Vacupress for veneer

[Ronn W]

I decided to bite the bullet and bought a vacuum pump and bag from Vacupress.  I chose the smaller (1.3 CFM pump) and their 49" sq 30 mil vinyl bag.  Came in 2 boxes along with the hose and all the necessary fittings.  Instructions for use and setup are well written.  Their system requires a grooved platten to ensure the air is evacuated because the hose attaches to the bottom of the bag through a hole in the platten.  While I was at it I made a large platten (38 x 48) which is quite heavy and a 24 x 36 platten whicih will be fine for smaller projects - both out of 3/4" melamine.

Pump has both continuous and auto cyle modes ( Use auto cycle with the vacuum bag).  In the pics, I was only using about half the volume of the bag and it took about a minute to come up to pressure.  The pump pressure and auto cylcle pressure setting are adjustable.   Mine cycles, right now, between 22" and 24" Hg.

BTW, I almost missed it.  The bag comes with a small patch kit just in case and copule fo extra fittings so you can have more than platten ready to go.

There are cheaper ways to go but this system works great and I am happy with it.  I have attached a few pics of my first glue-up.  Did both sides at the same time.

[pkinneb]

Turned out nice Ronn! 

[Ronn W]

Thank you.  The trick now is to put the edge band on.  I think that the grain on the edge will be vertical and not horizontal wrap around.  I need to do a practice piece first.

[wdwerker]

Last full veneered top I did was veneered with a balance sheet on the bottom then cut to size/shape then edge banded. I did the top last. I put it on top of a small piece of melamine with the face veneer down then slid that into the press. So the bottom of the piece is facing up while it's in the press.

[Mick S]

I have the same setup and am very happy with it. We live at 7000 feet altitude, so it takes a little longer to get up to max pressure, but for my purposes it's no problem. I've also used it for bent laminations with no issues at all.

[Ronn W]

On 24/04/2018 at 7:44 PM, wdwerker said:

Last full veneered top I did was veneered with a balance sheet on the bottom then cut to size/shape then edge banded. I did the top last. I put it on top of a small piece of melamine with the face veneer down then slid that into the press. So the bottom of the piece is facing up while it's in the press.

I succesfully got the edge banding on.  Used 24 pieces with the grain at angle and the joints lined up with the joints of the radial pattern on the top.  I reversed the angle of the grain every 30 degress.  Nice effect.  Picky work but it turned out well.  I used double think veneer (2 layers) on the edge to allow for just a little more round over with the 220 grit.

[pkinneb]

10 hours ago, Ronn W said:

I succesfully got the edge banding on.  Used 24 pieces with the grain at angle and the joints lined up with the joints of the radial pattern on the top.  I reversed the angle of the grain every 30 degress.  Nice effect.  Picky work but it turned out well.  I used double think veneer (2 layers) on the edge to allow for just a little more round over with the 220 grit.

...and the pics you obviously forgot to post  

[Ronn W]

Pics coming after fniishing so its easier to see the grain direction in the pics.

 

[Brendon_t]

Get we get a ballpark of what one of those setups would run ya?

I don't veneer often, and not having one of these is why. I hate the dumbbell and anything else even remotely heavy"veneer clamping" I do now

[difalkner]

Very well done, Ronn!  That's a nice setup.

David

[Ronn W]

On 28/04/2018 at 2:35 PM, Brendon_t said:

Get we get a ballpark of what one of those setups would run ya?

Small pump  (I think 1.3 cfm) and 49" x 49" 30 mil bag (not 20 mil) runs about $500.  You have to build the platten out of melamine.

https://www.vacupress.com/

[Ronn W]

 

On 28/04/2018 at 7:25 AM, pkinneb said:

..and the pics you obviously forgot to post  

OK, here are the pics.  Walnut veneer both sides and edge, solid maple base. 14" diameter, 2 coats shellac and 2 coats ARS applied with rag. I have seen a lot of radial pieces like this with a thicker high gloss perfectly smooth finish but while I did use Gloss ARS, I like a little texture.

 

[wdwerker]

That edge work looks "marvelous" (use Billy Crystal's voice) ! How did you apply the edge veneer ? 

[pkinneb]

That turned out awesome Ronn!! 

[drzaius]

The angle of the edge veneer looks just right, and the texture of the wood shows through nicely. Well done.

[Ronn W]

6 hours ago, wdwerker said:

That edge work looks "marvelous" (use Billy Crystal's voice) ! How did you apply the edge veneer ? 

I started with 24 pieces (double thick)  I glue them together in pairs so that the grain is each half was a mirror image.  I centered the first pair one a joint in the top.  Wach pairs was just a tad wider than neede so I could trim the next pair to butt into the previous pair.  Just worked my way around the edge.  I used a piece of the waste from gutting the 14" circle as a caul and used vise and a bench dog to clamp each piece.

[wdwerker]

Smart & creative approach.   Surely you signed & dated it ?

  I once veneered 2 half round ends using a contrived press made from the offcut and a fire hose. Inflate the hose to add pressure. Took almost $20 worth of fittings to reduce from a fire hose coupling to a bicycle tire valve.

[Chestnut]

Ron this is awesome good work sir.

[MattF]

That looks fantastic and something I would like to try in the future. The system you went with looks very user friendly. 

 

I have done an extensive amount of vacuum laminating composites and would forgo the grooved platen and premade bag system. These are not hurting you in any way, just a little more expensive.

 

 

[wdwerker]

Fiberglas window screen works in place of the grooves too. Of course I didn't find that out until after I had made 3 different size platens. My pump is old school cast iron vane type that sips oil from a little jar. Must be over 40 years old and still runs like a top.

[MattF]

1 hour ago, wdwerker said:

Fiberglas window screen works in place of the grooves too. Of course I didn't find that out until after I had made 3 different size platens. My pump is old school cast iron vane type that sips oil from a little jar. Must be over 40 years old and still runs like a top.

Window screen works great. Another options is a breathable fabric like felt.

[wdwerker]

Good to know. Old dogs can learn new tricks !

[Tom King]

Looks great, and very interesting thread!   I see vacuum pumps for sale, all the time on CL.   What would be good to look for?   The only veneering I've done is hammering, but a vacuum bag setup would be nice to have.   The job for a $500 setup hasn't come up yet though.

[wdwerker]

Mine is an old Gast rotary vane pump. Motor is only 1/3hp. I've veneered 4x12 conference tables with it.  I also use it extensively for vacuum clamping to hold parts while routing laminate.  It's a manual vacuum pump so it just runs non stop while pressing veneer. The newer ones shut on & off depending on demand. I don't think the pumps are built for constant use.

[Ronn W]

On 08/05/2018 at 5:45 PM, wdwerker said:

Good to know. Old dogs can learn new tricks !

Grrrrrrrrr!

I am going to get some fiberglass screening for my next project, I wall hanging.  Plan to use it in place of a top caul.