DIY VacSys Pump

[iamnothim]

Just returned from the Festool Road Show.  Very nice to get a hands-on look at the different products.
When  The VacSys first came out, I wanted one but not for $1,835.  While at the demo I discovered you can buy the platen buy itself for $565.

This got me thinking.  A couple years ago I built the Joe Woodworker Veneer      Project V2 vacuum press kit for $258  I also bought a 4x9 veneer bag.  Late last year I purchased a set of Joe's Vacuum Pods and pressure release peddle.  Not-so-good  I tried them a couple times but I gave up because there are hoses everywhere to set up and the Pod seal to my bench wasn't great.

You know where I'm going.  I'm going to try the Festool VacSys with my Joe veneer Project V2 press and my compressor.    I checked the vacuum specs for the Festool vac it's 150mbar.  My Project V2 is 20inHg.  That translates to 711mbar or 1,485 lb/sq ft.  In short I'm going to have to dial down the venturi a lot.  That's great because my compressor will hardly kick in.  (I suspect)

I'll post the results.  If it works ya'll can build one, save ~$800 on the VacSys and have an incredible setup for veneering.

[attachimg=1]

 

[Gregor]

I checked the vacuum specs for the Festool vac it's 150mbar.

I read the specs as 150mbar absolute, which translates to ~850mbar below atmosphere pressure (the usual end vacuum for a single-stage membrane pump).

 

[iamnothim]

I checked the vacuum specs for the Festool vac it's 150mbar.

I read the specs as 150mbar absolute, which translates to ~850mbar below atmosphere pressure (the usual end vacuum for a single-stage membrane pump).

Sounds like I have some reading to do.

 

[Gregor]

In case you use the vacuum on a regular basis it might be cheaper (to run, from a power standpoint) to get a simple vacuum pump like this one[ebay ~50$].

Should work for both your vacuum press kit and the vac-sys, but as it has a bit higher end vacuum (50mbar) than the Festool VAC-SYS you might need to add a valve (cheap needle valve, ~$10) to bleed in some air to keep the pressure at the level of the original (so the suction pads don't overload). What you certainly want to add is a filter on the input (to keep sawdust from entering the pump) and another on the output (to catch any oil that might get pulled through the exhaust).

Most likely also more silent than using a compressor pulling vaccum through a venturi.

 

[rst]

I've been using a used HVAC pump, $15.00 at surplus dealer for 26+ years.  Mostly with self made jigs, then with Virutex, and now with the Festools.  I have two units and two sets of cups.  Don't get too hung up on technical specs.  I originally used a Sears vacuum, then the intake on my air compressor long before my HVAC pump.  If it sucks, it will work the Festool jigs.  I have no idea how much my pump draws, it works and that is all that matters to me.  Oh, I make pieces sometimes by the hundreds.  Short of cutting the cups they are pretty indestructible.

 

[iamnothim]

I've been using a used HVAC pump, $15.00 at surplus dealer for 26+ years.  Mostly with self made jigs, then with Virutex, and now with the Festools.  I have two units and two sets of cups.  Don't get too hung up on technical specs.  I originally used a Sears vacuum, then the intake on my air compressor long before my HVAC pump.  If it sucks, it will work the Festool jigs.  I have no idea how much my pump draws, it works and that is all that matters to me.  Oh, I make pieces sometimes by the hundreds.  Short of cutting the cups they are pretty indestructible.

Now yer talk'n !!!

 

[Gregor]

I've been using a used HVAC pump

Used one for cheap can work out but you could also pay twice in a short timespan, that's why I linked to a new one.

Don't have first hand experience with the festool cups, so I thought I mention the end pressure difference.

 

[Cheese]

I repurposed a Milwaukee pump from a Milwaukee concrete core drilling rig. I changed to the Festo hose & connections just to make swapping things around easier.