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Thread: vacuum clamp to hold down parts for sanding/routing works well

  1. #1

    vacuum clamp to hold down parts for sanding/routing works well

    I made some vacuum clamps over the winter and I really like them. It only takes me about 3 seconds to change from one part to another.

    Normally when I sand I would hold the parts with one hand while sanding/routing with the other hand. Or, I might secure the work piece between bench dogs with a vice. Or I might clamp the part to the table, but I would have to unclamp/reclamp to get to the entire edge/surface. All these methods take more time than using a vacuum clamp. And the clamp can mar the wood.

    Here are some short videos showing a few setups..

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO782hMVeEs

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgKcT1wOE-E

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AAFuOulvGM8

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXWpBNWhsPc

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3bVVfHYIuQ


    Materials: I used 2" alum pipe and these clamps:

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    3/4" thick HDPE plastic was used to make various shapes of vacuum fixtures (pods). I purchased the plastic from a local source who had some small cutoffs. . Some pods have foam on both sides with a through hole so the pod vacuum clamps to the table and to the material. Some pods were screwed to a plate with a steel sleeve welded to it so the sleeve could be mounted on top of the alum pipe. I used 1/4" tubing, high density foam for gasket material, foot pedal and check vales from joewoodworker.com. I bought other quick disconnect fittings from amazon. they aren't the best quality though. I also bought a used vacuum pump but you could use a venturi vacuum pump with your air compressor.

    BTW - I got the idea from the Barth vakuusyst 3.15. It is really nice but cost over $2.3K. https://rangate.com/products/barth-vakuusyst-315

    Enjoy!
    Sorry my message is so long, I didn't have time to write a short one.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Tennessee
    Posts
    451
    Blog Entries
    1
    I'd love to see more detail of your fixtures. That's a great idea!

  3. #3
    Here's another pic. I tried to upload several pics but for some reason it didn't work. Let me know if you need more pics and I'll try again.

    IMG_0527.jpg
    Sorry my message is so long, I didn't have time to write a short one.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Hayes, Virginia
    Posts
    14,759
    Very nice Marty.

    Joe Woodworker sells a kit that works with most of the small vac pumps. It has everything you need except a couple pieces of PVC pipe and caps to make the expansion tank. I bought the kit, well worth the money.

    I use solid surface material for custom pods and I purchased a couple several years ago.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    McKinney, TX
    Posts
    2,060
    For a gasket I use closed cell weather stripping. It has a self adhesive back.
    Steve Jenkins, McKinney, TX. 469 742-9694
    Always use the word "impossible" with extreme caution

  6. #6
    I purchased some of my parts from Joewoodworker. Some of his prices were higher than I found elsewhere.
    Sorry my message is so long, I didn't have time to write a short one.

  7. #7
    I used the same material. It works well.
    Sorry my message is so long, I didn't have time to write a short one.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Location
    Northern Florida
    Posts
    638
    I ususally don't watch YouTube videos because there's too much video and too little information but you did these right. One of them is 37 seconds long and another is 12 seconds but they showed what I needed to see. Thank you. We need more 12-second videos.

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