>Looks like I may have some modest size veneering projects in my future. Might be time for me to invest in a vacuum press. I'm looking at the Vacu-Pres Compact 100 system. I'm not sure I'll ever be doing major veneer work. Mostly panels under 4'X4'. Is this system adequate? Anyone else have one? Or other recommendations?
I already know I need to get the better quality bags. But I'd appreciate feedback on this unit or others. Thanks
Not sure of the specs of that system but it should work well. get the 4x8 bag and just roll up what you don't need and use a 4x4 platen in it. I use the thicker vinyl bags and the last one lasted about 7 years of regular use. The polyuathane bags are nice and worth the money but if money is tight the vinyl bags work real well.
>Thanks for the input. Price-wise there quite a jump when you go with the bigger pump systems but if the 100 works for what I need I can afford it.
The new jointer is working well. I do have one gripe. There is a "bridge" in the casting under the cutterhead and near the top of the dust shute. It tends to catch shavings which in turn collect and get grabbed by the cutterhead and "spit" back out onto the table. A bit annoying. I intend to take a piece of sheet flashing and form a smooth transition over that casting protrusion to allow the shavings to slide by down the shute. Other than that I am happy with the machine.
>I too am in the market for a vacuum press. I am planning to make multiply waterskis and want to clamp them up with the press. I have been researching on the net for some time and I think you might find the below link another cheaper option:
>I have an equivalent system that Woodcraft sells. Works perfectly. I bought melamine coated particle board at HD for the platens. For what I have done to date, a system costing 100 times more would not work any better. If I had it to do over, I would buy the same thing. A lot of people suggest building your own, but getting a pump off e-bay etc. That just is not worth the hassle to me. I'd have several days in building it just to save $100 or so. To each his own I guess.
>I built my own and still use the pump set up. What I found is that it is not worth the effort to make your own bags , the pre made vinyl bags are pretty reasnably priced and work flawlessly. The first bag I made worked OK but was soon replaced with a purchased one plus I really didn't have a good time gluing it together it was a royal pita. If you have a vacuum pump already and can cobble up the other parts you can save some money that way.
>No knock on the build-it-your-self models. If you were a hobby only fellow then that might be a reasonable way to go, but as you are marketing and selling your wares I'd view this as a business investment.
Any tools or equipment you purchase should be a tax write off. Going the buy route will save you set up time and increase your production.
That said I'd go for the most you can possible a$$ord. Meaning that if you can find a way to invest in the continuous running pump that would be great. It reaches an equilibrium state then shuts off and starts up again when it senses a drop in pressure. You can leave it running over night with out loosing sleep over weather the pump has burned out.
On the other hand I have the comparable model from WoodCraft and have had no problems.
My invoice for $.02 can be paid via check money order or pay pal!
>I bought one a while back to veneer the sides of a dresser I built. I had been doing all my veneering with clamps and melamine, but this project was too big for that. I have been very pleased with the unit. I bought the larger bag made of thicker vinyl (poly is nice, but too much for my budget). I also made a smaller bag for my small panel projects. I was a little surprised by how well the first trial went. No issues or problems with the equipment. So far, so good. The folks at Vacupress are great.
This is the first panel. Its striped mahogany on Baltic birch. Around 5' tall.
Get the 5cfm pump setup from Darryl at Vacuum Pressing Systems. You will not regret it. I know you will advance to doing curved work, maybe even complex curves. The larger pump will evacuate the bag 5 times faster. I think the little compact is 1 cfm. Mine is 13-14 yrs old and still going strong.
Get the poly bag in a 4x8 and forget about buying another later. You can put smaller platens in the bag and get greater height for large curves. I have a 42" wide platen which allows for some curves and large flat panels.
I think Earl was reading my mind. I'd recommend the same thing. You know you'll grow. You have to think beyond 2 years with an investment like this. It pays back fast! It's like walking vs. biking vs. driving. You rather drive, don't you?
