Happy day -- vacuum pump

[Gramps' shop]

I needed -- OK, I wanted -- a vacuum chuck for improving my bowl-bottom wor k. Picked up a small HF pump for $75 (list $139, sale $99 less coupon my w ife found). Ordered a kit from Harrison Specialties that included the chuck , an 18-inch pipe to pass through the headstock and a gauge and connectors for the pump. Naturally, the plumbing fittings needed some connectors, but it was only one trip to Ace as I brought everything along. Fired it up and it worked great! Now the test bowl was only about 8-inches in diameter so it will be interesting to see how the pump holds up to larger projects. A ll told it was a $225 investment.

Larry

[knuttle]

You should be fine as long as the item you are making is less than 14.7 pounds assuming the vacuum connection is one square inch. As you get close to 14.7 pounds other factors will be working on the item and you may loss it at a lesser weight.

[G. Ross]

Make sure you have a good filter between the bowl and the pump. One bowl of porous wood and you will have a filter full of dust and grit.

I have really enjoyed my vacuum chuck.

[Gramps' shop]

Hadn't thought of that, GW. Any specific suggestions on this filter? The chuck is attached with a bearing to a 3/8 inch OD shaft to which I attach t he pump with a 3/8 inch ID flex plastic tube.

[G. Ross]

Mine is the type made for air compressors with the solid porous ceramic filter inside. Just connect the "in" side to the tube going to the chuck and the out connection to the vacuum pump. I believe mine has 1/4" pipe threads. When it looks dusty inside I take the glass cover off and blow the filter off.

My connection to the chuck uses a air hose quick-connect fitting which lets the lathe part rotate without twisting the hose. Yours probably has a more sophisticated fitting.