recently i posted a thread about my homemade blanks made out of 1 lb eps. putting the blanks together worked well and was successful, but it still only is 1 lb eps and it needs a bunch of glass or else my foot digs in about 3 inches the first time i stand up on it. i have lots more eps blocks that i can work with and i have been reading alot and watching alot of youtube about compsand lately, but its an expensive venture. the end product i desire is a thruster wrapped in bamboo veneer or balsa panels. the only problem is i dont have the resources to buy a vacuum system and purchase bagging equipment. the materials like bags and sealant tape and veneer is not too expensive for my budget (from looking around the internet and stores), but things like the vacuum are just a little out of reach. again this is an ongoing experiment with free foam so im just kind of messing around.
would a carpenter have equipment like this and any chances i could find one that would wrap a surfboard?
are there any so cal swaylockians that have vacuum bagging equipment and would show me and help me wrap?
are there any pro glassers/ compsanders that work in southern california and could wrap up a shaped blank?
can i rent a vacuum? (not preferred because i would like to physically learn how to do this or have it professionally done)
I started out 7 years ago with Bert’s first explination of the vacuume bagged compsand using a shop vac and plastic I bought at the hardware store… sealed with masking tape. It worked… the shop vac is still functioning and the board is still in use.
Hey! If your getting the EPS free/cheap…
Do it yourself on the cheap. I’d recommend going to a flee market or second hand store and pick up at least two shop vacs (? maybe $10!). Get some plastic sheet ($1.50) and a roll of masking tape ($2.00). If your going the full compsand you can get balsa to cover a 10’ board for about $40.
YOur all set…DO IT!!! and report back to us how it went.
Later, when your totally hooked (like me at 25 boards and still going!Ha!) you can get the GAST vacuume pump and the nylon bags with quick connect set-up. Oh! And don’t forget the variac for cutting the foam! What an addiction! I love it!
you can put one together pretty cheep. Carpenter could be wrong wording. boat builder, furniture maker or cabinetmaker could help out. Allso look at the different wood working forums.
llilibel this might be a kook question, but that pump on ebay seems like a steal to me. does it need a compressor attached or is it its own unit? if it works alone and is only about 20-30 bucks plus shipping, thats going to be my start to compsanding for sure.
[img_assist|nid=1042639|title=fridge vacuum pump|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=459]This is from Joe woodwork’s site but all you need is a fridge pump and a fishtank bleeder valve to get going.
Add a card board box with a blow heater and you have an autoclave set up.
Yes it is rocket science
Refer pump used $15 got mine for free
Fish tank bleeder valve $4
A pro vac bag cost $12-15
Hose and tape $5
I made this one out of mostly junk from the side of the road. Yes I am Scottish.
[img_assist|nid=1030197|title=vacuum set up|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=406|height=640]
gotta love craigslist. 2 shopvacs for a total of 20 dollars. im going for the low budget approach. If this board doesnt work out maybe i will clean up my bay with the shop vacs. pictures of this project are on their way
Sorry I didn’t get back to you earlier. As I write the auction on that pump is ending. I got outbid on about 5 pumps before i finally got one. I kept thinking, “Who are all these people trying to buy vacuum pumps???” But there’s definitely a market for them. That pump and any like are a complete unit. Nothing else needed. Keep looking and you’ll eventually find one. And try to get one with the gauges. Different densities of foam require different vac pressure. Most of the Gast pumps are rated to run 24/7. Mine was intended for hospital use.
Be careful of the shop vac solution. I had a friend who tried that. Shop vacs are meant to have air running through them. If you block off that air flow, as you would with a vac bag, you’ll burn out the motor in short order. Also shop vacs are loud (at least mine is). The Gast pumps are pretty quiet. Something to consider if noise is an issue ( as it is for me- I make boards in our condo).
I set up my vac pump set up real nice. Gast 704 with dual gauges..sucks and blows, pull about 25 hg...ebay $50.00. Harbor Freight 1/4 in airline 25ft...$6.00, Stainless tire valve (take the valve stem out, add some big washers, for a bag connector...$2.50. Connector to bag/air line 2 quick connects, 2.00 home depot. Nice vac bags from Fiberglass supply, at that time $1.20 per ft. plus some double seal tape.
Whole thing for a stress free, semi professional, no oil spitting, no building a gizmo, really quite, vac bag set up..about $80.00. And I got enough bag and tape to make 100's of boards.
I just waited for someone else near by to get it wired.....Then I jumped in and offered my glassing and ding repair services in exchange for vac bag time....worked out good for me....the right bags and the plastic clamps really make a difference...
