Hand-pump vacuum veneer press at Rockler

[Tom Miller]

The Rockler website shows the hand-pump vacuum veneer press on sale for $45 (reg. price is $55), which may not rise to the level of "bargain". But when I went to my local Rockler (with a printout of the web price to make sure I got my $10 off) I saw they were on clearance for $30! Two different bag sizes to choose from: 14" x 47" and 26" x 28".

The $30 price may be local only (Maplewood, MN), but even the $45 price is pretty good.

Regards,
Tom

[drumpriest]

Yep, I paid 50$ for mine, and I like it.

[Ken Massingale]

Yep, I paid 50$ for mine, and I like it.

I just got one and am anxious to have time to try it.

[kwgeorge]

I have heard a lot of negative comments about the hand pump veneer press from various veneering sites. Here is a review of this kit;

http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneeri...ckitreview.htm

I think most of what I have read translates into making sure you have a “REALLY” good seal on the bag before proceeding. Most of the vacuum pump systems draw a continuous vacuum on the bag the entire press time while this system depends on the bag being able to hold the vacuum during the press time.

Now personally I have not tried the system at all so I don’t know but I want you guys to have good luck so I thought I would bring up the point about making sure you have a good seal.

Ken

[Ken Massingale]

I have heard a lot of negative comments about the hand pump veneer press from various veneering sites. Here is a review of this kit;

http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneeri...ckitreview.htm

I think most of what I have read translates into making sure you have a “REALLY” good seal on the bag before proceeding. Most of the vacuum pump systems draw a continuous vacuum on the bag the entire press time while this system depends on the bag being able to hold the vacuum during the press time.

Now personally I have not tried the system at all so I don’t know but I want you guys to have good luck so I thought I would bring up the point about making sure you have a good seal.

Ken

Yeah Ken, it was a difficult decision for me on whether or not to try the Roarockit after reading Joe's review. I hesitated long enough for Roarockit to challenge Joe and he backed off some from the original review. I can say I haven't had the issues he reported with the amount of pumps to get a vacuum and have it hold, and Joe said with 2 other bags he didn't have that issue.
I did make it clear to WC that if I wasn't happy I would be bringing it back.
The outcome is yet to be seen for me. I want to get a guage to read the vacuum before I fully test it.

[BigguyZ]

Hey Tim-
I'm in North Minneapolis and drove all the way out to the Rockler to pick up the kit. It turns out that the tag for the veneering kit was supposed to come down by now, but they gave me the deal for the $30. I also picked up the band saw table while I was there (turned into an expensive trip). I probably spent half of the additional $15 off I saved on gas- but my apt is 95 degrees anyway!

[Tom Miller]

Hey Tim-
I'm in North Minneapolis and drove all the way out to the Rockler to pick up the kit. It turns out that the tag for the veneering kit was supposed to come down by now, but they gave me the deal for the $30. I also picked up the band saw table while I was there (turned into an expensive trip). I probably spent half of the additional $15 off I saved on gas- but my apt is 95 degrees anyway!

Glad you got the good price after driving all that way. (I guess the term "clearance" has a different meaning for them -- I could have sworn it meant until the current stock was cleared out.) Too bad the sale is over though. I was thinking if it worked well at all, I might go pick up another.

Thanks to both Kens for the extra info, too. I figure for $30 bucks I'll get some kind of idea if this bug is gonna bite. If it does, I'll be less apprehensive to shell out a few more $$ on a real pump, etc.. I don't want to spend that kind of money on something that ends up sitting in the corner.

Regards,
Tom