Making a Cheap Vacuum Chamber for Stabilizing Wood

[@censusgary]

Instead of silicone caulk, you can use a sheet of gasket rubber to seal the cover. You don’t even need fasteners or adhesive for the gasket, because once you start the pump, the vacuum holds the gasket (and the lid) in place. The silicone caulk will also work, though.

[@AlBarathur]

The "not for pressure" warning on the pipe made me laugh. That's right, we doing the opposite of that baby.

[@Enigma-Sapiens]

Great idea and build Walter, thank you! P.S. Ever since I first found Lexan (Polycarbonate) I've never used acrylic again. It cuts, drills, and machines much better and easier than acrylic!

[@tompuskar4426]

I've been using glass vases I get at Michael's as chambers. They are about 12" tall and 5" OD. Glass thickness is almost 1/4 inch (maybe metric). I know people shy away from glass but I've been using these for about 4 years without issue. I made a plexiglass top (1/2 inch) appropriately drilled and tapped for fittings. I got shelf liner from HF and made gaskets--get the smooth one, not the textured one. I also made a manifold from PVC which allows me to add or remove up to 5 chambers without affecting vacuum on the ones connected. So far this all works well.

[@johnhubbard6262]

I am going to have to refer to you as "him again" as the wife must say that to me a couple times a day as she walks past. That HF pump punches well above its weight class - I used it for HVAC when my regular one went missing from a job site and it pulled to 29.92 on my digital gauge. Love your build, I would substitute Lexel for the silicone, I use it whenever I know I am going to bump/drop/abuse something and it absolutely can not leak.

[@Bar_D_Forge]

Hah, got mine built day before yesterday... Used fiberglass bait box off old boat and pump from auto parts store @$129... Don't forget to keep temp below 85° when full of cactus juice... I was also slightly annoyed with pump oil factor... Mine says oil needs to be changed every 30 days to keep operation optimal... Gonna just bust out as many pieces as possible in thirty days... Ty for your 10,000 plus hours you've done, I've certainly benefitted from some of those and I will support on Patreon as soon as I make money... Phew, this trade is expensive to set up, already 5k invested and zero return as of yet... Sigh...

[@flmoose1]

When I was researching, I found many videos and forums saying that pumps use a lot of oil, so when I bought mine, I purchased a quart. Since I started, the pumps seen over 100 hours and the level in the sir glass still reads full

[@Donorcyclist]

I really like this design, Walter! Great job!

[@platinumchopper]

Awesome build. I love the "NOT FOR PRESSURE" stamp haha. Breakin the lawwww

[@joelongstaff7601]

Mr. Sorrells when I first started to learn silver casting I needed a vacuum chamber that I could hold the vacuum for extended times so I used the vacuum valve from a car. As the vacuum fails the valve pops and hits a switch turning on the pump when the valve drops to the bottom the switch shuts off. A car vacuum valve and 2 reed switches.

[@alanchapman6170]

while i made my in line filter for epoxy lamination, but it would work well for this use as well. Simply taking a auto bolt on oil filter, plug the bypass, and barb ends. The filter is irreplaceably if it ever sucks up resin and protects the pump.

[@billstrahan4791]

Nice work! I was just certain you were going to taper bore and then threadmill that 1/4” npt in the acrylic. Once I did a few with a threadmill I never hand tapped a male or female npt thread again! Love your videos, thanks for sharing.

[@robertoc.9099]

Thank you Walter.

[@jean-christophel.7745]

Good idea 👍😁👍 thanks

[@homemadetools]

Nice work as usual. We shared this video in our homemade tools forum this week :)

[@stevenstandley1241]

Another good project is a liquid trap between the chamber and inlet of the vac pump. Even while "watching" I accidentally let some stabilizing solution get sucked into pump. Result was new pump ordered.

[@MrRogsmart]

SUPPORT WALTER.

[@matthagen6034]

@7:44 hmm not for pressure

[@thehuggz-i9k]

Yea I was concerned about this at first too... I'm thinking this is probably ok as it's an internal vacuum rather than internal pressure. With a vacuum the external pressure will be pushing the cylinder in from all sides and being resisted by the pipe material trying to contract into itself, particularly given the small size of this pipe. It's probably rated for moving sewage and drainage, not as a high pressure water line, which would be internal pressure. Internal pressure would make the tensile strength of the material much more of a problem as the pipe would not be able to support and resists its own expansion.

[@matthagen6034]

@@thehuggz-i9k I just found it funny i'm sure its fine

[@Tammy-un3ql]

Great job!

[@LeVraiPoio]

Does the aluminium base have a function (or an added bonus) except keeping it upright and tight ? Could PVC plug and PVC cement do the job ?

[@iamepimethus]

Yep as long as it holds vacuum it will work

[@robwallis1277]

Mine were made using the transparent blue pvc with pvc plate glued into the bottom with pvc cement. No problems at all

[@censusgary]

You can use anything that isn’t air-permeable for the base. Just glue that sucker on with the silicone cement. Walter just felt like playing with his fancy CNC mill. As others have noted in the comments, you can also get a metal pot from a thrift store. The pot has a built-in bottom, so you won’t need a separate base piece. If you can find one, an asparagus steamer is often recommended for its shape- tall and not very wide.

[@the_sharp_carpenter]

That depends, I'm in Canada and the PVC endcsps I used did not hold up to the cactus juice and turned Into mush. The pipe itself was fine. Cactus juice also eats acrylic over time. I've had 2 acrylic lid failures on larger chambers,it makes a huge mess when an implosion happens.

[@nathannettik685]

Great video, I've had good success with thrift store pressure cookers.

[@nikolajc7617]

Where dos he put wood in when top and bottom are glued????

[@Ardren]

The top silicon is used to make a 'gasket' (not join the lid to the body).

[@danlarev6021]

I wish I could help you out more than giving you just a thumbs up I think your work is awesome and I’ve enjoyed you throughout the years

[@flmoose1]

I recently decided to try my hand at dye stabilizing. I purchased a 3 gallon vacuum chamber and pump off the mega online seller. I was steered away from purchasing the model with an acrylic lid, instead buying a tempered glass lid. Something about Cactus Juice causing cracks. I found the unit inefficient for doing a few scales at a time as it uses too much stabilizing resin and limits usage to one color at a time. I bought some 2" PVC tubing, cutting eight 8" pieces and gluing on standard PVC caps. I flattened the caps with the belt grinder so they'll stand upright. Now I can stabilize multiple scales in different color schemes simultaneously. Currently I'm double dying 6 pieces. I found using a tea ball (cylinder) holding stainless steel bearings to keep the pieces submerged. Have you dye stabilized anything yet? I'm curious because I seem to have a significant stabilizing fluid and dye peach during the curing cycle even if I vacuum for 24 hours, release the vacuum and let the pieces soak for 48 hours. Any suggestions?

[@the_sharp_carpenter]

As someone that does lots of stabalizing and sells blocks.. max or close to max tint load is necessary for those amazing deep colours aka 4oz of CJ dye per gallon. Also multi week vacuum and pressure cycles are required if you want 100% saturation. Blocks should stay submerged without any weight prior to curing them.

[@99proplayer]

You made a video for people that can afford a CNC but not a vacuum chamber. Wonder how many of those exist.

[@Marceldbd]

Your the man Walter

[@dreadthemadsmith]

A recycled pressure cooker is also an option.

[@jamesbarisitz4794]

Acrylic and Cactus Juice don't mix. Not long after using it, the acrylic will start cracking. I've built a few of these and still get away with glass vases from thrift stores and black ABS plumbing tops and threaded 1/4 inch brass nipples for the top.✌

[@patrickhealy1761]

I noticed that many videos on stabilizing wood using a vacuum chamber with a pump will tell you to leave the pump running for as long as it takes for the air bubbles to stop. When I read the specs on these pumps they say do not run them longer than two hours. What is your take on this fact? Thanks

[@benproctor8734]

Thank you!!!!

[@moonolyth]

Nice mill and aluminum, for a (Cheapo) vacuum chamber, just as well us a canning jar and save your bit and aluminum block for this project, nice work any way.

[@sonuverma2796]

Sir I use vaccum pump for resin vaccum, refrigerator gas filler vaccum pump,it's 2 CFM, so is it suitable, and use thinner pipe line for vaccum, so please tell me 1/4 size required for vaccum pump or thinner pipe line is suitable

[@AIIZREVIEWS]

I’d like to see a follow up after using the cactus juice. I used it in a mason jar and it tuned to jelly. Curtis told me it was because of the impurities in the glass. I’d love to see what PVC does

[@robwallis1277]

PVC works great. The cactus juice changing can be due to moisture in the timber, excessive temperature, or other contaminations in the juice.

[@censusgary]

I haven’t tried Cactus Juice in a mason jar, but Curtis might be right. Glass is melted and cooled sand (silicon dioxide), but a variety of other chemicals are typically added to the sand to make it melt more easily, form more smoothly, to color it, and for other purposes. One of those additives might be doing something to the resin. I wonder what would happen if you use a Pyrex laboratory beaker.

[@twistedsphere]

Paused the video at 7:00 to sign up! :)

[@deltaspud5516]

I have a question you may be able to answer, I know some basic stuff on heat treating but all my examples were from larger knives/blades an I make an use smaller detail/chip knives and gouges, what would be proper ways to heat treat different types of smaller blades/tools? Thank you for many years of informational content!

[@BadPandaWoodworks]

Same way as bigger ones, honestly...

[@That0neDeadGuy]

Really if you’re not comfortable using your forge for smaller blades just use a torch. MAPP torches burn hotter than propane but either will do really as long as you can get it to the proper temps.

[@flmoose1]

Look up KnifeSteelNerds. He's A metallurgical engineer and had some good info. Particularly A video out today testing a multitude of steels in a give rather than heart treat oven

[@censusgary]

@@That0neDeadGuy MAPP gas does burn hotter than propane, but propane burns hot enough to heat-treat knife steel. You said that, but I want to be sure nobody misses that point.

[@tompuskar4426]

Nice video. For those who don't have a CNC, how do you recommend making the grooves? Do you think a rabbet on the edge would work?

[@Bar_D_Forge]

You can do that on a table saw... Very carefully... It does require a hole in piece to do that though...

[@censusgary]

If you have a router, it will cut the grooves. As Walter said, take small bites and keep moving around the circle, so you don’t melt the material. I don’t remember if there are special router bits for use on plastic, but I would definitely look into that if I were taking that path. You could also use hand tools, such as carving gouges, but that takes more time and more hand skill. But here’s a secret: It’s nice to have grooves to make everything fit better, but if necessary, you can get along without grooves on the top and bottom. All you really have to have are sealing gaskets. For the top, either make a gasket from silicone caulk, as Walter does, or get a sheet of rubber gasket material (plumbing suppliers sell them) and cut it to the outside diameter of your chamber or a little bigger. When the pump is running, the vacuum will hold everything together. As for the bottom, if you cut the PVC pipe reasonably straight and square, you can just cement it to the bottom with the aforementioned silicone caulk. This will both hold the pieces together and make an airtight seal. This is how aquariums are built- nothing but silicone cement holds the big, heavy panes of glass together, with enough strength that the tank can hold (in large aquariums) hundreds of gallons of water without leaks. Hmm, maybe I’ll make my own “how to” video.

[@censusgary]

A vacuum chamber is fairly easy to make. If you want to earn my unending gratitude and reverence, do a video on how to build a DIY vacuum pump.

[@xmaswitguns]

How do you plan to open/close the tank when both ends are caulked?

[@Ray-gz4ut]

Top end wasn't glued on, he just made seal let it cure and then used it loose

[@elund408]

Can one add dye to this process so that the wood becomes impregnated with dye along with the stabilizer? I prefer wood scales but want Orange scales for survival knives to aid with retrieval if they are lost

[@WUNDER8AR]

yes. though not all dyes impregnate deep into wood. likewise not all woods soak up the dye fully even if the dye is designed to go deep. you can usually find detailed information in product instructions on dyes for stabilizing resins. as for how well a particular piece of wood takes a dye you just gotta do some testing.

[@elund408]

@@WUNDER8AR thanks

[@bizarro20daves]

Love the pan down to the pipe where it says not for pressure

[@vandelftcrafts2958]

Its not meant to pressurize the inside, but the round pipe is plenty strong to withstand the pressure differential from pulling a vaccum inside.

[@bizarro20daves]

@@vandelftcrafts2958 i assumed this guy would know what he is doing but just found it a funny shot. Does "not for pressure" only mean high pressure on inside? i assumed it would be for vaccum pressure as well.

[@vandelftcrafts2958]

@@bizarro20daves well it's not designed to become a vacuum chamber... but the "not for pressure" only applies to not for use as a pipe for pressurized systems like tap water. It's meant for example for waste water that only uses hydrostatic pressure to transport the liquid.

[@thegr8brandini86]

A 0 flute upcut makes quick work of it

[@madslashers2002]

Manufacture and sell please!

[@mistrcrvr]

Walter! Make a one-time or per-video Patreon donation available. Recurring payments are the BANE of our existence. Please, we want to support, just at a level and frequency of our choosing. Even this, once is better than never, eh? Also, can’t you just use a regular PVC end cap for the bottom? I know they’re rounded but that is easily got around. Thanks for the video.

[@jacknemo8021]

I like how the PVC has "not for pressure" written on it, lol.

[@GradyGillis]

It is funny but it's also not a problem. Not for pressure higher on the inside. But no worries for the higher pressure on the outside. The cylinder is the strongest shape in cross section.

[@jacknemo8021]

@@GradyGillis um, this drawing a vacuum so the pressure is higher on the outside...but all it would do is implode so not much chance of harm.

[@GradyGillis]

@@jacknemo8021 No kidding. You obviously didn't read what I said. Did you miss the part about the cylinder being the strongest shape in cross section? That's why the arch is such a long lasting shape in construction. Higher pressure on the outside works in the direction of it's strength. The chances of implosion, using that vacuum pump, are nil. The ends will fail, first. The pressure warning on the pipe is for using it in a situation where it has a higher inside pressure. So, um, there is no problem. And if you think an implosion is not a problem, you understand zero about the energy involved. An implosion can be just as dangerous as an explosion. Both involve rapid releases of energy, the only difference being the initial direction of the energy release.

[@jacknemo8021]

@@GradyGillis um, I'm a materials scientist so....yes I understand. You said it backwards. Also, an implosion of a container that size at say 2 atmospheres is like crushing a beer can in your hand. Negligible. You're excitable and poorly educated, so I'm going to stop reading/ responding to you. Bye Felicia.

[@kc696969]

HOW MANY TIMES CAN A CNC GO IN A CIRCLE? WHO KNOWS

[@firsttpt]

Making a cheap vacuum chamber using many $1000s worth of tools. Got it. :)

[@censusgary]

It’s only cheap if you already have all the tools. But really, you can skip the computerized machining. Instead of routing out grooves in the parts, you can just slap ‘em together with silicone cement. For the top, if you have a silicone or rubber gasket (which you can easily make), the vacuum pressure alone will hold the cover on. You can also drill simple holes and silicone-cement the plumbing fittings in place, if you want, instead of tapping threads.

[@waynefitch990]

Try WD 40 as a lubricant, sure makes life easier

[@PacesIII]

"Not for pressure." Inward pressure ok...

[@butsukete1806]

Reminds me of Futurama: Good Lord! That's over 5000 atmospheres of pressure! How many atmospheres can the ship withstand? Well, it was built for space travel, so anywhere between zero and one.

[@patrickboudreau3846]

Not for pressure, pressure chamber!

[@iamepimethus]

Vacuum pressure impregnation!!

[@marchueltz4993]

I just use a cooking pot with an acrylic lid with a rubber seal. Works perfectly. You can get ready-made sets for small money on the internet. The most expensive part is the pump, so a ready set including the pump can be a bargain.

[@danielmcclain1947]

#1

[@mikemargeson8101]

Like everyone has a cnc milling machine at home.

[@tornagawn]

I have 2! No, hang on, I want one too!

[@danielmcclain1947]

First here lol

[@chrisj4570g]

I hope this video sucks. 😬

[@robwallis1277]

Almost totally