Veneer Press/Vac Designs, Parts, Plans, Etc

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Anyone have any experience with veneer press/vacs? Looks like the large plastic bag method is the way to go, but I can not believe the costs of these units. Surely some frugal BT3er has figured out a good simple veneer vac system? Any help would be appreciated.

[Black wallnut]

Check your PM

[drumpriest]

I use a vac press, but purchased it, the vac-u-press, for about 300$

[Tom Slick]

I set up a system using parts from www.vacupress.com, they wern't cheap but they sell professional grade parts.

I think rockler sells a vacuum bag with a manual pump at a reaonable price.

[MikeMcCoy]

Jeffrey - I bought my supplies from the link below. Not to mention, there is a ton of info at the link:

http://www.veneersupplies.com/default.php?cPath=60_64

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Jeffrey - I bought my supplies from the link below. Not to mention, there is a ton of info at the link:

http://www.veneersupplies.com/default.php?cPath=60_64

I spent a lot on time on that site yesterday. Real nice veneers! Their pricing is really good on bags as well.

[Holbren]

Did you check joewoodworker.com? That's where my buddy got his and a pump from a surplus place online that I think still has them. Only problem he has is the diaphram style vac switch get's into a state where it doesn't know where it wants to be and oscillates causing the relay to cycle the pump until the fuse blows.

I bought the bag, need to get the rest. It is a costly deal.

[atgcpaul]

I put mine together from a joewoodworker.com kit. I'm using a diaphram
pump. If I had a large compressor (I think you do), I'd probably make the
venturi pump because it is considerably cheaper. I'd also look for a cheaper
pump on eBay or some other place than buying from JW. My system has the
vacuum sensor shutoff so the pump will turn off when the desired pressure is
reached. However, my bag and closure system isn't so great anymore so the
pump would cycle on and off every 1-2 minutes or so. I now disable that
feature and let the pump run continuously while I'm pressing. I use white
glue when pressing veneers and let it sit in the bag at least an hour before
taking it out.

I thoroughly enjoyed building my system but definitely could have done it
for less (<$250). I still like the shutoff feature but this pump can be used full
time with no problem. It's also relatively quiet so if you want to save even
more money, just get a pump without the extras. My bag is 4'x6'
polyethylene. I bought a tire valve from Pepboys and stuck it on the bag.
Works great. I bought sheet vinyl from a hardware store and plan to make a
new bag with instructions from JW. The new bag is thicker so I shouldn't
have to worry about holes. I will enable the shutoff feature at that point.

The advantage of a stand alone rather than the venturi/compressor is
portability. I do the veneering in my finished basement in front of the TV
rather than my colder shop. This week I did my first vacuum press bent
lamination. The glue might not have cured in the shop but had no problems
in the warmer house.

My system is going on 3 years now. Definitely one of my best tools.

Paul

[JoeyGee]

Forgive a stupid question...

This may be a stupid question since I know nothing if veneering, but what about using those vacuum bags they sell to store clothes in? Is there not enough pressure in these? I think HF sells them now.

[eccentrictinkerer]

I haven't tried vacuum veneering yet, but a thought occurred to me when I was winterizing our pool last fall.

We put large air pillows made of very heavy vinyl under the pool cover to help drain off snow melt.

The bags are available in 4' x 4', 4' x 8' and 4' x 16'. Prices are $8, $15 and $27 respectively.

You'd have to come up with a closure method, but the folks on this forum are certainly clever enough to come up with a solution.

http://www.waterwarehouse.com/produc...ku=4583p&id=64

[atgcpaul]

I haven't tried vacuum veneering yet, but a thought occurred to me when I was winterizing our pool last fall.

Those are definitely competively priced. However, they don't appear to be
clear which I believe to be a very big advantage in veneering.

Paul