Shawn, For what you are doing, I think you'd be better off with a frame as opposed to a bag. Pictures attached, hopefully self-explanatory. Seriously, check out the Musical Instrument Makers Forum at mimf.com, the participants are just as friendly and helpful as the folks here, plus they have a wealth of specialized guitar-making knowledge. Mike Shawn Brock wrote: > Terry, > > Thanks for the info. I'm glad someone knows something about these > things. I have never even looked at one of these before and don't > know squat... I don't > know that I need a large pump because of the nature of the work. I > would just be using it to press tops and or backs of guitars. One > wood working outfit in town has one that has a 14 by 49 bag and comes > with some sort of hand pump. Like I stated earlier though the > dimensions of the bag don't work for me and I don't know what to > expect from a hand pump system. I'm sure I wouldn't need a pump with > massive power but the hand pump might be a little wimpy. Do you have > any thoughts on this? Basically what I would like to do is take the > soundboard, glue on a layer of nomex and press it. After that I would > thin down the soundboard from about 3/4mm to 2mm, glue another board > on putting the nomex in-between like a sandwich and press again. It > seems easy enough, its just figuring out what kind of equipment would > work the best. > Regards, > Shawn Brock, RPT > Block quote start > ----- Original Message ----- > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Farrell <mailto:mfarrel2 at tampabay.rr.com> > *To:* pianotech at ptg.org <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org> > *Sent:* Wednesday, March 04, 2009 11:35 AM > *Subject:* Re: [pianotech] OT vacuum press/vacuum clamping system > > Hi Shawn, > > Vacuum pressing is enough of a specialty area that I really don't > think you'll find much on the street. There's really only a few > places that sell that stuff. You really need to go on-line to find > what works for you. > > I use vacuum pressing for building laminated soundboard panels, > rib sets and gluing just about any large flat/cured panel to > another. Basically all you need is a vacuum pump and a plastic > bag. I have my bags custom made at > http://www.vacupress.com/pricing.htm (scroll about half way down > for their bags - they also make custom sizes). I also buy my > adhesive from them http://www.vacupress.com/veneerglue.htm . I > bought my vacuum pump from these folks - the CD100 > http://www.vac-u-clamp.com/products/basic-pumps/index.htm - it's a > real workhorse and all you need. > > I'm happy to share tons more info on tips, techniques, equipment, > etc. - just ask away. > > Terry Farrell > > ----- Original Message ----- > *From:* Shawn Brock <mailto:shawnbrock at fuse.net> > *To:* Pianotech List <mailto:pianotech at ptg.org> > *Sent:* Wednesday, March 04, 2009 10:26 AM > *Subject:* [pianotech] OT vacuum press/vacuum clamping system > > List, > > do any of you have experience with the use of a vacuum > press/clamping system? I am in the market for this product > but am having a hard time finding someone who sells it in the > Cincinnati area. More accurately, I'm having a hard time > finding someone who knows if they stock them. You know how it > goes... Maybe they have it and don't know if they do but they > assume they don't because you want it... I am going to get > back to my old hobby of building guitars so I need a system > that will handle something 15 wide and maybe 22 long. I found > one that has a capacity of 14 wide and 47 long but those folks > tell me they can't order anything bigger. I would rather shop > for one in store than online so I can grope the product in > person. I'm not trying to hide my ignorance on vacuum > press's, I don't know hardly anything about them so... I am > planning to build either a double top guitar with a nomex core > or a lattice braced top using balsa wood and carbon fiber. If > you haven't got a chance to hear classical guitars built in > this modern fashion you should check them out. The volume is > tremendous! You can't even compare them to traditional > construction as far as volume goes. The tone is another > matter though. You can check out my page on myspace to hear > traditional Spanish construction next to this new sound > offered by these guitars. I have 4 songs posted at this time > and I used 3 different guitars. Fields of Gold uses a > traditional Classical Spanish made guitar with Spruce top, The > Call is a lattice top guitar and New Moon and Golpe were > played on a Spanish Flamenco guitar with a Seder top. I > wonder if any of these new ideas could become useful in > piano soundboard construction? > www.myspace.com/shawnbrockmusic > <http://www.myspace.com/shawnbrockmusic> > > Regards, > Shawn Brock, RPT > -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: vacuumframe1.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 25828 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20090306/e1a25ca3/attachment-0002.jpg> -------------- next part -------------- A non-text attachment was scrubbed... Name: vacuumframe2.jpg Type: image/jpeg Size: 27350 bytes Desc: not available URL: <http://ptg.org/pipermail/pianotech_ptg.org/attachments/20090306/e1a25ca3/attachment-0003.jpg>
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