making a vacuum connection for a lathe

[Bob Oswin]

http://www3.telus.net/public/ident/bobs%20woodstuff/vacuumprts.jpg
You will need all this stuff or variant there of depending on the size of the hole in you headstock.

Next: glue all this stuff together. (p.s. Have a plan in mind)
It's good to get a bearing that is sealed to keep the vacuum in the line.
Your connector should look like this:http://www3.telus.net/public/ident/bobs%20woodstuff/finishVacon.jpg
Next cut a little clamp out of whatever and attach it to your head stock cover to more or less push the connector you made above to the tail of the headstock.
Cheat with springs on the screws like me. <g>
http://www3.telus.net/public/ident/bobs%20woodstuff/final-vacuum.jpg
You can probably find decent vacuums from used printing dealers.
The one I am using right now was off a vacuum table which is obsoleted with the newer technology of inkjet.

If anybody shows an interest, I could show you how to make vacuum faceplates on the cheap too.
the whole rig with the QD will cost about $20.00

Bob

[Ernie Kuhn]

Dr. Bob,
Vacuum face plates on the cheeep? Yes please!
I have a Gast 1/4 hp 220 volt pump off of ebay. Came with a couple of filters, set up on a base. I think it came out of some lab or medical facility. Anyhow, what you showed is what I need, along with the vacuum faceplates/vacuum chuck.
Thank you in advance.
Ernie

[Bob Oswin]

Originally posted by Ernie Kuhn
Dr. Bob,
Vacuum face plates on the cheeep? Yes please!
I have a Gast 1/4 hp 220 volt pump off of ebay. Came with a couple of filters, set up on a base. I think it came out of some lab or medical facility. Anyhow, what you showed is what I need, along with the vacuum faceplates/vacuum chuck.
Thank you in advance.
Ernie

Tommorow I'll get a few samples out and shoot a couple of pics.
I wasn't sure if we had any guys interested in Vacuum chucking etc.

Bob

[Bob Oswin]

Originally posted by Dr. Bob Oswin
Tommorow I'll get a few samples out and shoot a couple of pics.
I wasn't sure if we had any guys interested in Vacuum chucking etc.

Bob
Here's a pic of the basic ingredients. Your lathe may require a different thread than mine but the principle is the same.
Make sure when you tighten these face plates that the headstock screw does not bottom out and push the MDF off the nut.
http://www3.telus.net/public/ident/bobs%20woodstuff/vacfplate1.jpg
You will note that I used a toilet gasket for a ring seal. It glues on with contact cement. If you want to grab inside a project just glue up more MDF scraps with a hole in the center and top them off with a smaller diameter rubber ring. ( I just found these myself, so they are a bit new but really handy!)
Dont be afraid to cut up the toilet flange ring to smaller sizes. Just overlap the cuts at an angle with contact adhesive.
Heres'a pic of a mounted bowl on a similar faceplate.
http://www3.telus.net/public/ident/bobs%20woodstuff/vacfplat2.jpg

I hope this gets you started. You can make these faceplates up in many styles to suit your projects. They are also good for leaving attached to green turnings to keep your center accurate for remounting.

Regards
Bob

[Ernie Kuhn]

Thank you so much. On the cheap is great. Picture is worth 1,000 words really pays off here.
Again, thank you.