Vacume Pump

[Daniel]

Hello folks.
I am well aware of all the conversation and descoveries concerning home brews for stabalizing.
What I am not sure about is has it all been put together in an instruction type form? the various methods tried etc.
I came a cross a large labratory vacume pump recently. can't tell you if it works or what sort af vacume it will draw. I suspect a pretty high one though. I also have a huge amount of Buckeye Burl i would like to get done. so it is now time to get all the stuff in my head about stabalizing that I will need.
thanks

 

[tipusnr]

I did see a couple of articles about creating vacuum chambers for stabilizing blanks but don't remember what threads they were in. You might try the search engine on this site. I've got a hand-held brake bleeding pump I'm going to pull the vacuum with if I ever finish the *#$%@ pickles!

 

[Fred in NC]

Bill, don't you have anybody to share the pickles with?

 

[tipusnr]

My wife's not fond of them and my daughter doesn't come back from Wisconsin until next week. Spending too much time on woodturning club newsletter for new projects anyway. So - everything works out sometime.

Daniel,

How's the information search coming?

 

[jkirkb94]

Bill, I was in the same pickle with the pickles.[] I too use the automotive hand pump. As far as the pickles....do like I did...find another container before you get all pickled out! Kirk[][8D]

 

[Daniel]

Bill,
it's coming in bits and snatches. as all the best things around here do.
takes the enjoyment out of it if it all comes at one time.
as for the pickels. I could do in a couple gals. of them. I like pickles like children like chocolate. I like most anything pickled, well I draw the line a pigs feet.

 

[btboone]

A refrigerator compressor will pull a very high vacuum (less than 1mm mercury). They can be bought from used appliance dealers in the $15 range. I used to make lasers with them, and they pulled a high enough vacuum for that.

 

[pen-turners]

All,
If you are not in a hurry, I have had really good luck with the mixture I use of plexiglas/acetone. You have to let it soak for a couple weeks but if you make up a large batch it is well worth it. I just turned a couple of the pens the other night. I added red dye in with the mixture to see whether it was getting to the center of the blank. I used some spalted buckeye burl which was very punky. I put it in the mixture without pre-drilling. While drilling, I could see the shavings coming out red so I knew the dye and stabilization mixture had penetrated all the way to the core. I turned 2 polaris pens out of these blanks and they both drilled, turned and finished nicely.

Chris

 

[tipusnr]

And, I assume, had streaks of red in them...COOL![]

 

[Mudder]

Originally posted by tipusnr
<br />I did see a couple of articles about creating vacuum chambers for stabilizing blanks but don't remember what threads they were in. You might try the search engine on this site. I've got a hand-held brake bleeding pump I'm going to pull the vacuum with if I ever finish the *#$%@ pickles!

Here is a good one from this site.

http://www.penturners.org/content/polyurethane1.pdf

So far I have only used poly and minwax wood hardener but I'm thinking od trying the acetone/plexiglass method when I get some shop time to experiment. I think If I thin the mixture with mere acetone it would worl well.

 

[Fred in NC]

Mudder, I am going to experiment with the plexiglass too. This and all my other projects will have to wait until next year.

I have some colored plexiglass pieces, so I am going to add some of this to color mine. I think it should work.