Stabilizing Equipment - Recommendations?

Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
d_bondi

d_bondi

Member
Joined
Jun 19, 2023
Messages
749
Location
Utah
Hello Everyone,

I am going to jump into doing some wood stabilization and will need to purchase a vacuum pump, chamber, etc. I am not looking to do this on a large scale and I will most likely only be stabilizing pen blank sized materials, well, BIG pen blanks, maybe up to 1" x 8"

Are the nice ($$$) JuiceProof cylindrical chambers from TurnTex worth the premium or will something less expensive from Amazon work just as well?

Do I need the "Pump Saver"?

The chambers from TurnTex look like they might be more efficient on how much Cactus Juice is used but they are definitely pricier.

I'm thinking about an inexpensive vacuum pump (single stage oil filled rotary vane pump) from Amazon.

Thanks, all input/advice/opinions are valued and appreciated!

David
 
Signed-In Members Don't See This Ad
I have a TurnTex chamber and the customer service as well as the warranty are unmatched. They are very well made. I did go ahead and got a pump saver with it. I've never had any resin get into it. It's just insurance. You don't need it until you do. For me it was buy once cry once purchase.
 
KenB259 said:
I have a TurnTex chamber and the customer service as well as the warranty are unmatched. They are very well made. I did go ahead and got a pump saver with it. I've never had any resin get into it. It's just insurance. You don't need it until you do. For me it was buy once cry once purchase.
Click to expand...

Thanks Ken, That is exactly where I am at, buy once cry once or not. Thanks for your input.

Can I ask what you did for a vacuum pump?

They range from $80 to $500 depending on many things. The write up by Curtis on the TurnTex site basically says that most of those things don't matter for this application.
 
Monty said:
I picked up a Robinaire vacuum pump from a pawn shop several years ago for about $50. Don't know how much they would run now.
Click to expand...

Oh, that's a good idea Monty. I'm sure a lot of descent vacuum pumps end up in pawn shops from all the guys (and gals) in and out of the HVAC trades. Thanks!
 
d_bondi said:
Thanks Ken, That is exactly where I am at, buy once cry once or not. Thanks for your input.

Can I ask what you did for a vacuum pump?

They range from $80 to $500 depending on many things. The write up by Curtis on the TurnTex site basically says that most of those things don't matter for this application.
Click to expand...
I got a JB, but I noticed the other day, they have doubled in price since I bought mine.
 
I also have a Turn Tex, and, as Ken mentioned, you will not find better customer service anywhere. Plus, I believe Curtis offers a transferrable lifetime warranty, which I don't think I have seen on any other product.

I originally bought a vacuum pump from Harbor Freight, but it was not well made, so I upgraded to a Robinair single stage pump, which ran me about $180, but it should last a long time.
 
I have both Turn Tex and Slick vac chambers, I agree with above. Curtis at Turn Tex is extremely knowledgeable. for a vac I use the JB eliminator. It as an awesome pump that gets a very deep vac. It is a bit expensive but worth it. I do use a fluid trap for my pump just to protect the pump. The innards of a vac pump to replace costs almost as much as the pump. As far as fluids I have used cactus Juice and stick-fast as well as resinol-90. I think my favorite was Resinol -90 The resinol was hard to get. The problem with it, was the catalyst had to pe shipped as a hazardous material, When it was shipped to the place I picked it up at the catalyst cost as much as the liquid.
Maybe somebody could answer this part of my post. Slick vac seal has a resin called SOS 3.0 I see it is shipped already mixed up with the catalyst. I wonder is someone has used Resinol in the past and this SOS.3 I wonder if the SOS is the same as resinol which would explain why it is shipped premmixed to avoid the hassle trying to ship the catalyst beings it is a hazardous material. I have not used the SOS yet that will be the next gallon I will buy. If someone has used resinol they would recognize the smell of the cured blanks. Has anyone used both of these and do they think they are the same?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom