[alt-photo] Vacume pumps

[Kenneth Watson]

An alternative, which may have already been mentioned, to common
vacuum pumps are even more common automotive air conditioning vacuum
pumps.

These are used to evacuate air out of car air conditioning systems.

The issue to watch is volume of air that needs removed at a specific
vacuum. If you have a relative tight seal around the area where you
are drawing vacuum it should not be an issue. If you have a leaky
frame this might not be a good solution. Car systems are assumed to be
leak free.

I do know these pumps are also used to vacuum bag composite structures
(carbon fiber) but the draw down time for them is not an issue as they
bag for hours until the resin is cured.

These can be found on ....ebay of course.

Just a thought,

Ken Watson