Is this vacuum system good for pen blank stabilization

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J

joskologec

Member
Joined
Jan 16, 2015
Messages
3
Location
Slovenia
Hello All

I'm new on this forum and I must say that I found a lot of useful tips already.
Thank you for sharing your knowlage.

I would like to start stabilize by my self, so I'm looking for a good system.
It is inposible to find vacuum system in EU especially in Slovenia.

I foun several, but the problem is that all include 110V vacuum pump and I need 220V.

This one on ebay claim that his pump will work also on 220V.
What do you think is this good enough to stabilize wood blanks?

3 Gallon Induction Ready Stainless Steel Vacuum Chamber Kit for Resin Silicone | eBay

I would apritiate if you can make any other sugestions to.

Thank you in advance

Regards

Marko
 
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Hi Marko,

Welcome to IAP, from the land of the kangaroos...! (Australia, off-course...!)

That seems to be a good set up, good size pot and a fair pump that according to the supplier, it will work on either 110 or 220V so, you are good there.

I've got a similar set-up that I made myself and believe me, I saved nothing by doing so, the pump was $190, the stainless pot was $130.00 and the 1" thick acrylic top, as cost me $140.00, not counting the fittings that was another $100.00 and my time, off-course.

Unless you are considering do very large wooden blanks, that size pot is more than enough, mine is 16 litre capacity and I can do 80+ pen blanks on it at one time...!

There are few other things that you may require, appart from the stabilizing resin that I recommend you to get the Cactus Juice from our IAP member Curtis on here

You should get yourself something to drain the blanks after being stabilized, a simple plastic vehicle oil changing pan and a plastic filter used in water tanks, are cheap and ideal for this type of work.

You also need to make something that weight the blanks down as they will tend to float so, a piece of thick wire mesh, cut to fit in the pot and preferentially a heavy piece of metal as the weight, and you are set.

Make sure the stabilizing product/resin is at least 1" over the wood, it will soak, and is always a little more than not enough.

Another thing that I recommend but is not totally crucial is to find a plastic container that fits inside the pot, that way, you are not using the pots inside but the plastic container, that will be easily washed in water after used.

Things to look for are:

Make sure you watch the resin reaction (bubbling) as soon as you start the pump, particularly if the pot is quite full, as the pressure in increased inside the chamber, the resin start to foam and will raise up, and unless you control the bleeding air valve installed between the pump and chamber/pot, the foam will overflow and will be "sucked" into the pump, and if that happens, you have to stop the pump and completely drain the oil and wash the pump internals before you can put new oil in, this can ruin the pump if left unattended for some time.

It pay off to put a filter in between the pot and the pump like this AIR Compressor Moisture Water Trap Filter Regulator Separator | eBay or go a little better and get on of these or these

Any other questions you may have, don't hesitate to ask...!

Good luck,

Cheers
George
 
Hello Marko - Looking at the "important notes" at the bottom of the listing, I see this:

*If you intend to use our systems for pen blank infusion with an acrylic based resin we recommend our "Glass Vac" chamber designs. Acrylic based resins will deteriorate an acrylic and polycarbonate lid but will not harm our pyrex triple tempered glass lids.
*Do not use solvents or alcohols on or in a vacuum chamber with an acrylic lid. These materials may result in damage to any acrylic lid on the market. To use these materials purchase our Shatter Vac or Glass Vac Systems.

You might want to check with your stabilizing solution provider to clarify whether this would be an issue for you if you buy this system.

Ed
 
George

You should do a little write-up for the library. You seemed to be very knowledgeable in this area. Maybe there is something there already but I did not check. I am not into this but who knows.

By the way if you click on other things he sells you will find a whole list of things and maybe build the system a little different to your own specs. This seems to be a nice contact. Not familiar with any of this I am guessing the pricing looks decent.

Good luck
 
parklandturner said:
Hello Marko - Looking at the "important notes" at the bottom of the listing, I see this:

*If you intend to use our systems for pen blank infusion with an acrylic based resin we recommend our "Glass Vac" chamber designs. Acrylic based resins will deteriorate an acrylic and polycarbonate lid but will not harm our pyrex triple tempered glass lids.
*Do not use solvents or alcohols on or in a vacuum chamber with an acrylic lid. These materials may result in damage to any acrylic lid on the market. To use these materials purchase our Shatter Vac or Glass Vac Systems.

You might want to check with your stabilizing solution provider to clarify whether this would be an issue for you if you buy this system.

Ed
Click to expand...

Thanks.

I soo this.
Probably I will use Cactus juice, because we do not have any resin in EU as I'm avare.
Will be this good for Cactus Juice?
 
Same thing in this instance. What he is referring to is the crazing, surface cracks that will occur on the acrylic from contact with the Cactus Juice. If he offers a descent tempered glass lid, that would be the way to go.
 
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