Official Luthiers Forum!

Anyone else here have any experience with the vacuum kits from Veneer Supplies or similar?
http://www.veneersupplies.com/products/ ... s-Kit.html

I have the V2 model from them and before I assemble it I've been keeping my eye out for an alternative to the suggested PVC vacuum tank system they suggest.

I just came across this cheap compressor tank from home depot and it looks ideal and far superior to a homemade PVC tank.
http://www.homedepot.ca/product/5-gallon-inflation-tank/814247

I'm wondering if any of the vacuum users here have any thoughts on using this tank for vacuum instead of compression.

Hopefully this could be a useful and inexpensive tank for vacuum use.


Also just want to say that I'm new to this forum and have learned a ton here reading through the old threads. Thanks to you all.

I have a rig exactly like that that I use for vacuum bagging--the Veneer Supplies kit and a 5 gallon air tank. I've used it for years with no problems at all.

Dave

Thanks for sharing your experience Dave.

I'm going to order one.

My position goes against the common recommendations but I've spoken with a few other vacuum users that agree and it's basically that for vacuum clamping, a reservoir hinders performance rather than improving it. For vacuum bagging, it seems to be an improvement over no reservoir, at least in terms of the pump cycling.

I've found that the lower the volume I have under my parts for clamping, the quicker I'm able to get higher vacuums and pull a higher vacuum over all. It is important to have channels leading to all parts of your fixture

That said, I have a little 1.1cfm pump that I use for bagging and although it runs all the time, it's super quiet so it doesn't bug me.

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http://www.birkonium.com CNC Products for Luthiers
http://banduramaker.blogspot.com

I agree--I use a little continuous running piston pump for clamping--it's quiet and quick. But the reservoir is great for the initial "suck down" with a vacuum bag, so I use the venturi with the tank for lamination work.

Dave

Surge tanks act as a capacitor for vacuum. If you don't need a temporary high cFM rate, you don't need a surge tank. If you do, PVC works great.


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I found an old air compressor tank at the dumps buy back shop for a couple of dollars. Does the trick just fine.

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Allen R. McFarlen
Barron River Guitars & Ukuleles
Facebook
Cairns, Australia

Agreed with everything Andy and Dave have said.

Just as a note: when vacuum bagging, put the tank on a ball valve T-ed off of the main vacuum line to the pump so you can close it off from the system after the initial suck-down. If you leave the tank in the system, it takes much longer to get up to full vacuum in the bag.

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Bob Garrish
Former Canonized Purveyor of Fine CNC Luthier Services