Air Conditioner Vacuum/Compressor Pump?

[karlkuehn]

I have a question, I've been reading about people snagging pumps out of refrigerators for vacuum/pressure casting

I have a fairly new air conditioner that has a hole in one of the coils (don't even ask), and all the good stuff leaked (explosively, and mostly in my face) out. Is there anything in there that I can use to set up a pressure/vac casting chamber?

Any help would be greatly appreciated before I chuck this thing with extreme prejudice.

 

[gketell]

http://www.belljar.net/refrig.htm

Should be able to be morphed to work with your air conditioner pump.

GK

 

[karlkuehn]

Thanks, that works perfectly, got the pump, capacitor and switch out. After destroying my almost new air conditioner, I think I have the most expensive vacuum pump in history, but at least I got an almost new pump, and the AC wasn't a total loss. [] Thanks, Greg! Now, to figure out how to connect this thing to something!

 

[karlkuehn]

Hmmm. Here's the next question. It looks like everyone's having good results with the Harbor Freight $10 vacuum pump, and it's got all the fittings already, too. Right now I'm looking at a naked, cut copper tube and a bunch of loose wires. It's gonna cost me $25 to fix this thing up to where I need it, not to mention the time. Anyone see any downside to me just pitching this thing?

 

[woodman928]

Put it on Ebay the vacuum baggers use them for veneer work. []
Jay

 

[Glass Scratcher]

Some good sites on making a fridge compressor/vacuum system.

http://www.dream-models.com/eco/vacuumpump.html

http://www.berkut13.com/sucker.htm

The Joewoodworker site is a very informative read and has various plans as downloadable PDFs
http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/welcome.htm