Building a PVC Vacuum Chamber to vacuum seal canning jars

[@DavidForsyth-e2b]

One benefit of your project is that with a hand pump you can still vacuum seal if the power is out.

[@joelongstaff7601]

Great video thankyou Sir. I do a lot of dehydrating as well as canning for winter so now I will try to vacuum seal the vac pack bags in jars for the root cellar. God bless.

[@armyrabb1]

I would size the pipe to fit two pint jars and install a brass nozzle on top, leaving the tubing attached. Great job!

[@robertd9850]

Twist the fitting and pipe a quarter turn after you glue it but quickly before it sets. It will distribute the glue to fill any gaps.

[@waynethurman2144]

Great video!

[@MikeSmithInFL]

A tip for cementing the PVC - twist the pieces about 1/8 to 1/4 of a turn when putting the pieces together after gluing.

[@ericmeyersonline]

Thanks for the tip. I always wiggle my connections to smear as best as I can. Definitely helps

[@joyjacobs9748]

Thank you, I was wondering how to make one and I thought pcv pipe would work

[@fleebin2794]

I like it! I would rather build one than relay on a store bought solution. I don’t have the best luck buying things these days and now I am avoiding g it as much as possible. Tired of having to fix brand new things to get them to work as intended, freeze drier included!

[@ericmeyersonline]

Thanks for watching! Best of luck putting together your own!

[@elizabethcope1502]

The vacuum container can seal other types of empty button lid jars. You can also stack smaller jars. The mason lid sealers are limited to regular or wide mouth mason jars. I need to figure out how to build a chamber to seal gallon pickle jars. I have a lot of them. God bless.

[@ericmeyersonline]

Hi Elizabeth, thanks for watching. Holy cow, gallon jars! I'll bet there's a specialty type if pvc in larger sizes you could use. Or corrugated steel they use for drain pipes. But creating the vacuum would be a nightmare. Think the handwarmers are probably the most cost effective there for sure.

[@JoseMartinez-nm7ht]

@@ericmeyersonline I've seen people build vacuum chamber (cube) with thick plexiglass, rubber seal around the lid ensures a good seal. Love you video, thanks for the idea!

[@ericmeyersonline]

@@JoseMartinez-nm7ht that's interesting Jose. I may look that up and give it a try as another option. Thanks for watching!

[@GremlinsVillage]

If you have a home pressure canner it can be adapted into a vacuum chamber.

[@KanDee_Olson]

Rain Country made these and use the brake thing years ago.

[@ericmeyersonline]

Yup. There are a bunch of videos on the same thing out on KZbin. Numerous people have taken a shot at it.

[@daytondove6726]

and????

[@daytondove6726]

@@ericmeyersonline thank you! a good video

[@ericmeyersonline]

@@daytondove6726 Thanks for the watch

[@lobodo988]

Thanks for pricing this project, I was quite surprised how expensive the pieces are. And that's before you even put it together. But it seems kinda necessary - both for strength of the vessel to take the pressure, and for being such a tight 'fit' to a jar. I'm still looking for a solution. I can't find a vacuum chamber for sale atm & I have LOTS of store jars to put to work. Plastic Kirkland jars with a hole in the cap "work" but their sides suck in so bad, like they'll bust, I always stop before it goes too far. Maybe pour dried beans around the jar to support those sides and take up air space? i'll give it a try

[@ericmeyersonline]

That's an interesting idea just using a larger jar. Please comment again and let us know how it works using the beans. My gut says if it helps it will be only slightly as you would still need the same pressure level but it's an interesting solution. Thanks for watching and the comment!

[@neilmunro6683]

Interesting presentation.. It would be helpful to many people if a way could be found to re seal STORE BOUGHT JARS!! EG large pickle jars or mayo jars for dry goods.. Iv tried the following methods with limited success.. Canister in canister with quick release of air method.. Deni jar vac system.. Commercial vacuum sealer in side the chamber, jar broke using this method{ kilner jar used} Water bath has worked for sauces and liquids.. Oxygen absorbers to create a seal..{ Limited result} Lochness Scottish Highlands..

[@ericmeyersonline]

Though not tried, I have read you could potentially use dry ice. Caution though as it can badly burn skin. But youd put the dry ice in, let it melt until almost gone pushing the oxygen out of the container, and then add the lid to it. But if the lid isn't made to re-seal it might still not seal correctly.

[@richbattaglia5350]

Just a friendly reminder, this is in no way substitute for pressure canning preservation for food. Botulism can form.

[@ericmeyersonline]

Thanks for watching Rich. Yes, I would definitely only use this on dry goods that will be properly prepared in the future. Check out my other video on proper pressure canning for bone broth!

[@heatherbottoms5813]

Will try . Thanks.

[@ericmeyersonline]

Thanks for the watch Heather. Good luck!

[@robertchristianson1187]

Nowdays you can buy a nice electric unit ready to use for about $20 US

[@rhondasibley]

I looked on ebay, couldn't see anything

[@rhondasibley]

I did this, but my vac sealer has to have button held on, turns off if i take my finger off on button. So now i have to buy a vac sealer that stays on till job done.

[@flavsngrace]

Thank you!!

[@ericmeyersonline]

Thanks for the watch Flavia.

[@bella-bee]

Ooh I’d want a flat end on the bottom!, but I guess it doesn’t matter.

[@ericmeyersonline]

Thanks for watching Bella. Yeah it does add a level of complexity. If I were to do again i'd try and find a way to make the bottom flat. You could make an easy epoxy flat bottom for it by pouring the epoxy and putting the chamber in directly vertical while it dries.

[@snorman1951]

One thing to remember is that the jar is not sealed until the unit is exposed to air. The inrushing air pressure slams the lid down against the jar and the gasket seals it. So the break probably needs to be fast for best results. You'll still lose some vacuum in the jar anyway.

[@ericmeyersonline]

Very valid point. Thanks for the additional detail, and thanks for watching. I hope you enjoyed the video.

[@critter9857]

to whomever thinks u can can non dried food with this method you cannot...u cant preserve wet foods.

[@quanahhurtt4443]

I use a brake bleeder.

[@jamee6]

Is there a different PVC fitting that could be used on the bottom so that it would sit flat? I feel like the rounded base would drive me crazy. Thank you so much for showing this to us!

[@ericmeyersonline]

Not sure on this one, sorry.

[@GremlinsVillage]

Yes you can get flat bottom caps. It drives me crazy seeing people use the rounded caps instead of the flat caps.

[@WhiteOak09]

I wonder if you could heat that curved bottom piece and flatten it out

[@ericmeyersonline]

I bet it's possible. The vacuum isn't that strong, so I bet even sanding down a flat spot would work.

[@WhiteOak09]

@@ericmeyersonline good idea , I've been thinking about building one like it

[@michaelsimpson9779]

​@@ericmeyersonline the domed surface is what gives it the characteristics of a pressure vessel. You'd be better off building up the perimeter of the dome to make it "flat"

[@ericmeyersonline]

​@michaelsimpson9779 great idea! Tha ks for the contribution

[@robertd9850]

Just buy the mason jar accessory for your vacuum meal sealer for $15.

[@marilynhill6358]

Is there a pipe big enough to put a 1/2 gallon jar

[@ericmeyersonline]

You might try an 8" pipe. I'd bring the jar to a home depot and check a few different sizes to see which it fits the most tightly since you'll want as little air space as possible.

[@TheYellowRose63]

@ERIC MEYERS WHAT SIZE IS THE PIPE? I GUESS I MISSED THAT PART. THANKS FOR A GREAT IDEA!!

[@ericmeyersonline]

Hi Uncle Jabbo, thanks for watching. I said 6" in the video and just now actually looking at the parts I think it was actually 4" schedule 40 pvc pipe. However depending on the size jars you plan on using this can scale up or down as all the items should be available in the common pvc sizes. Keep in mind the larger you go the more difficult it will be to put the vacuum on. At that point may want to hook up an electric solution vice the hand vacuum pump.

[@Clynn57]

Hand warmers are not food grade. Appropriate products are available for food safety.

[@gladtidings4all]

What size pvc pipe for half gallon jars

[@ericmeyersonline]

I think 8" would work, but 10" should definitely do it. Want to make sure that is as small as possible though as that's a lot of vacuum to create. Thanks for watching!

[@IMOO1896]

Considering - at least your design worked

[@ericmeyersonline]

Thanks for the watch Sandi!

[@frankmiller95]

The cost for a dedicated mason jar adapter is less than $15.

[@ericmeyersonline]

Thanks for letting people know

[@sharriceowens913]

Where u get the adapter from

[@ericmeyersonline]

All the PVC components are available at Home Depot or Lowes. The nozzle that fits into the screw in piece of PVC came as part of the hand vacuum pump.

[@debmunsell1720]

Thanks looks like a great food saving device, you can’t purchase those lid attachments any more.

[@2eyesopen244]

I found the lid attachments very awkward to use.

[@joycebrown9430]

My husband and I built this but the brake bleeder dial doesn't move at all. What are we doing wrong?

[@ericmeyersonline]

Couple possibilities. You may have an air leak somewhere in which case you aren't creating the vacuum. The gauge on the bleeder could be non functioning as well. You can use either Teflon tape or hot glue to seal around the hole you drilled. Another option might be you didn't get a great seal with the pvc glue. For this you can either break the bottom cap off (which might be pretty difficult) or just slather the gap between the bottom cap and the pvc pipe all the way around on the outside to make sure you eliminate air entering. Hope this helps.

[@ruthdoyle3572]

How did you make the lid ?

[@ericmeyersonline]

Hi Ruth. It's a screw in PVC plug. You then drill a small hole in the squared raised center peg for the vacuum pump. You could do it the opposite way I suppose and drill the rounded end for the pump but you might not be able to get as good a seal since you wouldn't be able to cement the end on to make the jars accessible

[@waynethurman2144]

KZbin loves to censor me!

[@FASIGMAN]

If you are showing people how to do this should you not at least be capable at cutting a plastic pipe properly ? just saying.