i'm interested in building snowboards and skis, just kind of doing the "info gathering" process right now. i'm starting w/ a vacuum press for cost and ease and saw this one:
http://www.joewoodworker.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=60_64&products_id=1688
is it acceptable for snowboards and skis up to 185 cm?
great info on this site, thanks.
It is probably overkill, even the smallest unit will be acceptable. The only advantage of the big units is the time it takes to draw the vacuum. With the smallest pump this might take 1 minute which gives you lots of time to smooth out wrinkles and be certain that everything is OK. There is no difference in clamping pressure. Did you realize that the one you are looking at is a venturi system which requires a 30 gallon compressor to operate it and requires 8cfm? I think you are better off with the GAST continous pump for considerably less money and you just plug it in. You will save money anyway by not having to build a press frame or a top mold or find the hose. I have lots of friends here with vacuum pumps made from refrigerator compressors that work perfectly.
Tony
thanks for the help, i think i'll go dig through some old fridge instead then. sounds like a better way to go, and way cheaper!
Tonyt: Could you help me to determine if this kind of pump will work??
What do I need to know to choose the pump??
thanks
I think almost any fridge compressor will work but here is a link to show how to make a vacuum pump out of a fridge compressor and they talk a bit about the requirements. Mine is just an old piston compressor that I replumbed to get to the intake(vacuum) side and it works great but it is a bit noisy and needs to run continously.
http://www.dream-models.com/eco/vacuumpump.html
I hope the above link helps, quite often I see the continous run pumps available on ebay made by GAST. You have to check their website to see if it is a high vacuum pump rather than a high volume pump.
