will a mityvac hand vacuum pump work for veneer vacuum pump?

[Mike Gager]

this would be on small projects of course. ive seen the hand vacuum pump that the skateboard guys use and wondered if a mityvac would work

[David DeCristoforo]

Couldn't you just use a straw? Cheaper and just about as practical! OK,... no, really... trying to maintain a vacuum in a "typical" press bag over the amount of time it takes for glue to set? Ummm, no.

[Julian Nicks]

The roarockit kit works fine. I used it for a year before finding out about www.joewoodworker.com (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/www.joewoodworker.com) and building my own venturi setup. It's a cheap way to go if you own a decent shop compressor. I have used mine 100's of times over the last five years, and it is still as trouble free as the day I built it.

I have no idea if the mightyvac would work. As a side note, the hand pump for the roarockit kit is the same pump used for the vaccum stopper tops for wine bottles.

[Mike Henderson]

Most bags have small air leaks, either where you seal them up (after putting stuff inside) or at the valve, or some unknown place. The leaks are small so once you pump down a bag it looks like it's holding. But in a relatively short time, the bag will lose it's vacuum and it's no longer pressing the veneer.

And as David mentioned, many veneer glues are very slow setting. The reason is that when you're gluing up a large panel, the last thing you need is for the glue to set before you can get everything laid out properly, get the work into the bag, get it sealed, and pull the vacuum.

Some of the glues I use for veneer require at least six hours in press, and some require even more. I often leave something in press for a full day.

And if you're doing really small work, don't use a vacuum bag. Get a couple of pieces of 3/4" MDF. Put plastic on top of the work (so any glue that leaks won't glue the MDF to your work), and clamp it. If it's a bit large, make a couple of slightly bowed cauls and clamp them across the work.

I'd really only recommend a bag for larger work or odd shaped work. And then with an electric vacuum pump of at least 3CFM.

Mike

[I know that once you get the bag pulled down you can maintain it with a very small CFM pump. But I like to get the bag pulled down while I'm still a young man, so I recommend at least 3CFM. And I also know about using a vacuum cleaner to suck out the air. I like the simplicity of one pump. And a 3CFM pump is not that expensive - look on eBay for a Thomas or Gast or check Joe Woodworker.]

[Mike Gager]

reason i ask is i already have a mityvac that i bought years ago for automotive work. i know it will pull 25" or the same as the roarockit pump but i guess it doesnt make much sense to do it that way, somebody should tell all those skateboard guys that :D

[Julian Nicks]

With the roarockit kit, you get a small bag, just big enough to fit the veneer for a skateboard. The bags are perfectly sealed, and will easily hold the vacuum pressure overnight. I have built many skateboards with one, and only had an issue with leakage(my own fault) once. The black sealant tape was civered in sawdust on the end, and it failed to hold vacuum. That said, I would still look into joewoodworker setups if I were you. For a couple hundred bucks, and your own time, you'll have a setup that is just as good as the $800 kits.

[Ted Hunter]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2482/3575915661_7063b7d622.jpg

With the roarockit kit, you get a small bag, just big enough to fit the veneer for a skateboard. The bags are perfectly sealed, and will easily hold the vacuum pressure overnight. I have built many skateboards with one, and only had an issue with leakage(my own fault) once. The black sealant tape was civered in sawdust on the end, and it failed to hold vacuum. That said, I would still look into joewoodworker setups if I were you. For a couple hundred bucks, and your own time, you'll have a setup that is just as good as the $800 kits.

Thanks Julian for the kind words about our kits.
There are a number of video's and podcasts out there made by independent woodworkers that talk about what we offer. Here are a few links:
http://www.newyankee.com/video.php?0711
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ProjectsAndDesign/ProjectsAndDesignArticle.aspx?id=27980
http://mattswoodshop.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=409014
http://mattsbasementworkshop.com/369-interview-with-ted-norah-of-roarockit-skateboard/

Something I have been working on that might interest woodworkers. The pictures in the link below show a number of laminated veneered forms that have 7 to 11 layers of maple veneer in each.

The process I used to create the shapes is called PINCH and can easily be used in the construction of furniture components.
http://roarockit.blogsome.com/pinch-the-process/

Ted

[Chip Lindley]

Carpal Tunnel Vacuum Syndrome? Hmmmm...