What have you made?

[Meursault]

Is the front end "bagged" too?

I can't wait to get my '51 on the road...


Is anyone into vacuum bagging for presses/molds?  I'm looking to make a vacuum bagging system for veneers and was wondering if anyone could point me to a good DIY setup?  Do most people just run a venturi valve off of a compressor or something?

It really depends on your application, because if you're doing veneers, most likely you're doing it for strength.  Strength wise you can't beat a good clamping set up.  Vacuum bagging for something like is unnecessary and a waste of time.  Only real use of vacuum bagging should be for fiber based layups where air bubbles need to be removed at the most minute scale.

[Bunsincunsin]

It really depends on your application, because if you're doing veneers, most likely you're doing it for strength.  Strength wise you can't beat a good clamping set up.  Vacuum bagging for something like is unnecessary and a waste of time.  Only real use of vacuum bagging should be for fiber based layups where air bubbles need to be removed at the most minute scale.

With the projects I have in mind strength isn't a real concern; although, I know vacuum bags can put down some decent PSI (lots of people use them for laminating skateboards/longboards for example).  I need the versatility that vaccum bagging offers.  I'll mainly be doing some finish work and some light lamination with the setup.

[Meursault]

With the projects I have in mind strength isn't a real concern; although, I know vacuum bags can put down some decent PSI (lots of people use them for laminating skateboards/longboards for example).  I need the versatility that vaccum bagging offers.  I'll mainly be doing some finish work and some light lamination with the setup.

The guys who do use vacuum bagging either have a lot of money invested in the setups, or a superb vacuum pump on hand.  If you're doing light laminations then go for it, but keep in mind you're maxed out pressure would be 14.7 PSI at sea level, but yes, you can't really beat the versatility of a bag set up.  A good place for vacuum pumps are AC shops that have been around for a long time, I got mine for free since my family has had the same AC guy for almost 20 years, and we recently hooked him up with a $10k job.

EDIT: Sorry, when you said veneers, I read laminations. But I would have said the same thing regardless.  Try it out with cheap bags first as well, then once you get the hang of it, move on to the nicer bags.

[Bunsincunsin]

True, I'll have to look around and see what others have done.  I think I've also heard of people using parts from old refrigerators as well...  I agree, though, that a good clamp or solid wood press is the way to go for strength; I've got a ribbed press buillt up for my longboards that works great.

Do you have any photos of your vaccum bag setup?

[Meursault]

True, I'll have to look around and see what others have done.  I think I've also heard of people using parts from old refrigerators as well...  I agree, though, that a good clamp or solid wood press is the way to go for strength; I've got a ribbed press buillt up for my longboards that works great.

Do you have any photos of your vaccum bag setup?

I don't really have much, I've been tinkering around with it here and there, but learning to weld, working, and going to school have held me back from this.  I've made some vacuum formed PC molds for carbon fiber layups, but haven't made it to the vacuum bag stage, or ordering the actual glassing components for that matter.  My setup is going to be a little more elaborate than a normal bagging setup since glassing resin will destroy a vacuum pump way easier than wood glue.

Edit: I need to stop reading up on how to do everything, and actually do it.

[torontoflatlander]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=033_1323154208

I want to make this. Or something like it.

[Meursault]

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=033_1323154208

I want to make this. Or something like it.

http://www.cabinfeverexpo.com/

[magnumpink]

Gonna make an amp to go with it next year.

[accidentprone]

started this today... nes coffee table

[BabyJesus[NJ]]

shift knob with a paw print up top for a friend

And scooter forks... money is money

the finished product, says garfield down it.

[Big_L]

Beer seat!

[Liveinthewoods]

I'd love to post some of the stuff I make at work but our contract with General Electric is super strict so no pictures = (

[accidentprone]

Nintendo coffee table...




Mustache coat rack...

[mphelps]

that nintendo coffee table is awesome

[Admiral Ackbar]

Beer seat!

this is so sick