Vacuum bagging kit

[Gades]

I'm interested in vacuum bagging. So far the only Starter Kit that I've found (in Europe) is this one:

http://www.fibermax.eu/shop/vacuum-bagging-kit-p-356.html

Anyone has any experience with it?
What do you think about it?

At first I'll just play around with small components, like windsurfing parts (mast extensions, fins...), small dagger boards (Laser Pico) and rudders.

Any advice on what to buy to start with?

Thanks!

[Itchy&Scratchy]

West Systems also have a starter kit, you can try CFS resins in cornwall but Im not sure that they still do it.:D
Cheers
Justin

[GG]

How much 1s 237 euro in the states and how much vacum does it produce all it says is a medium size pump and all in all it does not look like a bad deal as long as it can pull. I was just looking at a small pump sold by west system and is a small venturi generator that devlopes 20 hg at 10 psi and that runs around $ 200 Amercian and looks like a good deal , but i am also thinking of a larger pump that weighs 16 lbs produces 25 hg vacume and has large gauges , quite and great for a small to medium shop that runs around $350 .

[KnottyBuoyz]

That's almost $400 US. Pricey but buying the individual components to get you started would likely cost more.

You could skip the pump and get an old refrigerator compressor which will do the job as well. Then all you'll need to do is source the consumables.

[Gades]

West Systems also have a starter kit, you can try CFS resins in cornwall but Im not sure that they still do it.:D
Cheers
Justin

They don't seem to have it anymore, but thanks for the link, I did find a couple of things in there

[Gades]

How much 1s 237 euro in the states and how much vacum does it produce all it says is a medium size pump and all in all it does not look like a bad deal as long as it can pull. I was just looking at a small pump sold by west system and is a small venturi generator that devlopes 20 hg at 10 psi and that runs around $ 200 Amercian and looks like a good deal , but i am also thinking of a larger pump that weighs 16 lbs produces 25 hg vacume and has large gauges , quite and great for a small to medium shop that runs around $350 .

Details of the pump are:
Medium vacuum pump, wet(oil-lubricated)

single stage, 220 V
HP: 1/4
Net weight: 8.6 kg
Air displacement: 2.5 CFM
Dimensions: 315 Χ 120 Χ 240 mm
2 X Lubricating oil included

[Gades]

That's almost $400 US. Pricey but buying the individual components to get you started would likely cost more.

You could skip the pump and get an old refrigerator compressor which will do the job as well. Then all you'll need to do is source the consumables.

I know it's more expensive than the kits I've found in the States, but everything is more expensive here in Europe :(

I've read that refrigerator pumps don't have enough cfm.

Actually, at first I thought about buying the components wherever I could find them cheaper, but I thought it might be too much hassle, so I opted for a complete kit, so that I know that I won't be missing anything and that it'll work.

Thanks guys for the opinions!

[Munter]

I find I can pull plenty of vacuum with a recycled fridge compressor as long as the bag isn't too leaky. I use the set-up to make kiteboards in a one-shot process on a rocker table. The results are good enough to ride but a little short on presentation quality when compared to a north or underground board.
If you're brave enough to make components you should be brave enough to make the tools!! :-)

[pamarine]

I have had zero luck with West's Venturi-based system, Luckily I have access to some great stuff at work (and an oven).

I would only consider purchasing systems based on a true vacuum pump.

[Gades]

I find I can pull plenty of vacuum with a recycled fridge compressor as long as the bag isn't too leaky. I use the set-up to make kiteboards in a one-shot process on a rocker table. The results are good enough to ride but a little short on presentation quality when compared to a north or underground board.
If you're brave enough to make components you should be brave enough to make the tools!! :-)

Most of the parts that I'll be making will be used in a sailing school, so I'll try to get them as nice looking as possible.

Question about the kiteboards:
I don't know anything about kitesurfing.
A friend asked me if I could make a skimboard.
The only thing that I'm not happy about with the skimboard is the sharp angle on the sides (connecting to the bottom).
Do kiteboards have rounded edges, or sharp as a skimboard? if sharp, what material do you use (as in what gr/m) to get that nice edge?

Thanks

[Gades]

I have had zero luck with West's Venturi-based system, Luckily I have access to some great stuff at work (and an oven).

I would only consider purchasing systems based on a true vacuum pump.

any more advice for a newbie like myself?

[KnottyBuoyz]

any more advice for a newbie like myself?
I found YouTube.com a good source for info when I got started. Just search on "Vacuum Baggin" and "Resin Infusion".

My best advice came from my ole' Grampa. "If you buy a tool, buy the best and it'll last you your entire life, buy a cheap tool and you'll buy it over and over and over again!" The ole' bugger was right!

Here's my setup.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff166/KnottyBuoyz/KBIII/IMG_0415.jpg

I documented it here....

http://www.compositeforum.werksberg.com/showthread.php?t=2588

Those forums are a great source of info if you sign up.

[Gades]

I found YouTube.com a good source for info when I got started. Just search on "Vacuum Baggin" and "Resin Infusion".

My best advice came from my ole' Grampa. "If you buy a tool, buy the best and it'll last you your entire life, buy a cheap tool and you'll buy it over and over and over again!" The ole' bugger was right!


Those forums are a great source of info if you sign up.

Hi there,
thanks for the reply. Actually, I had already seen your post in that forum. I even tried to sign up, but they've got some Admin problems, and I've been told that my account won't be activated for a few more days.

Your kit looks impressive, really neat.
I agree with your grandpa, if you're going to use a tool, buy the best. But my wife would kill me if I start with the best!

In about a week I should be getting my kit, so I'm sure you'll hear again from me ;)

Cheers,

Fernando

[siva1980]

hello all,
I am siva.i was jut reading all the scraps.From my experience let me tell you is that if we go for Vacuum infusion,the pump should be good enough to suck the resin and wet the fibre. for smaller parts the refrigerator pump can do the job but for parts with a bigger dimension you need to go for a good pump.

[GG]

So Gades what kit are you going with?

[Gades]

I've ordered the one from Fibermax.
There were a couple of better options in the States, but P&P was too much, and they didn't take any responsability as soon as the parcel left the US.

I've ordered the whole kit, plus a few meters of different fabrics, epoxy and a couple of tools. It's gonna be early Christmas for me!

[KnottyBuoyz]

Sizing a pump depends a lot on the size of the project. Your small vac pump will work on large projects too if you suck down the layup with a shop vac first. That gets you close and let the smaller pump handle the higher vac levels. I've done it that way and plan to infuse our boat project with my 5 CFM pump you saw in the photo posted previously. I also have a Gast vacuum generator as backup and will likely have a third pump (refrigerator pump) and a generator on hand when we start infusing a boat hull with thousands of dollars of materials on the line.

A vacuum reservoir helps with larger layups as well. You can draw them down before hand. You can see them here in the background. One is black plastic pipe and the other is white. Very simple and cheap to make from hardware store parts. Probably about 1 cu ft total. The white one has a screw out fitting and is used as a resin trap as well.

http://i237.photobucket.com/albums/ff166/KnottyBuoyz/IMG_0416.jpg

[Gades]

Sizing a pump depends a lot on the size of the project. Your small vac pump will work on large projects too if you suck down the layup with a shop vac first. That gets you close and let the smaller pump handle the higher vac levels. I've done it that way and plan to infuse our boat project with my 5 CFM pump you saw in the photo posted previously. I also have a Gast vacuum generator as backup and will likely have a third pump (refrigerator pump) and a generator on hand when we start infusing a boat hull with thousands of dollars of materials on the line.

A vacuum reservoir helps with larger layups as well. You can draw them down before hand. You can see them here in the background. One is black plastic pipe and the other is white. Very simple and cheap to make from hardware store parts. Probably about 1 cu ft total. The white one has a screw out fitting and is used as a resin trap as well.


Thanks for the tip about the "pre vac" with the shop vac.

How did you make the vacuum reservoir thingy? did you read anything about it first, if so, where?

Thanks a lot!

[KnottyBuoyz]

How did you make the vacuum reservoir thingy? did you read anything about it first, if so, where?
If you've seen the videos on infusion you've seen them use a paint pressure pot modified to be a vacuum reservoir/catch pot. Also on the Joewoodworker.com website you'll find plans for the vacuum pump setup and how to make the reservoirs.

You're welcome. Good luck.

[Gades]

actually I've been looking at vacuum videos, but not infusion
now I'm looking for those plans

thanks again