vacuum chucking

Please post them here, I've said for years I'm going to try a vacuum chuck.

Been here?

wrote: (clip) There is a lot of information in the archieves on the subject but non of it is recent. A lot of it is from 1999 to 2002. I am not very mechanical and am not good at scrounging all kinds of used parts (clip) hate to spend $369.00 for a pump, $85.00 for a Vacuum Guage Kit.(clip) ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ This is not high tech. Very little has changed since 1999. You can solve this either with money, or mechanical cleverness and scrounging. Unfortunately, you have closed both the front door and the back door. I bought a good strong vacuum pump at a flea market for $35. The rest of my system cost me almost nothing. I suggest you go to Bill Noble's website, if you haven't already. He sells lots of good used stuff, and his site tells you how to use it.

Get yourself a copy of the latest "Woodturning Design" magazine. there is a very good article on vacuum chucking.

>

Hello Bob,

I have the Vicmarc vacuum plate that Craft Supplies sells that is powered by a vacuum cleaner. I use a small one gallon vacuum that I purchased to take to craft fairs to clean up the chips at the end of the day. It works fine on pieces about 8" and above in diameter. Smaller sizes do not hold satisfactorily in my opinion.

I also have the Gast vacuum pump that Craft Supplies sells and the OneWay Vacuum Cups. I use the EZ vacuum adapter to hook the pump to the lathe. I only purchased the 3" and 5" OneWay Vacuum Cups, because pieces above 8" work just fine on the Vicmarc Vacuum Plate.

My wife and I both turn and find these vacuum systems to be of great value. We do not use a vacuum gauge because most of our work has thick enough walls that there is no problem with collapsing a bowl with too much vacuum. If you do thin work, buy a vacuum gauge and bleed valve.

I have the ability to cobble things up, but not enough time to mess with it so I have bought commercial systems. Since you say that you don't wish to spend the money for a Gast pump, then I would suggest the Vicmarc vacuum plate which you can use with your shop vacuum.

Fred Holder

Bob, Technatool has an adapter for the Nova 2000 that press fits into the handwheel. I would expect it will fit your handwheel as well. I bought a Gast pump from William Noble. I pressed a piece of reinforced

1" plastic hose over the adapter, put a filter in the line with reducers from the local plumbing supply and it works like a charm. By the way Willliam Noble is at

Has all kinds of stuff and good advice too.

Fred, While I understand your lack of concern about collapsing the workpiece I think $10 or less for a guage that indicates how good your vacuum is to be a cheap investment since it might keep your bowl from flying. IMO, without a guage you are flying blind. Billh

aaarrrggghhh -

1. please go to either my web page
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   or to
   formatting link
   (click on tips) and read my article on vac chucks

1. I sell vac gauges for - why the heck would you pay - what kind of markup are they doing?

2. I sell vac pumps for to 0 depending on the pump - see my web again (only have one pump in stock at this moment)

1. I have info on how to make your own vacuum fitting

2. I also have inexpensive faceplates that will save you a lot of $$$

bill N

Go to the Alabama Woodturners Assn website:

and ask them for the DVD of the presentation on 10 Sept 2005. Dave Hout did a wonderful presentation, part of which was on vacuum chucking. The DVD is $10.00 and, believe me, this one is worth it. Deb

: Go to the Alabama Woodturners Assn website:

:

: and ask them for the DVD of the presentation on 10 Sept 2005. Dave Hout did : a wonderful presentation, part of which was on vacuum chucking. The DVD is : $10.00 and, believe me, this one is worth it. : Deb

I'm interested in this DVD, but couldn't find a contact email. Can you either pass my address along, or post an address that would let us order copies?

-- Andy Barss