Hi All,
Does anyone have any ideas for setting up a multiple outlet system for my vac pump? Do i need to have a reservoir like in berts vac forming post? or can i just setup outlets directly from my pump? I did a bit of a search but its hard cos im not sure what it is they are called. Kinda getting the need to do multi bagging now and it would obviously save me some waiting around.
Thanks guys
With or without a reservoir, you’ll need to build a manifold of some kind with valves to shut off each inlet alone.
With good valves, and separate gauges inline prior to each valve, you can even set your system so that each tube is pulling different amounts of vac. But even with simple on/off valves and a single gauge, you can set it up with multiples. Look in the plumbing section of your local hardware store. I’ve built my whole system with simple 1/4" NPT threaded fittings, barbed hose connections, and the clear 1/4" tubing reinforced with some kind of spiral fiber that looks like dental floss. Its very cheap & easy…
Heya benny, sorry i only just realized i had a reply from you for this post, my spam filter had it in there and i just found it.
Anyhoo, first question is do i need a reservoir? and do you by chance have a pic of your one that i could go off?
Thanks
moonfish
There’s a Sways thread on it somewhere… I think I have it bookmarked at work. I’ll post the link tomorrow. Not just mine, lots of vac setups…
Sweet, thanks for that benny
It depends on what kind of vacuum pump you have and if you want it to be running all the time. I use an oil-less pump and have no resevoir. If your going to use multipl outlets i would suggest placing a gauge at each bag to get an accurate read out on how much your pulling.
http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/EVS/concept.htm
Lots of info.
You could probably make the manifold and the reservoir a single piece. If you drill and tap those threaded nipples Benny was talking about to a caped off pvc tube. Thats what I did for my vac, although I only have one outlet.
Here’s a lot of vac discussion with photos…
http://www.swaylocks.com/forum/gforum.cgi?do=post_view_flat;post=201627
Since then, I’ve upgraded my pump to one more like Dan’s. I had a really leaky bag one night and burnt up the little ACP one, running continuously for 10 hours - cold shop, slow epoxy, lots of tape… and the board had to be redone anyway, so I should have just shut down & saved the pump. Live & learn. It was thermally protected, so it shut itself off, and then I stuck fans on it to get it going again and it blew a seal.
Found a Gast on eBay for $35 that’s about 4 times as powerful. Should have gone there to start with.
Do a search on Ebay for a medical vacuum pump, medical pump, or a medical evacuation pump. I got a Gomco that pulls 23hg with an adjustable gauge. You can set it from 1 to 23hg and let it run for days non stop.
Those medical pumps are the best because they are small, powerful, and designed for continuous operation. Got mine for $50 used and I’ve had it for 4 years no problems.
life’s already difficult
so why make it worse
a simple 1/4 hose splitter, some hose clamps and a couple vice grip pliers as cut off valves lets us bag two projects at once.
If it wasn’t for the fact that we were using a collector’s classic rebuilt 1958 Austin Healy 3000 as a workbench/rocker table we’d consider more. Wouldn’t want to cave in the windshield from laying too many boards on it.
30+ builds of all sizes and types with this slapped togethor rig (CMP Built) and still going strong…
Duh… Oneula, your so right, a nice and easy t junction would solve my problem very quickly…
I will make a slightly more tech one as go and the requirement becomes greater.
Whats with the resovoir tanks? How do they work with the pumps? cant you just plumb straight from the pump on a multi tap setup?
Cheers
Heya benny,
Thanks for diggin out that thread. I was lookin at you and dans setups, they look and sound very tech.
Whats the story with the auto shut off switch thingee, that keeps the Hg between a certain range? Mine doesnt have that feature you just dial up the pressure and leave it, is that bad?
Anywho heres some data on my pump:
The brand is Busch, model SV 1010, a rotary vane oil less setup. Max pressure 150 hpa dunno wat that is in Hg, but my gauge on the pump will pull over 20Hg when its running flat out. the bloody thing weighs 22kg too! but it is nice and quiet.
Thanks
Moonfish
unless you have an industrial sized pump like what Bert showed in his post I wouldn’t run multiple connections directly off the pump. Every good vac setup uses the biggest reservoir it can support to reduce the requirements on the pump. No one wants their pumps to be running constantly kind of like you wouldn’t want your compressor to be running all day or night long. Believe me sometiimes I run a 10 year old shop vac 4-6 hours a day on the weekends connected to either a benchtop belt/disk sander . thickness planer, and bandsaw and aside from the noise from these machine the vac noise drives everyone crazy. Vac pumps going off all night long is like having to torture your neighbors to the sound of a leaky toilet.
With a small pump build a good sized reservoir from PVC like most or just buy one or a couple of these cheap 10 gallon portable compressor tanks and you should be set. You could then tap multiple outlets into the resorvoir and install proper cutoff values and pressure dials on each which might be sketchy or build a rack system like what Bert showed…
If you’re going into high production mode you’ll then have to consider what kind of oven you’ll need to support all these bags/boards later…
KIS… the secret of a longlife
Hi -
Building a vacuum system that actually worked was big fun for me. I followed the directions and bought all the weird valves and switches from Joewoodworker.com. The rest of my system is pretty much hardware store and eBay crap. The vacuum switch will allow your pump to take a break and prevent overheating.
Pay attention to Joewoodworker test to see if you need a MAC valve. Some pumps won’t restart while under vacuum.
With simple “T” valves already described, I have no doubts that this system could pull off multiple bags. As it is, once the bag reaches vacuum, the pump hardly runs at all. Initially, the pump cycles fairly regularly - I don’t know if the vacuum bag stretches or the foam is springing back or what but eventually, the vacuum holds for a long time with little if any pump cycling. I thought the early cycling might because of a leak but no leaks were found and it holds a steady vacuum once things settle down.
Just to clarify on some other ideas… with multiple bags on a system I would place any additional vac gauges at the far end of the bags. I.E. opposite the end where the vac line attaches to the bag. This allows monitoring of vac pressure throughout the bag and would catch it if the bag or material got sucked over the inlet. Make sure you remove any clamps so if the bag leaks or loses vacuum, the switch will kick the pump back on and restore vacuum to the bag.
From what I’ve seen, most any pump will crush light density EPS foam. You need to keep vac pressure around or below 10" Hg (25 cm Hg.)
Just read the free instructions… they tell you what you need to know. There is also an entire section devoted to JWW visitor’s vacuum systems. It’s a lot like Swaylocks… Most of the guys are proficient woodworkers and have built fancy cabinetry around their pumps. Several look like total pro models.
Here’s my vacuum system on a rolling rack and an in progress 12’ paddleboard project (1st compsand) I’m doing for my “Laird wannabe” girlfriend… I’m really stoked how it’s turning out. Please don’t ask about that noseblock or the margarine tub electrical box!
