Results 1 to 7 of 7

Thread: Vacuum Clamping For Wood Carving

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Saluda, NC
    Posts
    43

    Vacuum Clamping For Wood Carving

    My question is about vacuum clamping for my wood carving projects.

    My system will use a vacuum pump connected to vacuum pads that will hold the carving from the bottom without the need for other clamps.

    I would like to add a foot pedal to disengage the vacuum quickly to allow me to adjust the carving "hands free."

    I've seen two type of foot pedals. One interrupts the flow of electricity to pump itself. The other is pneumatic. It only interrupts the vacuum flow between the pump and the vacuum pads.

    I'm wondering if the electrical type might be bad for the vacuum pump. Will turning the pump on and off repeatedly be bad for the vacuum pump?

    FWIW, this is the pump I'm using. 2- Stage 50L/m Oil Free Lab Vacuum Pump Oilless Medical Mute Pump HZW-165 (110V)


    https://www.amazon.com/Stage-Vacuum-...5725520&sr=8-1


    Scott C.
    Saluda, NC

  2. #2
    I don't think turning the pump on and off occasionally will do any harm. A simple dump valve on a tee would be less expensive and probably work as well. The clamping force will depend on the surface area available so flat panels will be held more securely than, say, a figure in the round with a small base. A carving vise like the Veritas might give you the flexibility you want without running an electric motor.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Winterville, NC (eastern NC)
    Posts
    2,360
    Check out the Festool Vac-Sys system. I don't have one but I can see the benefits of using one, especially for routing.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    E TN, near Knoxville
    Posts
    12,298
    Quote Originally Posted by Scott Cardais View Post
    I'm wondering if the electrical type might be bad for the vacuum pump. Will turning the pump on and off repeatedly be bad for the vacuum pump?
    ...
    It may depend on the type of vacuum pump and system. If you haven't seen it, perhaps check out Joe Woodworker. He has a lot of info on various uses of vacuum pressing and clamping in the shop. He advocates adding a vacuum reservoir and special hardware to the pump which keeps vacuum on the system even when the pump isn't running - the pump only runs when needed. It also takes the pressure off the pump when it first turns on for less stress on the system.

    Some FAQs
    https://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/faq.htm

    Joe's business is actually veneering and he got into the vacuum business from the veneer press angle then branched into related things like vacuum forming, and vacuum clamping for both woodworking and machining. Also has info on vacuum chucking for lathe work. I bought a pump, gauges, and fittings from him and I thing the prices were quite reasonable. But regardless of where you get the parts, his detailed instructions for all aspects are freely given on his web site. Check out the articles in the left column on most of his pages. He has great info in PDF files you can download and print or read offline. His PDF on Project: EVS is a good education. Also, they time I called him with a question he was very friendly and helpful - maybe that could best answer your question about the foot switch.


    A lot of people have built from his instructions:
    https://www.joewoodworker.com/veneer...itorspress.htm

    Vacuum clamping:
    https://www.joewoodworker.com/veneer...umclamping.htm

    The clamping matrix with the ball valve might be adaptable:
    https://www.joewoodworker.com/veneer...pingmatrix.htm

    Vacuum Clamping Jigs:
    With the Podz system, you can vacuum clamp work pieces to your bench top for routing, sanding, trimming, sawing, carving, dovetailing, staining, planing, scraping, and more...
    veneering/vacuum-clamping-jigs.htm
    https://www.joewoodworker.com/veneer...mping-jigs.htm

    This is about his vacuum foot switch and why:
    https://www.joewoodworker.com/veneer...umclamping.htm

    Tips in the Faqs which might be helpful for carvings:
    M5: When vacuum clamping, how do I ensure a good seal on porous woods like mahogany?
    There are a few options here. Test each to find which one works best for you.

    • You can substantially reduce the effect of the wood's porosity by coating the clamping area of the block with a coat or two of shellac.
    • Consider attaching a non-porous scrap such as HDPE to the bottom of the carving block with screws. Then clamp it to the bench with vacuum.
    • Apply duct tape to the vacuum side surface of the project if you plan to remove it quickly immediately after clamping
    • Apply clear packing tape which doesn't hold to the wood quite as well but is easy to remove even if you let it sit for days.


    MDF might work too for a good seal.

    BTW, if you want to try a piece of HDPE and get over towards Knoxville sometime look me up and I'll cut a piece. I bought a big sheet from the local scrap yard and used it for a lot of things so far.

    All this said, I prefer to use a carving and finishing stand. This was made with woodturning in mind and that's the reason I bought it, but will fasten to any workbench and can be adapted with a variety of holding methods. I use the one from Best Wood Tools. I usually hold pieces in in a woodturning chuck for carving (usually on woodturnings!).

    carving_stand_IMG_7422.jpg carving_stand_IMG_20171111_162052_024.jpg carved_bowl_IMG_4211.jpg

    JKJ

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Midland, MI
    Posts
    168
    Adding on to what John Jordan said, rather than interrupting the vacuum to adjust the position of your piece, you might consider a holding rig that is adjustable.

    Here's one (the Woodcut Pro-Mount): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p4kQ_ShgaHg

    It's designed for use by woodturners and has threads to accept the chucks that woodturners use to hold bowls. But you can cut threads into a "pad" and attach it to the Pro-Mount. Then you can add vacuum to the port on the Pro-Mount to attach your piece.

    But to your original question, I would plumb things up like in the diagram below. Close one valve to interrupt flow to the vacuum pump. Open the second valve to break vacuum and allow you to reposition your piece. Reverse valve positions to apply vacuum and resume your carving.

    Diagram.JPG
    Last edited by Dave Bunge; 03-22-2021 at 11:47 PM.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Hayes, Virginia
    Posts
    14,760
    I purchased one of the Joe Woodworker systems several years ago and it works great just as John said. You would not want to have to listen to your vac pump run continuously, it would drive me crazy.

  7. #7
    " You would not want to have to listen to your vac pump run continuously, it would drive me crazy."

    Clamping with vacuum does generally require constant running due to the difficulty of maintaining a seal on porous material. I use it on tasks that don't lend themselves to other clamping methods, like edge work on a panel with a finished back. Carving projects usually can be held with a carver's screw, vise or clamps. If you do decide on vacuum you may want to isolate your pump due to the noise.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •