back to the matter at hand, did you use a brake bleeder type vacuum pump?
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back to the matter at hand, did you use a brake bleeder type vacuum pump?
This is a very interesting project! I'm looking forward to see how it goes!
Jar = Valsic 1 1/2 quart $3.42 with Pickels
Daly's = $16 per Qt x 2
Fittings & Washers = $8.69
Silicon Sealer = $4.49
Pump Kit $24.99
Feeling of success when it worked, and didn't implode like so many people warned about = Priceless
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Tricks I have learned already,
Slowly bring the pressure down about 5 in/hg at a time let the foam up occur and then bring it down again
After 1 hr release the pressure, and then let the wood sink lower, and drop the pressure again
I have it holding at 25 in/hg and it has held there today for over 4 hours so far
Do NOT let the sealer touch the fitting inside the jar it will wreck your pump if it gets sucked in
You can create a double "Boiler" type set up and keep things really safe if you can get the right size glassware ie: a smaller jar of finish inside a larger jar that holds the Vacuum
The first batch of Burls
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Thats a great thing,can you wgt a pce before and after? might be interesting.
Do you see any evidence of water in the mix? or was the wood dry beforehand.
This is great stuff,thanks.
that wood looks amazing Glen!
Bottom line: This is freakin' cool.
No one best be complaining for a lack of photography here, Glen. ;)
Awesome set-up and nice results! :)
So far the hardest parts were finding the right jar
Finding and adapting the fittings
and Resisting the urge to keep testing the wood every couple of hours to see how it is drying :p
BTW This is NOT my idea, I just simply adapted it specifically for my usage
Hi Glen,
Once upon a time I took a class in electron microscopy, and we embedded our specimens in a resin that set when baked. Don't remember the temperature, but I don't think it would harm wood. We kept a range of resin solutions--10% resin, 90% solvent (acetone, I think, or absolutely dry ethanol), then 20% resin, and so on. It was really time consuming, time in each bath before moving on, but we got subcellular impregnation.
I have no idea what the stuff cost or where you get it, but it was tough and transparent when it set. There's got to be a microscopist among us. Anyone? Anyone?
Where did you get your pump and vacuum gage? With a little extra hassle you can put another container in series to catch any fluid and protect your pump.
Cool setup.