HF Vacuum Pump

[beck3906]

I received an email with this vacuum pump on sale. Would this work for casting? Would it pull a stronger vacuum than the device most folks use?

 

[ldb2000]

Which pump Rick ?

 

[beck3906]

Dang, got too excited and forgot to post the link.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=98076&r=4911_200910

 

[ldb2000]

I have one and it works great .

 

[Mike of the North]

I have a similar vacuum pump I got off ebay, the only problem I have with mine is it will pull 30 in. mercury, and when I do that the pr bubbles out of the molds I use, so it will work but don't pull to much of a vacuum.

 

[hughbie]

if you really think you need to pull 30" vacuum, then pull up to 20" or so....wait 15 minutes and then go to 30.......by then most of the 'bubbles' will have gone....do it in steps

i have it also....works great at just 23"

 

[pssherman]

That pump will pull a strong vacuum. HVAC installer use similar pumps to remove moisture out of AC units before filling with refrigerant (such as freon). You could use it to remove moisture out of pen blanks.

 

[ldb2000]

I had read somewhere , might have been here , that between 15" to 20" is more then enough so thats what I normaly use

 

[Glass Scratcher]

I have a similar vacuum pump I got off ebay, the only problem I have with mine is it will pull 30 in. mercury, and when I do that the pr bubbles out of the molds I use, so it will work but don't pull to much of a vacuum.

You should degass your PR before you pour it into the molds. You also don't want to exceed 27" of Hg as Styrene will boil out of solution at 28" of Hg.

I also have one of these pumps. It works very well.

 

[wolftat]

I have one of thesee pumps and it works good now, the first one siezed up after 2 weeks and had to be returned.