well it's time for my occasional reminder that I have a stock of vacuum pumps and inexpensive faceplates to offer the hobby. I have welded faceplates starting at 5 for $25, and I have 1/3 hp dual wobble piston vacuum pumps for $75 or $85. Photos and information about both of these items are on my web site,
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When you get to the site, click on faceplates, or click on FORSALE and then vacuum pumps to look at vacuum pumps.
For those who want to read up on vacuum chucking, I have posted a reasonably definitive article on the subject in the tips section of
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along with a shorter "briefing" on the subject. these should pretty much tell you what you need to know. I use a vacuum chuck pretty freqnently for holding things - both to clean up a foot, and to retouch or sand the item - I've even used a vac chuck to hold some mid sized (10 or 12 inches) while hollowing.
-- Bill - reply to wiilliam_b_noble at msn dot com also check out
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