Home made vacuum box for bracing
Posted: Mon Apr 22, 2013 9:05 pm
I made a vacuum box just the right size to put a 2 foot radius dish in. I really wanted it to glue the braces for the classical guitar I am building. I have built with just go bars and or clamps, but the classical has a lot of light braces that I want close to the correct size before I glue them down.
I just used 3/4 ply would and some OK lumber left over from the garden show for the sides. I epoxied the inside of the box to seal it. The rubber I got from LMI but it sure looks a lot like the pond liner I get from the garden store. I put a sealing strip on the frame and I also put one right on the lid rubber sheet. Instead of clamping a sheet between two boards I just wrapped as if it was a canvas on a frame and then used another frame to hold it tight.
I got a real vacuum pump. This one from Veneer Supplies has 5 times the capacity (5CFM vs. 1) for just a little bit more money than the one sold at LMI. This one makes a big difference for the bigger box.
I just used 3/4 ply would and some OK lumber left over from the garden show for the sides. I epoxied the inside of the box to seal it. The rubber I got from LMI but it sure looks a lot like the pond liner I get from the garden store. I put a sealing strip on the frame and I also put one right on the lid rubber sheet. Instead of clamping a sheet between two boards I just wrapped as if it was a canvas on a frame and then used another frame to hold it tight.
I got a real vacuum pump. This one from Veneer Supplies has 5 times the capacity (5CFM vs. 1) for just a little bit more money than the one sold at LMI. This one makes a big difference for the bigger box.