How to Make a Vacuum Pump

[@tbsomerville5798]

A wonderful build that is terrifically explained… you earned my subscription.

[@G4mer_D4d]

ive seen several of these videos tonight, researching for a project and , this by far is the best done video ive seen. thanks a million.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Going wider makes the pump exponentially harder to pull up on. A two inch diameter piston takes around 45lbs to pull up at full vacuum no matter how long the shaft is, but go to three inches and you're at 100lbs. Doable, but a lot of work. Finding a piston to fit three inch pipe is quite a bit harder as well.

[@eddievilla1584]

I just got done making this PVC vacuum pump. This seems to be a great design for a vacuum pump, I did make one modification to it that may save you time building it. I moved the exhaust check valve that comes out of the side of the 2” pipe, I moved that check valve to the bottom of the 1 ¼” piston cap and so then it vents out the top of the push/pull handle. This change seems to make it easier to build this pump. I hope this helps someone.

[@oldtymeliving4198]

I was worried about the placement of the vent. It would be impossible to replace if needed as the parts are glued and you can’t get to it. I’m looking to vacuum seal jars in a 2.5 gallon glass chamber is this pump capable.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

I use a black backdrop and increase the contrast slightly in post.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

I believe I got it down around 28in/hg. The longer the pump body and piston stroke the deeper a vacuum it will be able to pull, but I found this size to be the most convenient to use.

[@oldtymeliving4198]

Do you think this is capable of removing enough air out of 2 1/2 gallon glass jug to seal mason jars

[@lawabidingcitizen5153]

@@oldtymeliving4198 Definitely, consider modifying a bike pump though, as that might work better

[@hskzn]

hi. diameter 50 mm strok 800 mm is i good for vacuum 0,9 bar about what do you think. can u help me ı have problem about vacuum

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Should be. The water would be contaminated with grease though, so you might want to use a different lubricant for that purpose.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

It's two sheets of polycarbonate laminated together for the base with a schrader valve threaded in as the air release and a quarter inch hose adapter running to the pump. A big rubber gasket I cut out of a sheet to seal it. The bowl I am using is just the heaviest I could find locally, but I do not recommend using anything other than a real bell jar. If the bowl were to fail it would send glass everywhere at high speeds.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Some hardware and auto parts stores have sheet rubber for making gaskets. Sometimes it's red, not black. If you can't find any you can just buy large rubber washers and cut pieces for your valves out of them.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Yep, 28's about right. With a longer pump body you would be able to pull more but it starts getting a little tall.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Yep that would help. You also have to account for a small amount of air still remaining in the chamber after the down stroke, which is where a longer chamber will allow more vacuum to be drawn since it will give more room to 'dilute' the little bit of air that is never forced completely out. Dilute isn't really the best word, but I think it paints the picture.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

The valves do work better with grease, but there's no need to apply it to them specifically. If enough grease is used on the piston the valves will be covered in the excess.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

I'm not sure how much vacuum is required for them, but if 28 in/Hg is enough then yes. You can pull more vacuum as well with this design if you increase the pump and shaft length.

[@joesitter20101]

In this design, max. vacuum achievable is determined by the pressure required to open the check valves. Small 1/3 psi check valves are available at low cost. That lets 97.7% atmosphere to be removed so, with 29.9"Hg barometric pressure, you could achieve the removal of 29.2"Hg (741.7mmHg) air pressure. Atm. press. @ sea level is 760 Torr (mmHg) so this pump, when fitted with 1/3 psi valves could pump down to slightly less than 18.4 Torr. The key part is the valve on the inlet side. Great Job!

[@Nighthawkinlight]

That's a good idea. That should work quite well also.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

I thought about it but there wasn't enough time to go over them in the video. Besides...I blew one of them up accidentally when I was testing my vacuum cannon. The projectile blew through the backstop I was using and hit the pump which I had stored behind it.

[@flaplaya]

Love this channel. If (when) society collapses, the smart will survive. :)

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Bike pumps are cheap and common so I really don't have much reason to make one. If you could take the one way valve on the outside of the pipe and figure out how to connect a hose over the outlet it would be able to act as a bike pump from that line. This large of a diameter of pump body would make it very hard to reach high pressures though.

[@TraceurArok]

You have an amazing narrating voice. Also, you are a clever man. 10/10

[@old_guard2431]

Impressive engineering is involved to keep both materials and assembly simple. Well done.

[@RimstarOrg]

Another one for future use. Thanks! And nice technique for making the groove for the o-ring. I've gotta remember that for making pulleys. I've been doing it without the drill but with the drill you'd get a better result, as well as being easier to do.

[@ganjalfthegreen5312]

RimstarOrg the man the myth the legend

[@Nighthawkinlight]

I have. It's not quite sensitive enough for a good vacuum pump.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Aren't scuba tanks typically run up to 3000psi or so? The most you could ever hope for from your typical air compressor, or even homemade is 500psi, and that's really pushing it. More likely is 150-200psi. You could refill the tanks at that lower pressure no problem, but I expect you wouldn't get more than a few dozen breaths out of them. Maybe there is a portable high pressure compressor out there that I don't know about that would be suitable, but It would be expensive and slow if it exists.

[@zoltan1953]

I'm really glad I went digging through your older videos. I'm definitely going to make one of these.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

I'm very proud of this project. My vacuum pumps all still work perfectly years later. It's a great design.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

As much time as it's been since my last video. Gotta think of it, figure out how to build it with common stuff, how to make it interesting, and then film it. I made two prototype pumps for this video before coming up with this particular design.

[@electronicsNmore]

Nice project. Use E-6000 glue. It is the best. Very strong, and flexible. I use it for all my projects. The valve design is very common. In engines they are "reed valves".

[@Nighthawkinlight]

The one way valves that control air flow are backwards from a normal air pump.

[@aidanblackwood6078]

this guy really loves his pvc.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Because it's not a perfect vacuum, there's still some air in there and always will be. It's impossible to create a perfect vacuum, so the bulb will always burn out eventually. It just lasts longer than in open air.

[@Kaija97]

You sir are the king of DIY projects

[@cajcaleb14]

You got big fast, NightHawk... I was your 6th subscriber I believe... now you have thousands... darn you! Keep up the amazing work! I loved your videos from the start!

[@Nighthawkinlight]

If they're big enough to cut into pieces about the same size.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

30 Hg is the theoretical maximum. With this pump I can get to 28. With a longer pump you could do better, but it would start to get awkward to pull it up all the way if the shaft was much longer. Besides that there's no reason you couldn't increase the length of the shaft and pump body to pull a deeper vacuum.

[@aerobyrdable]

If anyone is wondering, degassed marshmellows are pretty terrible to eat XD

[@Trebukeet]

Thanx. Yes, I was wondering.

[@earthchanger]

No

[@vaporainwaves]

Omg, its awesome, you should make more vids, like putting water in it, or leafs to dry out. Amazing project.

[@kurtownsj00]

I'm an auto technician, and most hand-help vacuum pumps you buy to use as a diagnostic tool are tiny and break often, even though the bodies are brass, the valves are pretty cheap. I plan to make one of these to use when at home, since I'm not spoiled with an HVAC machine to pull larger systems down when away from the shop!

[@randyosborn284]

Nope. This machine will not achieve the vacuum levels necessary to evacuate an HVAC system (500 microns or less). You will unknowingly leave too much atmosphere in the system.

[@mooncake5899]

can i just say this one thing this man right here is awesome

[@Dragonsayian]

Him and kipkay are purely just inventive

[@nickjbland2000]

Another genius idea and I'm only 14 and have made most of his ideas and use them frequently

[@JonnRamaer]

Thank you. Your orderly instruction by itself is 100% merit to this video, far more for the usefulness of this device. Again, thank you and well done!

[@Thegingerninjagamer]

Could you please put a full list of the materials in the description?

[@jimmysheds8914]

This is brilliant. Please let me know what pressure you can achieve (deepest vacuum).

[@n.barnett7499]

Could this bring the pressure down to boil water at room temp?

[@johnanders8861]

N. Barnett yes

[@sleestalk]

I make rocket launchers with pvc tubing, electrical detonators and everything. Ill have to make a video of it soon.

[@LeonardGreenpaw]

You are so full of win. I wish to one day be as full of win as you.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

You don't get out much do you?

[@elgracioso3218]

Great video. One suggestion: screen with complete list of parts spelled out. One question: how to create pressure (vacuum) release after vacuum has been drawn from container. The sound of air re-entering the container is audible, but the mechanism to achieve it without explosive results isn't obvious.

[@robert5]

Use small ball valves and open them slowly for slow inrush of air. Search for "vacuum chamber" and look how the valves are placed.

[@SynS7ven]

You should make a vid of your vacuum chamber. Is it just a pyrex bowl with an airtight lid and a one way valve?

[@Nighthawkinlight]

True value hardware carries the caps i use in this video. The design seems to vary brand by brand so you might need to call a few smaller stores to see what kind they stock.. Worst case you could order flat caps online.

[@joesitter20101]

If you can smell any odor when you sniff the insides of the pump or tubing, these are gases emitted by the materials used in the pump's construction. Try to use materials that have no smell. Clear vinyl tubing such as Tygon brand usually does not outgas.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

I disagree. I find pulling much easier. It's like a rowing machine. It would also be quite a bit harder to design a pump that would draw vacuum while pushing because you would need an air tight seal around a moving shaft, which is a lot harder to make.

[@normellow]

This man’s a genius !

[@Ganjau]

This man has a very nice voice.

[@JohnL9013]

This guy is a DIY God!

[@sofiadragon1979]

Are you going to do a video on the vacuum chamber 'cause I'd like to see that.

[@notyourking381]

The principle that this works on reminds me very much of the functioning of the hearts pumping mechanism

[@MegaModManic]

Could you also do a video on making a vacuum chamber?

[@chrisgebben2043]

Ok i look at the brass hose fitting and compaired to the video. Are you sure the one in the video is not a 1/4 x 1/4 i mean the one i saw had a smaller tip.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

There already is

[@vicpetrishak7705]

Lubricate the piston seal with silicone paste . Garbage Freight has hole cutters to cut rubber very efficiently with a drill motor , use dish soap to lubricate the bit .

[@fossil98]

Thats a really neat way of making a one way valve!

[@leonelferia4341]

Can you make a video on how you made that sealed environment?

[@MrAirsoftmodz]

bigger the gap-faster air rushes in -more power I was wondering if you could replace the rear disk with a solenoid valve and the front with one also and have a barrel which is smaller than the chamber and also increase the internal pressure to really boos efficiency of the cannon

[@Nighthawkinlight]

It's impossible to pull a total vacuum, no matter what pump you use.

[@2awsomedogs]

I think you are the most AWSOME person EVER!!!!!! I love all the stuff you do you are REALY Inspiring. I find is so great, useful and fantastic that you put the as videos up. I also have a question would you be able to tell me about how much it will cost to get all the parts for this?

[@MongrelShark]

This is a fantasic pump. You should always use vasaleine to lube and seal air pump O rings though. The grease you used will likly destroy the o ring. I wonder how long it will last. I'd expect about 2-3 years, then the O-ring will be getting fairly had and likely have shrunk a bit. At least you will be able to get in there and fix it :)

[@AntonBabiy]

Vasiline is petroleum based so it's also going to eat o-rings.

[@MongrelShark]

Yet it doesn’t. My dad has been using Vas on pumps for 50 years. Lasts longer than anything else...Plus its got the right amount of lube vs seal.

[@AntonBabiy]

Mongrel Shark OK, my bad 😉

[@andrewjacoby4475]

@@MongrelShark O-rings for faucets and such are lubed with food safe silicone grease aka plumbers grease not a petroleum based grease Vaseline may work but silicone grease is the thing.

[@ClownWhisper]

Is there an appropriate style of valve for regulating the flow a vacuum? I would like to be able to regulate the amount and speed of the vacuum for some sensitive glassware I have for chemistry purposes. I mean I have vacuum pumps but this would be nice to do if I choose to do a experiment outside so I wouldn't have to drag everything outside

[@Nighthawkinlight]

If super high vacuum isn't needed I think just about any ball valve would be fine to slow the rate of vacuum. To regulate how much vacuum is drawn you would needsome kind of sensor that could trigger your pump to turn on and off.

[@Oinikis]

i wish there was such PVC parts here. we got really poor selectability. brilliant video anyway both pump and filming.

[@stephengrube1532]

Great video, and thank you very much for posting it. I think it will solve a problem for me. I wonder if an inverted AR414 tire valve would work here, in place of the stiff rubber flapper valve. Air can only flow through a tire/Schraeder valve in one direction. Instead of blowing air through it in a conventional way with a compressor, I wonder if air could be sucked through it (mounted backwards) via your PVC pump mechanism. It would make for a powerful seal against leakage. Instead of having a barbed brass fitting jutting out the bottom of the pump cylinder, you'd have the threaded valve stem head, to which a vacuum hose could be attached. Whaddaya think?

[@Nighthawkinlight]

I think a tire valve is spring loaded too strongly to work well as a one way valve. You can buy specific one way valves that should work.

[@kumotsu01]

Can you do a video on how to make the vacuum chamber as well?

[@sammamelli5997]

Have you considered using the one the one way check valve from Grant Thompson's channel. Or is it even possible

[@zacharybarham4561]

could you make a video on making the vacuum chamber

[@mykiill]

If you place the external valve on the inside of your piston cap it will save you some fabrication steps. And the air can exit through the handle

[@Elijah668]

I love your videos... they are amazing because the way you make some of the hardest things, amazingly simple...

[@TheJacobGantz]

I don't know if this was already asked, but could you demonstrate how to make a bike pump?

[@gousayalkhazmari8450]

great project but what is the maximum pressure

[@oyumryhnryhnrnrtyuny]

Is there any way to change a regular basketball ball/soccer ball pump into a vacuum pump like this?

[@Blueflame735]

Do you know how low you can get the pressure? I am wondering if you can get it lower than 20 millibars the pressure point of water and then slightly lower so you can freeze it?

[@tattoosteveneo]

Maybe you could scale this down to a small handheld type pump? I know you wouldn’t get as much vacuum but it would be useful for other smaller things. Great video though. 😊

[@Nighthawkinlight]

You could, but the bigger the pump volume the better the vacuum

[@tattoosteveneo]

@@Nighthawkinlight yeah I get that. What I was thinking is something like a mityvac bleeder system. They are ever increasing in price so any money saved is great, hence why I was asking 👍

[@build_itnow]

Hi I’m looking to make a Vacuum Cannon without a birst disk should I try or should I just use a birst disk@@Nighthawkinlight

[@zueistpriest]

To increase the seal of the rubber one way valves you could also use low pressure spring to force them closed.

[@MillertimeTV]

Would a small puncture in the burst disk (from say a pencil) wield the same results since there is so much pressure built up?

[@Nateasefa]

For your other shock video can you make a tutorial on how to make a shocker and you make another one with the dc powered generators

[@TheGeekPub]

Awesome Idea.

[@michaelszczys8316]

This looks like something I want to try - using PVC tube. But I would want to try and set up for piston cup instead of O- ring.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

That's a good idea

[@alex678jacob2424]

You would have to reverse the direction of the one way valves, but could this be used to inflate bike tires and car tires? Any idea what types of pressures can this pump withstand?

[@therealfranklin]

Schedule 40 PVC should be able to take more than enough for a car tire, but I'd want schedule 80 PVC for a high-pressure bicycle tire. I'm not sure the parts would fit together the same way with schedule 80, so you might have to do some experimentation.

[@MrSlehofer]

wow!! Can i make a vacuum electron tube using this?

[@wgclelland]

I personally would tap and dye the cap it would create a easier to maintain in the event of need. This would also allow you to keep the end product for a longer amount of time. Just my thoughts on this.

[@trevorheinemann4204]

I made mine w/ a pvc elbow at the bottom because i'm low on materials. thanks for the great vid

[@pradyumnsrivastava717]

can u give a list of items used??

[@SethShumateHarmonica]

What is highest vacuum pressure you've been able to pull with this and how many pumps did it take to get there?

[@Nighthawkinlight]

28in/Hg. The number of pumps required depends entirely on the size of the chamber being evacuated.

[@ehelix]

I made one once from a old ac compressor. I never measured the strength, but I was able to boil water at around 55C.

[@Fred160008]

If I may, they'll also burn out in vaccum because of the big decrease in the melting point of the tungstein inside the bulb because of the low pressure, being that temperature low enough to accually be lower than the heat produced by the fillament itself while on. This is why they use inert gases to pressurize the inside of the bulb.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Approximately $30 in materials.

[@Siver8189]

I know the end of the pump would have to be modified slightly, but would a pump like this be able to create enough suction in order to suck up a small pile of dirt/crumbs?

[@amselite11tv]

Any ideas how to make a pump to fully deflate a rubber ring (pool/swimming ring)?

[@Nighthawkinlight]

+amselite11tv A regular vacuum cleaner should work

[@SynS7ven]

Nice... and I think I have all that already. I think I would shield the jar too, maybe an acrylic box or something. At the very least to minimize the damage. I'll wear my shields, of course. ;) thanx for the response.

[@Kirby444]

Brilliant. Well-explained, visually perfectly organized, clear... Nice. Rare. Thank you.

[@Nighthawkinlight]

Thanks! I hope you can put the information to good use.

[@Kirby444]

NightHawkInLight Okay, well, I have now attempted to build it. I followed your specifications carefully (I used lithium grease as my lubricant, and it seems to be working pretty well) but am having trouble with the valves. I ended up creating a kind of spring-loaded ball valve inside of the brass fitting at the tip of the PVC tube to block air from flowing back into my vacuum chamber, but the rubber flap on the side of the tube isn't holding much of a seal unless I hold it closed with a finger or two. Have just gotten some thinner rubber to try out. Looks like you had success with these rubber flaps in the past-- any pointers/ warnings?

[@hansmayer8057]

Can you use car/bicycle tire inner tube for the valves?

[@vericuel1915]

Thank you a lot! I used this + calcium chloride for my freeze drying science fair project.

[@mohamedessa627]

I have almost watched all of your videos and i have been having some issues finding the right equipment to do your projects so can you tell me where do you get them in your next video or why do not you buy them and sell them online for a higher price