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Charlie Wolfe
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I don't see why you have to press at the full vacuum capability of your pump. I am just getting into vacuum pressing with a home brew system. My pump is a surplus Gast 0523 which pulls 25"Hg and is rated at 4.3 CFM of volume. The vacuum is fine, but, I found the evacuation rate was too fast for me to keep up with when trying to keep layups on forms straignt and such. I put a manual diverter valve at the input to the pump and start my system with it fully diverted (i.e. no vacuum being pulled from the bag). I then close the valve until I get the evacuation rate I want. I have a vacuum gauge at the valve, as well, and I use it to set the evacuation rate. 10" Hg seems to work for me. When I am satisfied that the layup is OK I close the valve and pull full vacuum. I would think you could just put a valve at the vacuum input to your high vacuum pump and simply open it until you have lowered the vacuum to what you want and then just pump away... Charlie : Dave,: I have a used vacuum pump from an electro microscope. I bought it used with the intent to use it in a vacuum press . I contacted the mfg's tech support line and was surprised with their response. They said that the pump was DESIGNED to opperate contitiously and needed a warm up period to purge condensates from the oil and a similar period after use. They suggested that putting a pressure regulating switch would/could actually harm the pump by preventing it from purging itself. Their recommendation was to turn it on and let it run for however long the bag was sealed. You may want to contact whoever mfg'd your pump.: I haven't used mine yet because I found access to a regulated pump with the necessary fittings. But, when I do, I wont't put in a pressure switch.: The one down side that I've considered is that I won't be able to press at less than full pressure. While that won't be an issue very often, I cannot use panel core material at full pressure. If I had it to do over, I'd buy the system; but I didn't get the price you did.: Respectfully,: Larry
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