pump, and these fittings release the hose just by pushing in the ring around the tubing in toward the fitting. No tools required to change the configuration. One of those disposable inline paint spray filters connected inline to keep sawdust and debris out of your vacuum pump, and you will be in business.
The pods are just a groove in a solid piece of wood or plastic with a large O-Ring 2 inches or more in diameter that fits in the matching groove. When installed, this O-Ring needs to sit partially above the surface, so it seals well to the work piece. A 3/8" center hole about 1/2 way through this piece that intersects with a horizontal hole makes the vacuum passage. This horizontal hole can go from one side through to the other, for attaching additional vacuum pods, or only 1/2 way, if it will be the last vacuum pod in a string. Rockler sells, or has sold these pods made from plastic and they work well. You can make irregular shaped seals using closed cell foam Weatherstrip too. The larger the area inside the O-Ring, the stronger it will grip when vacuum is applied, if there are no leaks. It's amazing how strong even the 2" vacuum pods can hold a work piece. A ew seconds after switching off the vacuum pump, your work piece will be released as if it was just laying there waiting to be picked up. With the vacuum on, you will likely lift the work bench by lifting up on the work piece.
This link should get you started -
https://www.google.com/search =rockler+vacuum+pods&rlz=1C1CHBF_enUS814US814&oq=rockler+vacuum+pods&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yDQgCEAAYhgMYgAQYigUyBwgDEAAY7wXSAQoxMzQ2NWowajE1qAIIsAIB8QXYIzHTktTkdPEF2CMx05LU5HQ&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
Charley
Jay Caughron
Member
- Messages
- 5,659
Thanks Charley
I bought it because of the price thinking I could stabilize some wood for turning. BUT I have found out it is an acrylic lid and more than likely not work. I have some workarounds but it is not a priority right now.
I used vacuum a LOT when I had my production shop. I would make templates for the router and shaper and make 100s of parts a day. When I first started I found an old Sears & Robuck milk machine and used it for several years. Then I also had a 10hp system for my CNC.
I had a friend of mine that had a LARGE production shop making juvenile lamps he had around 90 people working for him at the time. He had 3 people run their finger into the router bit. After a young lady lost the end of her finger he asked me if I had any ideas how to make it safer. I took my old pump over and showed him how it worked and he couldn't believe how strong it would hold. He went out and found him an old mike pump and set up a vacuum jig with handle on it the keep their finger about the work. Never had another router accident before shutting down his shop 15 years later.
I bought it because of the price thinking I could stabilize some wood for turning. BUT I have found out it is an acrylic lid and more than likely not work. I have some workarounds but it is not a priority right now.
I used vacuum a LOT when I had my production shop. I would make templates for the router and shaper and make 100s of parts a day. When I first started I found an old Sears & Robuck milk machine and used it for several years. Then I also had a 10hp system for my CNC.
I had a friend of mine that had a LARGE production shop making juvenile lamps he had around 90 people working for him at the time. He had 3 people run their finger into the router bit. After a young lady lost the end of her finger he asked me if I had any ideas how to make it safer. I took my old pump over and showed him how it worked and he couldn't believe how strong it would hold. He went out and found him an old mike pump and set up a vacuum jig with handle on it the keep their finger about the work. Never had another router accident before shutting down his shop 15 years later.
- Messages
- 1,154
- Location
- Central North Carolina
If you build an assembly with a big suction cup and arms to hold a scroll saw or router, they make great circle cutting fixtures that you don't need a center hole in the work piece for cutting too.
Also great to hold work on a vacuum chuck on your lathe for turning without a center. A pivoting vacuum fitting is necessary, but they are available.
I made a kind-of vacuum pencil for picking up tiny pieces and for holding them while sanding using the vacuum.
Also a small scale vacuum cleaner system with 1/4" fish tank hose and a bigger filter to collect the debris picked up. It was perfect for cleaning out blind holes.
Charley
Also great to hold work on a vacuum chuck on your lathe for turning without a center. A pivoting vacuum fitting is necessary, but they are available.
I made a kind-of vacuum pencil for picking up tiny pieces and for holding them while sanding using the vacuum.
Also a small scale vacuum cleaner system with 1/4" fish tank hose and a bigger filter to collect the debris picked up. It was perfect for cleaning out blind holes.
Charley
Jay Caughron
Member
- Messages
- 5,659
When I bought the lathe form one of our members widow a few years back it came with a vacuum setup and two pumps and a lot of custom chucks. I just havent had a chance to use it yet. It was a Oneway setup if I remember right