I found this medical aspirator for sale cheap, think it will work for vac bagging? These are the only specifics I could find out about it:
The MaxiAspirator is designed for institutional or long term home care use. The MaxiAspirator is very reliable and will perform consistently year after year. High performance with 23"Hg maximum vacuum. Strong flows resulting in shorter recovery times. Precision regulator and gauge. Non-rusting bas and components. Accomodates 800cc or 1200cc jars. The MaxiAspirator includes 6’ connecting tubing, 800cc disposable canister, hydrphobic filter and instruction manual.
Looks like it should work just fine. 23" is more than enough pressure. Hey, you also get a cool resin trap included.
The vacuum valve will automatically turn off/on your pump according the desired amount of pressure. For example, I set mine at just under 10", when the pressure in the bag drops to about 6" it kicks the pump back on.
The advantages? Obviously you get your vacuum to the exact level you want and it stays there. In the case of the switch I built it varies by less than 1 PSI. Save noise. Saves power. If either of those are a consideration.
I just picked up a pump too. I am going to use it with one of the kits from www.veneersupplies.com. It has the automatic cut off switch everybody is talking about. There are tons of good info on the site that explains the vacuum systems in understandable terms. PM me if you want to watch the veneer process on Saturday, April 1 at my place. Oneula will show us how.
I’ve been using similar pump for the last 5 years, no switch ,just keep it running for 6hrs. No problems but mine is oil lubricated at the vanes as well as the motor this makes a big difference in how long it will last when you’re running it continuously.
A lot of guys I know hook the vac pump up to a tank such as a scuba tank or 20lb, barbecue tank which acts as a reservoir when combined with a vac switch… I’m too lazy so I just run the pump till the Epoxy has set…
If you decide to go the vacuum switch route, Joewoodworker says to do a simple test on the pump - turn it on, cover the vacuum inlet of the pump with your finger, shut it off and turn it back on. If it hesitates, stumbles or doesn’t turn on at all, you may have to add a MAC valve. It opens the vacuum circuit so the pump isn’t under vac when it restarts.
Pretty easy… read all the instructions and vacuum/electrical
schematics. He lays it all out there and supplies the parts you’ll need however you do it.
On his site, there is a photo page similar to Swaylocks. Where we have a “Look at my new board” page, they have a “Look at my new vacuum pump” page. Lots of good ideas on using vacuum reservoirs and making it all safe, compact and professional looking.
Now the vac side can’t leak back out through the tap. And the tap is a very, very slow, controlled leak. Perfect replacement. But turns out I didn’t need it.
Still AU$2 can’t be considered a waste as an experiment
I was going to caution you that this pump may suck 23" of Hg but it doesn’t say at what flow rate it runs at. Looks like it is designed for creating vacuums on little jars and so it might take it a very long time to pull 10" over an entire bagged board.
That was my immediate concern, but it looks like others have been using similar pumps with no problems so I say go for it.
