Darryl Keil Last Activity 2025-02-12 2:48 PM
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Gary H Phillips

Posts: 46

Joined: 2007-05-06
Location: Seekonk, MA

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Subject : Vacuum Table Progress
Posted : 2007-06-03 2:04 PM
Post #33853
Greetings all,

I have been working on the vacuum table. I have also been reading as much as I can about vacuum pressing. My table will be 60" x 144". In reading the various types of presses, I have come to the conclusion that a flip top is best for me, but I cannot have a table that big in my shop that is of one use. I was wondering if any of you have done a flip top without the "flip". Have any of you ever made a frame top that is totally loose that just mounts on the table top when you need it? I was thinking of perhaps having it rig from the ceiling and have it come down when needed. Would it need to be clamped? Would it "clamp" itself? Perhaps 1/2 dozen or so thumb screws?

A less high-tech way would be to tape the membrane down. A good friend of mine was doing that as far back as the early 70's. If I did it this way I could roll up the membrane and keep it in a box, thus keeping it clean. If I had a frame hanging from the ceiling, it would get dirty... So many questions...

Since I would be doing mainly flat laminations that need to be *truly* flat including pipe organ chest tables which can be huge, the flip top style seems the best for me.

Since I have a big compressor, I'm probably going to use a venturi pump system. Would the 6 cfm one be big enough for a 60 x 144 size table? Under normal conditions, meaning good gasket connections, does the pump run a lot?

I would probably go with a Vinyl membrane because I'd be really good about felting all corners of what is being laminated. I would do that even with the poly membrane; I'm funny about those kinds of things.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing this table done and working, I have much work lined up for it!

Thanks too all those who have advised me so far. Also, MUCH thanks to Darryl Keil for supplying such high quality products. I look forward to reading everyone's advice.



Cheers

Gary



 
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Darryl Keil

Posts: 1454

Joined: 2003-05-22
Location: Maine

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Subject : RE: Vacuum Table Progress
Posted : 2007-06-03 8:55 PM
Post #33855 - In reply to #33853
Gary,

You can definitely have the frame just lift off instead of hinge.

If you do it right, with the gasket directly on the membrane, all you need is some light hold down latches to get the vacuum started. From there the vacuum will pin the gasket to the table and it will self seal.

You should be fine with a 6cfm pump. You should be up to full vacuum in a couple of minutes provided you have a good seal.

Sincerely
Darryl Keil


 
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Gary H Phillips

Posts: 46

Joined: 2007-05-06
Location: Seekonk, MA

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Subject : RE: Vacuum Table Progress
Posted : 2007-06-04 7:11 AM
Post #33856 - In reply to #33855
Great, that is the way to go then. I will come up with some kind of simple, non intrusive clamping system. How much "bag" can I put in the frame and still be able to laminate a simple 4 x 8 x 7/8" without any problems? Of course, I'd like to have the biggest swing between thin and thick material clamping abliity.

Can I buy the rough frame extrusion or does VacuPress have to make up the frame? Can I make up a wood frame with a permanent sized "bag" or do you recommend the extrusion? I don't mind a heavy frame if it's wood because I plan on flying it over the table when it's not used.


Cheers,

Gary





 
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Darryl Keil

Posts: 1454

Joined: 2003-05-22
Location: Maine

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Subject : RE: Vacuum Table Progress
Posted : 2007-06-04 9:14 PM
Post #33857 - In reply to #33856
Gary,

You would be fine making the frame out of wood, not to mention it will make attaching the membrane easier.

When using a flat sheet you wont get much height otherwise the material will bunch up at the corners. If you don't go much over the 7/8" you mentioned you'll probably be OK. If you want more height the membrane will have to be pleated. We do a standard 6" height capacity with our frame presses and the membrane is sort of like a shoe box lid with a flange on it. You can really only do this kind of thing with polyurethane as the seaming that is required will not hold up very well with vinyl.

Sincerely
Darryl Keil


 
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Gary H Phillips

Posts: 46

Joined: 2007-05-06
Location: Seekonk, MA

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Subject : RE: Vacuum Table Progress
Posted : 2007-06-07 7:46 AM
Post #33860 - In reply to #33857
Darryl,

Thanks for your help. I guess now I need a price on a poly 5 sided bag, 6" in height. If I had one of these to this height, could I still do a 7/8" sheet? I was thinking that if I made a flange system, lets say 2" high by 1" thick and split it into 2, 1" high sections and sandwich the poly between those to 1" sections...would that work? What kind of treatment would need to be used where the poly seals against the wooden flange?

I have leather used in our pipe organs that could be used for gaskets, it's dense but soft cowhide. What is usually used for a gasket, some kind of neopreme?



Thanks!

Gary


 
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Howard

Posts: 24

Joined: 2007-01-15

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Subject : Press
Posted : 2007-06-04 10:38 PM
Post #33858 - In reply to #33853
Gary:

If your shop ceiling is high enough, and you have enough space, you may want to consider a fold down table hinged to a wall. You could make a lightweight table by laminating thin skins such as Formica to honeycomb.

I needed a smaller lightweight press that I could pick up and store out of the way when not needed and am in the process of making a 2 by 6 foot table with a honeycomb core.

Also here is a link to a guy that made a small press frame out of wood:
http://www.dewguitars.com/vacuum%20press/Vacuum%20Press.htm

Howard







 
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Gary H Phillips

Posts: 46

Joined: 2007-05-06
Location: Seekonk, MA

User Profile 
Subject : RE: Press
Posted : 2007-06-07 7:39 AM
Post #33859 - In reply to #33858
Howard,

My table is going to be 5 x 12 feet in size. Because of the nature of my work (pipe organ) most of it needs to be dead flat. My table will be immovable. I do like the idea of a fold down but it won't work in this situation as I don't have 1. the wall space to do it and 2. I don't trust any of the partition walls in our space...they are cheesy.



Cheers,
Gary
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