vacuum chucks

[Dean D Collins]

what is the best, easiest to set up and use vacuum chucks system? I have a Thomas continous run vacuum pump. I want do do small things, boxes, eggs, small bowls and spheres

[Grant Wilkinson]

The "best" and "easiest to set up" may not be the same. As far as easy to set up, the units that use a lamp rod and sealed bearings to run through the head stock are likely at the top of the list. "Best" is tougher to recommend. I imagine that you will get lots of opinions on that. I have the set up from JT tools and am very happy with it. It's not cheap, but I've not lost a bowl yet. :-)

[carl mesaros]

I have been using the Holdfast system which comes with a vacuum generator that you hook up to an air compressor. I use it often and it works well. Since you already have a vacuum pump you may be able to just purchase the rod and bearing along with whatever size cups you may need. I use two one for small objects and one for larger bowls. Just go to the Holdfast site and you should be able to order what you need.
I don't know where you live but Hartville tool in Hartville Ohio carries the line.

[Walter Mooney]

IMO, you can beat the Frugal Vacuum Chuck setup. I bought mine at SWAT a couple years ago, and love it! I can have it up and running in about a minute. Works great, holds great, stores compactly, and specialized chucks (to hold whatever you need) are very easy to make -- I've made a couple. Check out their website!

[John Grace]

I just completed set-up of my own vacuum chuck system a couple of weeks ago and settled on a Frankenstein approach to include the Frugal pump and valve system, the Oneway aluminum chuck, and the JT Turning milled handwheel and adapter. After too many hours of deliberating I decided that, for me anyways, those were the components I felt happiest with. Took me less than 30-minutes to get everything put together but the single best thing I did was purchase Teknatool's $15 alignment tool. This ensured my tailstock was 'spot on' aligned with my headstock and now my pieces run just as true when reversed as when on the head end.

[Thomas Canfield]

I have the Frugal Vac with homemade adapters and chucks. Here is post: http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?248823-Homemade-Vacuum-Chucks-and-Adapters&highlight= No end what you can do but multiple chucks will likely be required.

[Jeffrey J Smith]

My system grew over time. It started with one of those Thomas rocking piston pumps, 'cause it was cheap. Still works great by the way. I invested in a one way adapter and made all the chucks I needed. That worked fine for the 1642 I was turning on. With a larger lathe came a JT Turning tools vac adapter. It was a major upgrade. I got a deal on an unused surplus Gast rotary vane pump and opted to rebuild the system. Added a JT Turning tools hub that allows changing the chuck size really simply. Added their manifold and now have a system using all JTTurning Tools hardware. It all works beautifully.
The Thomas pump still sees duty running the carving stand. Built a setup very much like the Frugal.

[Thom Sturgill]

I have a small vacuum pump hooked up with a valve to a JT Turning tools replacement wheel and connector. I make my own chucks from PVC pipe and MDF and hard maple. I drill and thread the maple and glue it to an MDF block. True up the block and make a groove for the pipe. Seal the outside with several coats of shellac or varnish and the joints with silicon caulk. They work a charm.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

I've yet to use my vac system making a box, I always use a jam chuck.

For spheres, make 2 "cups". One for the drive and one for the tailstock. You can untension, reposition and retension the cups and rotate that sphere any way you like. Free.

That said, I use the Holdfast. NOT the greatest system, but real easy to set up, and not that expensive. It's limitation is air flow. It doesn't have a lot. If you turn softer woods, it wont work. I've been thinking about the wood stabilization kit since I already have the generator.... If that is in your future too.

[Peter Fabricius]

Like Thom I have been making my own Vac Chucks for tears and they work great and I can make them for free.