Stabilizing brush blank project

[MikeB52]

Been using some stabilized wood on a few brush and pen projects and have been learning about, and leaning towards building my own vacuum/ pressure pot system.
I have read in many threads on here about those that have their own systems and look forward to adding a new experience to the collective.
Figured I got the key component today so I should start.

Needs some minor tlc, but a gift from our hvac guy at the plant has given me the kick I need.
Please, feel free to add to this thread if you have experience or ideas relevant to the stabilizing process. Chemicals that you use, vac or pressure systems you have built etc.
My setup will involve repurposing an aluminum pressure cooker, and or a fluid extraction system designed for automotive use, still tbd.
Cheers.

[RezDog]

There was an interesting point made in a similar thread about making sure you have a containment area set up incase your vessel implodes and sends chemical and shards flying.

[Geezer]

Remember to disconnect the pump before you shut it off. Otherwise all the pump oil will be sucked out of it and into you container.
~Richard

[10Pups]

Always remember to have the camera running when your experimenting with this process please. We all love explosive action vids :<0)

Not to derail your thread but I remember this 1 ------> http://straightrazorpalace.com/works...-products.html

[MikeB52]

Thanks for posting the link pups, I remember reading that one, but couldn't find it again.
No derailment worries, the rail wanders all on its own.

Will film projects and post successes and fails as I learn sometimes more from the latter than the former..

Would like to make something transparent to watch the progress, but also appreciate the pressures involved. So may just stick with paint pots and pressure cookers.
Untreated burls are seemingly so much less $ to procure, it'll be fun regardless of how far I take it.

[10Pups]

I can get you a link to bullet proof plexi glass if you want but be advised.....it ain't cheap. Heck that might be a fun experiment on it's own. Here's Mike now attempting 4 layers of plexi from home depot. Now that he is out of the hospital :<0)

[MrBrian]

I'm a hvac guy. The vacuum pump shown is made to remove atmospheric air and to boil off water in a mechanical cooling system. Robinair are a standard in the hvac industry. an aluminum pressure cooker will never implode nor will it cast out shards of anything. It will leak in air if you don't close the valve on the vacuum port and that's it.the vacuum pull is ever so slight on these tools, my may not even have enough negative pressure to preform the task you want it to. Your going to have a challenge to drop the pressures to one atmosphere. Be sure to change the oil after each use. The oil hold air/water is only good for one use. And, get the size of oil bottle that is enough to fill the pump. Any thing left over in a bottle of oil will absorb atmospheric moisture. It's very hydrophilic.

[HARRYWALLY]

Thought I'd post here, hope you don't mind Mike. By the way Mike, Your new avatar suites you perfectly. This is how I invision you in your work shop.

I reworked my stabilizing unit this morning. It had been pulling -27 inHg which really is pretty good but I could hear it pulling air around my fittings. I don't know why, but when I initially put it together I used CA to seal up the threads. That was a fail, so this time I did it properly and used teflon tape and things are working very, very well now. I'm pulling slightly above -29 inHg which is superb.

[HARRYWALLY]

I also want to ask you guys, my pump heats up quite a lot while running. Within a half hour it is pretty hot to the touch. Generally it takes a few hours to draw out all the air and by that time I'm nervous my pump might decide to over heat and quit. What are your thoughts on this guys? The last thing I want to do is drop $100-200 on a new pump.

[MikeB52]

I also want to ask you guys, my pump heats up quite a lot while running. Within a half hour it is pretty hot to the touch. Generally it takes a few hours to draw out all the air and by that time I'm nervous my pump might decide to over heat and quit. What are your thoughts on this guys? The last thing I want to do is drop $100-200 on a new pump.

If your oil is good, may be normal. Lots of work with little airflow pulling that kind of vacuum. Are your heat sink fins clear?
Once I fire up mine I will let you know the heat affect on it for comparison..