Vacuum Chucking for Woodturners

Mike explains what a vacuum chuck is and, how it works, why a woodturner might consider making or buying a vacuum chucking system, and explains how he built his wood lathe vacuum chuck.
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You can download an article Mike wrote with details on his vacuum chuck system and references to some other sources. Find it under Resources tab on his website at MikePeaceWoodturning.com

[@premnas651]

"... it's a toy" which is, of course, my number one reason for wanting one. Thanks for the info, Mike. This video answered the questions I had.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Glad to help

[@plamb5243]

Well done again. The turning community thanks you!

[@charleyandsarah]

Great information, Mike. Opened our eyes to a whole new world.

[@ErikAnderson1]

A world of information here Mike I will be sure to re-watch some of this one.

[@canadian.scrollworks]

Excellent information Mike. Thanks for the video.

[@peterhendriks1972]

Hi Mike, Thank you for this great video. I have not explored the internet for vacuum chucks.... I like to make one my self. After seeing youre video... I realy understand and know what to do. Thx again, Peter

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Peter Hendriks Glad it was helpful, Peter. Good luck with your build.

[@AlFurtado]

This is one of the best explained videos I have ever seen on vacuum chuck, You explanation is priceless and even though I haven't made one yet I plan on making one for my shop vac but wonder if it will actually hold the piece for me. I am impressed by your comment and display on the holding power of the one you are using. Great video. Albert

[@kevinmiller3290]

Great informative video Mike. Thanks for doing this.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Kevin Miller You are welcome.

[@karlrichards6957]

Thanks again,I will check it out, Karl

[@muziqjazz]

Thanks Mike for the video; I found all your videos pertinents and very informative. Thanks for sharing. Marc

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

muziqjazz Thanks. I enjoy your box videos too.

[@thomasckuzia7129]

Hi Mike, I made my first vacuum chuck using a shop vac and found it worked OK as long as the filter was very clean.I didn't know about the motor overheating so thanks for that info. I now have a vacuum pump and it works great! Thanks for the video and have fun turnin chips! Tom

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Glad it was a useful video. I love my vacuum chuck.

[@johnfrench9015]

Great video

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

+John French Thanks, John. Glad you found it useful.

[@karlrichards6957]

Thank you very much,I guess that I will keep my eye open for something else. Karl

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

+karl richards I have heard good things about this site www.frugalvacuumchuck.com/

[@paulgibson8056]

Great video, Mike. Just what I was looking for. One question: I notice a fair amount of vacuum pump noise in the video, and I'm wondering whether that is a function of the microphone being near the pump, or is it really that loud? Also, would it be feasible to enclose the pump in a plywood "box" with a filtered opening at the top to allow air flow while dampening the pump noise? I now realize that's more than one question. Sorry! And thanks for this excellent video!

[@ronaldcumpsty5605]

Very interesting video Mike especially on what to expect from the vacuum pump. Mine is an oil filled one and at first there was a detectable mist coming from the exhaust so I fitted a fuel filter on it and have not experienced any evidence of oil in the area it is situated. Mine actually gets to 27 1/2" of mercury so I guess I am doing good. Thanks for all the valuable information.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Thanks for sharing. Sounds like you system is working well.

[@jeffoldham3466]

great video mike,,i finally got me a vaccum pump and it works great,,,love that book by doc green,,he is a member of my wood turning club her in Greensboro,,like yourself he is a pro and super nice guy,,thank you again for all your videos,,,i have learned a lot from you

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

I appreciate your support. I never met the Doc but hope to some time.

[@jeffoldham3466]

he is just a down to earth guy,,lol,,if you met him you would never thought he would have wrote that book,,,

[@gnosticsoul1]

Mike, I think your informative style is terrific. I use the "Hold Fast" system and mount it to my lathe leg with a heavy magnet. It stays there all the time. It gets sufficient holding force and I use a threaded (pointed) wooden piece on the tail stock. This allows me to get all but the nub off while the tail stock is engaged. Then it is a matter of taking off the 1/8" nub. However, I really like your system and wish I had the ability to put one together. LLoyd

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

gnosticsoul1 Thanks for your comments. I was just given a spoon shaped carving tool to use in cutting off nibs. Seems to work better then a chisel. I saw one demonstrator that would turn the lathe off and cut thru the nib with TS support safely with a similar carving tool as the lath slowed down.

[@karlrichards6957]

Hi Mike, I really enjoyed the video. My question is will one of the small Harbor Freight vacuum pumps work for this application? I was recently given one by a friend who is an AC&R technician. I have a 5 hp 60 gal. compressor that is out side of the house that will give me airflow. Thanks Karl Richards

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

+karl richards I don't know the particulars of the HF pump but as I recall it has a pretty small CFM pull that would make it marginal under the best of cirucumstances. I would want at leas 3 CFM. 4 or 4.5 would be better.

[@84deeanne]

I've tried to make 2 vacuum chucks and have failed every time mike ,I watched carl make them and he makes it look simple ,I do have the holdfast but I think I'm going to get a real pump I do have a brand new two stage pump I've never used will that work?......Larry from Cailf.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Why did the chucks fail. Can't say about your pump. The key is CFM. It should have a rating of at least 4CFM.

[@jeffoldham3466]

mike how do you center the bowl when you turn it around to do the inside,,,

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

You always keep the hole from the live center to recenter. Then you make minor adjustments by shifting the bowl on the chuck till it runs as true as it can.

[@martinjacques9290]

Hi Mike Have you ever experienced vacuum chuck issues if you try to chuck up unfinished wood with the grain. As I have recently acquired a vacuum chuck and I was trying to turn some spheres and when I tried to uses the chuck to remove the 2 end nubs it would not hold but if I turn them through 90deg (across the grain it worked perfectly, have you ever experienced this. Keep up the great work. Regards John from UK.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Yes, all thouse straws pass air. Wood porosity is a factor on vacuum chucking. Sometimes a strategic piec of tape can help block the air getting sucked thru a piece.

[@martinjacques9290]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning Hi Mike, Thankyou so much for getting back to me I will definitely try this next time I turn a sphere, many thanks again John

[@MD-en3zm]

I just got a V812 holdfast venturi vacuum generator, but I can’t get more than 5 mmhg on anything. Are the vacuum pumps much stronger? Trying to figure out what my problem is. Compressor is plenty powerful to keep up and pressure in the tank remains high enough. I’ve tried several different vacuum chuck heads and no difference.

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Sorry, but I know nothing about venturi vacuum generators. I am happy with my vacuum chuck.

[@MD-en3zm]

@@MikePeaceWoodturning Thanks anyways - I may pick up one of those pumps you have. I will if I can figure out that that would fix the issue.

[@jeffoldham3466]

mike how would you mount the piece back to the vacuum chuck if you didn't have a foot on the bottom to aligned with the vacuum chuck for it to run true

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Ideally, you leave the mark from the live center to align. Otherwise, a bit of adjusting until you get it close enough.

[@jeffoldham3466]

ok thank you mike

[@williamweiler5674]

Jeff (and Mike). I just got a vacuum chuck a couple months ago and love it (a retired local wood turner puts together a kit with the all of the parts. He buys rebuilt pumps from home oxygen systems. (Frugal vacuum chuck) Anyway, my biggest problem was mounting the piece on the chuck. Even when I left the foot on, it was out of balance and took forever to adjust to get it straight. An internet search said to try a chuck reversing adapter. I purchased one from amazon and it just arrived today. It fits in the tail stock with a #2 MT2 on one side and a 1" x 8 tpi fitting on the other. After turning the inside of the bowl, you leave your chuck on the foot but move the chuck to the tail stock side using the adapter. You can then slide the tail stock so the bowl aligns with the vacuum chuck. It's "supposed" to be fool proof. Mike - thanks for your videos. They are great! Practical, to the point, and perfect for both new and experienced turners!

[@brucerogers8281]

I built a rotary adapter like in your video. The 6200-2RS bearings (pair) leak like a sieve. Can you recommend a bearing with a better seal?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Sorry, I am no bearing expert, but that should not happen even with cheap ones. Price is probably one of the best indicators. I would think any bearings from your local automotive store, Graingers or MSC Direct would be of good quality. Is there a possibility you got shielded bearings instead of sealed? You want sealed bearings.

[@brucerogers8281]

I contacted the supplier and learned that there are (at least) two types of "sealed" bearings. I also did a Google search after talking with the supplier. One is a light-contact seal and the other (the one I got) is a non-contact "sealed" bearing. By non-contact, that means that there is a gap between the inner race and the so-called seal. So the non-contact sealed bearing is really just a shielded bearing with another name. Many suppliers don't provide that level of detail. Thanks again for the response Mike. I'm a loyal fan of yours.

[@danielcanon3948]

Hello Mike, What brand and ref. it's your Vacuum pump

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Gast 523. Same model Craft Supplies and Packard WW sells for vacuum chuching. I got a good deal used on eBay. I bid on two others unsuccessfully before I won the bid. 4.5 CFM and built in filters.

[@SkipEvansx]

Hello Mke, I built a couple rotary adapters a few years ago. I cannot remember if I built them from my own dimensions or from a drawing. Do you have a drawing you can share?

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Sorry, no. Detailed plans are in Doc Green's book, Fixtures and Chucks for Woodturning

[@84deeanne]

I mean making of a chuck

[@Josef_R]

I'd love to have one, but besides the expense, that looks like way too much thinking...

[@MikePeaceWoodturning]

Josef Roesler I did not have good results with cole jaws. Doing it the old fashioned way with tail stock support works well but does make it harder to add rings or texturing or do finish sanding on the bottom. Way too much thinking? Well, do what works for you to have fun!

[@Josef_R]

Mike Peace yeah, it looks like a NASA rocket controller hanging on your wall.