Poor Mans Vacuum Chamber

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ThePenWizard

ThePenWizard

Member
Joined
Sep 15, 2010
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128
Location
Southern Md
I have had several people ask me what brand of vacuum chamber I use to make my molds. Well the cheapest I found was $175.00 for one that I felt would not blow up on me. So I decided to make my own and share it. I went to Home Depot and picked up a 7" PVC coupler and 2 end cap fitting and 1 cap from the plumbing department and plumbers teflon tape. I glued the 2 cap fittings on the coupler and then taped the screw cap with teflon tape and then flipped the cap upside down so the it would sit flat on a table. Once screwed in tight I sealed everything with silicon caulk and let dry several days. The PVC fittings from Home Depot cost around $25.00. I then went to True Value Hardware and picked up a sheet of 1/8" red rubber and a air hose fitting (rubber $9.00 and fittings $6.00). I cut the rubber so it extended 1" pass the outside of the coupler and then cut a round hole with 1" extending inside the coupler, this gives it a good seal. With the extra left over rubber I made a gasket for the air hose fitting, which you will see on the side. I had to get a male and female fitting with a long thread length to extend through the coupler because the air hose fitting was not long enough. Once I drilled the hole in the side and inserted the male fitting through the rubber gasket I then screwed the female fitting from inside the coupler. Now with teflon tape I wrapped the threads of the air hose fitting and screwed it into the female fitting that is now on the outside of the coupler. My vacuum pump has a gauge on it so I did not need to add one, I also do not need put any Vaseline on the rubber to seal it, it seals all by itself. The Lexan is 12"x12"x1/2" and I got it off of eBay for $10.00. So for around $50.00 I made one that works and works well, I have made all my molds and degassed all of my PR for my pens with it. Hope this helps anyone want to make a vacuum chamber
 

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I have never turned a pen, and have just recently joined this forum and started reading about everything here, however I can fullly appreciate the creative effort you put into this, great job!
 
So when will you come to Illinois to help me make a vaccum system? LOL Hey I just found some Honduran rosewood today. I wonder if a small vaccum pump from a small printing press would work?
 
Cool! Now, do you hook that up to a vacuum pump or do you have a vacuum thingy that attaches to your compressor? I have a vacuum thing for my compressor I want to try to use, but I don't understand using vacuum. I assume I need a vacuum gauge (?). some kind of regulator. How is vacuum measured and how much of it do you need to vacuum blanks? Duh, what am I doing?
 
If you can find an old freezer or fridge that the compressor still runs, you can remove the pump and use it for a good vacuum pump. There are usually several laying around appliance stores that they are going to throw out. cut the tubing as far from the pump as possible and find a fitting to fasten to the suction tube of the pump that will adapt to the hose of choice for the connection to the chamber. 1/4" flare is a standard size for fridge charging hose, readily available at most auto parts stores. Walla, your vacuum pump is made.
Charles
 
Be careful when the earth moves. There are rules in Physics that command respect I do remember when a member suffered a breakdown using a Corian top in his unit however you never did show a pick of the whole set up with actual specs so what do I know. Implosians can be as serious as explosians ask a TV repair person.

Really pleased for you but please err on the cautious side, and have success.

Kind regards Peter.
 
The only thing I did not include was the picture of the Yellow Jacket 5CFM vacuum pump.

pwhay said:
Be careful when the earth moves. There are rules in Physics that command respect I do remember when a member suffered a breakdown using a Corian top in his unit however you never did show a pick of the whole set up with actual specs so what do I know. Implosians can be as serious as explosians ask a TV repair person.

Really pleased for you but please err on the cautious side, and have success.

Kind regards Peter.
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