I've been checking out Turn Tex, cactus juice and the chambers he makes. If anyone has any experience with this system could you share your thoughts please? http://www.turntex.com/
Thanks!
Thanks!
It needs to bake 1 hour at about 200*. Less than that and it won't harden, more and the juice will run out of the wood before it hardens.Thanks for the info that's great.! Looks like I have a couple of options. Also once the wood is removed from the chamber how long must it be placed and "baked" in the toaster? Or is there another process?
I dont think your comment was disparaging Frank, actually, acetone and lexan sound like an excellent alternative. I for one will definitely remember that can be done in case I have something I need to stabilize and I'm out of Cactus Juice, I always have acetone around the shop and plenty of scrap lexan. What ratio of lexan to acetone do you use to get good results, if you don't mind sharing?
Steve
I dont think your comment was disparaging Frank, actually, acetone and lexan sound like an excellent alternative. I for one will definitely remember that can be done in case I have something I need to stabilize and I'm out of Cactus Juice, I always have acetone around the shop and plenty of scrap lexan. What ratio of lexan to acetone do you use to get good results, if you don't mind sharing?
Steve
Frank, are you refering to the Ultraseal stabilizer? I had trouble getting that to function correctly. The Cactus Juice is different and works much better in my opinion. Its worth a try, I like it.The comments here indicate satisfaction with the Cactus Juice solution.
That's fine. My comments were not meant to be disparaging.
A couple years ago I was one who tested and reviewed a stabilizing solution that the makers were considering bringing to market. I now forget the name, no matter.
It worked but the heat curing put an odor into the house remiscent of oranges. At first it wasn't unpleasant but became nauseating after a while. And, the retail price was, IMHO, excessive. That experience turned me off of commercial stable solutions.
The use of plexi dissolved in Acetone has proven successful and highly satisfactory for me.
- When stabilizing under vacuum, you must either quickly release the vacuum from the chamber or isolate the pump from the vacuum chamber when you shut down the pump. Failure to do so will result in your pump oil being sucked into the vacuum chamber contaminating your stabilizing fluid. I'm embarrassed that I know this.
- I use the smaller of the two harbor freight vacuum pumps for stabilizing. My pump has worked just fine for the last three years or so with only occasional oil changes. (I realize that I should change the oil more frequently, but I've been fairly lazy about that.)
- When stabilizing under vacuum, you must either quickly release the vacuum from the chamber or isolate the pump from the vacuum chamber when you shut down the pump. Failure to do so will result in your pump oil being sucked into the vacuum chamber contaminating your stabilizing fluid. I'm embarrassed that I know this.
- I use the smaller of the two harbor freight vacuum pumps for stabilizing. My pump has worked just fine for the last three years or so with only occasional oil changes. (I realize that I should change the oil more frequently, but I've been fairly lazy about that.)
When using a rotary vane oil filled pump, you should ALWAYS release the vacuum before turning off your pump. Turning it off under vacuum will cause premature wear on the pump and cause it to spit oil on the next start up. Also, the oil is there more for creating a seal than just as a lubricant. As the oil gets contaminated, you will start to loose vacuum. I typically only change mine once I start getting lower readings on the gauge.
That's interesting. I have been using my Gast pump for several years now. I turn off then open pot. My oil reserve hasn't changed level or appearance. I guess it is time to take a close look at the pump for wear. As I said, my approach is not scientific. If it works, it works. But, I do maintain my tools and this is a good reminder to do some preventative maintenance on my expensive Gast vacuum pump.
Can you reuse the liquid that's not absorbed when doing a batch?
That's interesting. I have been using my Gast pump for several years now. I turn off then open pot. My oil reserve hasn't changed level or appearance. I guess it is time to take a close look at the pump for wear. As I said, my approach is not scientific. If it works, it works. But, I do maintain my tools and this is a good reminder to do some preventative maintenance on my expensive Gast vacuum pump.
Frank,
I think you are working with a different kind of pump. To my knowledge, Gast does not have the type of rotary vane, oil filled pump I am talking about. I just took a look at thier website and, from what I can see, their deepest vacuum rotary vane pump only pulls 26.5" Hg. The rotary vane pumps I am referring to are the type that are used in HVAC work and will pull 29"+. I have no experience with the type you are using.
Tim -- there are two measures of Vacuum pumps -- thru put pump capacity and the ability to approach a perfect vacuum. If you have read the webpage, you should have noted that the ability to pull about 28 inches of mercury is very important. That takes the diaphram pumps out of the prime performance range. The more expensive ones pull a higher number of inches of vacuum.