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Thread: Vacuum pump for chuck?

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Johnson City, TN
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    665

    Question Vacuum pump for chuck?

    I've been thinking about getting a vacuum pump and making some vacuum chucks for my lathe. My question is what size vacuum pump would you guy's recommend for a lathe vacuum chuck? My lathe is a Jet 1236.

    Thanks
    Sparky Paessler

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Location
    Rhode Island
    Posts
    27

    Smile vacuum pump

    Hi, go for a 1/4 Hp Minimum, prefer 1/3 hp Gast vane style pump ck e bay

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
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    SE PA - Central Bucks County
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    65,675
    Sparky, I picked up a Gast pump...essentially the identical unit that the woodturning stores and OneWay sell for big bucks...from a surplus outfit. It's a 1/3hp rotary vane unit and I paid about $175 for it. It was essentially brand new with a GE Medical Systems sticker on it. That said, you can often find similar used vacuum pumps on EBAY and at other sources for very reasonable cost. I have an article on my site about vacuum chuck systems if you might find it useful.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Johnson City, TN
    Posts
    665

    Thanks

    Thanks Jim and David. 1/4 to 1/3 is what I though but wasn't sure. I have been look at some on Ebay. Will check out your site Jim.
    Sparky Paessler

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
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    SE PA - Central Bucks County
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    Sparky, just like in compressors, "horsepower" isn't the real measure of what you want for this application. You need a vacuum pump that can pull 25-29 hg of vacuum. That said, the 1/3-1/4hp rotary vane units are generally able to do that. Be sure you take note of required input voltage, too...a respectable number of the surplus pumps require 240v which isn't a problem if you can deliver it, but if not, you want to be sure that the pump you choose to buy will work on 120v. My appologies for forgetting to mention this in my original reply.

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