Vacuum hold downs

[bcondon]

Well I would not have believed it!

Bill Polumbo has been recommending in each of the camps
that I have attended to use a little vacuum pump and make
pucks out of extruded decking material instead of clamps and screws.

I purchased from Harbor Freight a 3CFM, 2 stage, 1/4 HP pump,

machined up a bunch of pucks, a little reinforced 1/4" tubing,
tapped the decking with the 1/4" NPT tap and that little system
worked better than I can imagine. I am setting up a quick disconnect
and maybe a manifold to attach the pucks for quick changeout or
some will be permanently attached to the bed.

Used AllAdhesive gasketing. I think I will be smiling for a week!

Now to start thinkin about that lathe...

Thanks Bill!

You showed us the pump but I would never have

[billp]

Bob,
Glad you finally got a chance to try them!
Now that you have your pucks in a row, try them for holding down parts for sanding, edge work, and assembly as well...

[sc.crab]

Do you have any pictures of your setup?

[WMNH]

I went online and bought a pump from Joes Woodworker as soon as I got home from the Maine camp this summer. It really is awesome. I can't believe I got along without one!

[bcondon]

A picture is on snapfish

http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/fe/l=en_US/p/Organizer/AlbumID=9442972028/s_c=0/s_mvm=NAP/s_se=FDR/s_pt=REP,PMB#state={%22pl%22%3A{%22uc%22%3A2%2C%22 aid%22%3A9442972028%2C%22vp%22%3A%22g%22%2C%22sb%2 2%3A5}%2C%22ovm%22%3A{%22v%22%3A%22s%22}}

(cut and paste it into a browser)

The four pucks in the front are different sizes. Each Puck has a tapped hole for the brass barbed connector with a 1/4" hole running horizontally about 3" into the material. The grooves on the surface pierce that horizontal channel to allow the vacuum to pull down.

I then put the gasketing on (as seen in the puck behind the vacuum pump)

Thanks

Bob

[JimDav]

snapfish requires an account. : ( Can a pic be posted here perhaps?

[bcondon]

I search because I know I have read it many time but can not find it.

If someone can let me know, I would be glad to post picture!

Thanks

Bob

[billp]

Bob,
When you hit the "Post reply button"you'll see the reply box, and underneath that box is the place to "attach files/manage attachments" as shown here. You'll see a box come up which lets you know the size limitations the forum can handle. If you're not sure, attach the pix,"upload"them, and then hit "preview", and it will let you know if they are too large or not....

[gerryv]

I've often wondered if these would work well for lumber, assuming it's been planed. I'm thinking of 8" wide x 6' and 8' long planks using an 8' PowerStick with no spoil board - just pucks.

[billp]

Gerry,
I can't think of any reason why it wouldn't, unless you had some VERY porous wood. And even then a coat of shellac,or even shelf paper on the bottom should solve that.
You could even buy a long piece of "Trex" or any other similar "recycled plastic bottle wood"product and make FULL length pucks/pods...