[pianotech] OT vacuum press/vacuum clamping system

[Shawn Brock]

It sounds like a good set up you have (vary useful and not that expensive!)  I am probably going to order a pump the first of next week....  As far as what Nomex is, Paul hit it.  In some guitars it is used as a core between 2 wooden soundboards.  It is a honeycomb material that helps to strengthen the top of a guitar.  Check out some of these links and see what you think.  It is a fairly new system in guitar building.  

http://www.reynoldsguitars.com/dtop.shtml

Regards,
Shawn Brock, RPT
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Farrell 
  To: pianotech at ptg.org 
  Sent: Thursday, March 05, 2009 2:43 PM
  Subject: Re: [pianotech] OT vacuum press/vacuum clamping system


  Some sort of hand pump may give you a vacuum, but unless the adhesive you are using sets in minutes, you're gonna have one sore hand. The pump I bought was the smallest vacuum pump I could find - and it is all I need. I did a laminated soundboard panel for a 7' Bluthner - big bag - and that pump worked just fine.

  As far as the bag goes, like I said, the place I get mine from make custom sizes. For the bag for that 7' panel I had them make both ends open for easy access. They have a very easy to use positive sealing system on their bags. Don't get bags with a zip-lock-type seal - I tried those initially, and found that dust and wood chips get in there and render the seal useless. The offer thick bags (if I remember, 2 or 3 mm) vinyl or something better. I don't use the bags daily, so I just went with the thin vinyl - the cheapest they had - I've had them a couple years now and have run dozens of pinblocks and rib slabs through them without ever getting a leak (oops, just one leak, but I patched it very easily).

  I also have the venturi pump on the same page as my pump, but rarely use it because it requires the compressor to run all the time.

  What's nomex?

  Terry Farrell
    ----- Original Message ----- 
    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
    ----- Original Message ----- 
      From: Farrell 
      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
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