I got an email coupon this weekend for the 2.5cfm pump mentioned in this thread:
http://www.compositeforum.werksberg.com/showthread.php?t=3226
If gasper44 is still around or anyone else has this pump, would you care to share your impressions on noise, vacuum level (really 75 microns?), and leaking/spewing oil?
1 review here
Printable coupon for $69 here. In-store only, expires 10/25/2009
I’m just hoping to hear some feedback before I have to try it out myself. Thanks, all.
I say for the price you might as well try it. I would try it but I have a gast vacuum pump already.
I am leery (?) of any motorized tool from harborfreight. I burned up 2 of their dremel style rotary tools in 3 hours time each.
The second one burned itself up with very little use. They gladly took them back and refunded my money. So that is the good thing about HF.
For about $100 you should be able to find a 4cfm Robinair pump on ebay. I have also seen YellowJacket and Robinair pumps in local pawn shops. Don’t pay over $150 for a new 4cfm pump though and not more than $250 for a new 6cfm. Gast brand may cost more, not sure.
Fastrr I can agree with burning up tools with them. I bought a drill from them one time and it split in half. On the other hand though I’ve had 3 100 dollar dremel brand dremels blow-up in my hand 
. I bought my buffer, grinder, chop saw and many other tools from there and never had an issue with them. Its really hit and miss with them.
As the age old saying goes, one gets what one pays for.
I’d highly recommend just picking up a Robinaire and having a pump that will last a long time. IMO, it’s not worth the chance of the pump failing in the middle of an important infusion and ruining a lot of time and expensive materials.
Harbor Freight is ok for some stuff, and I even pick up supplies there for my training classes because students are known to not care about tools. 
But for important tools with moving parts, stay away!
Good call. I always figured it was cheap enough to get a better one if it broke, but it never occurred that if/when it does break, it will likely ruin something big and expensive.
Thanks for the target prices, Fastrr. Helps me have a clue on eBay.
Does anyone use an oilless pump? Less maintenance, less vacuum, louder? Are they more expensive?
Thanks again for the helpful feedback.
Probably better spending a bit more at the outset.My robinair has never let me down in over three years.Regular oil changes are important though as the oil gets contaminated with moisture from the air etc.
also remember to check the oil level once or twice a day on your vac pumps! They burn oil.
I’ve listened to your suggestions and got a Gast pump from eBay. I’ll put up some more details when I get it set up.
sounds like allot of you are using the robinair pumps.
What do you do about misting oil out of the exhaust?
robinair says that’s a sign of having too much oil but mine mists even if my oil is a tad low and it doesn’t do it every time… I change the oil after 100 hours of run time on the pump and keep the bad oil in jars so I can see what floats up to the top so I can keep tabs on what’s getting into it.
One time after doing 3 layups with a new kind of sealant tape I noticed it wasn’t pulling as deep as before. Drained the oil and found this mystery material in the oil that settled at the bottom and looked exactly like my new sealant tape…mixed in with the oil! crazy. I had to completely pull the pump apart and cleaned every nook and cranny.