Here’s the fittings on mine. I took off all the paint related fittings and put 1/4 barb connectors on everything.
thanks Canyon 
I have available 3 “pre-owned” 50 kg fire extinguishers. Nice reservoirs on carts, the pressure bottle can easily be disconnected. Would make nice vacuum pumps.
Available for free. Perhaps interesting for the Dutchies over here.
I bought a Telstar(spanish) aircon 2 stage oil vac pump about 11 years ago now. After the first 18 months the composite vanes wore and actually came out of the rotor. We got a rebuild kit and when rebuilding noticed the bore wasn’t as smooth as it could be so we honed the bore and machined the end play out of it. That was about 9 1/2 years ago and I can’t believe its still going. I pulled it down twice in that time but absolutely no serious signs of wear. Still pulling 12 microns. I have never worried about making any of the vacuum switches just leave the thing going on a timer, often for 15 hour stints. Just watch this week it will break down!!
Indeed the inside of the cheaper pumps can be pretty rough.
On other machinery I once saw pictures of opened gearboxes (lathe) where there was still a lot of casting sand, and even chicken feathers in it. (sometimes the oil used is cooked from chickens)
I have 2 dismantled pumps (airco type ) which both gave up (one after 1 hour or so, the client never took notice of the red sign taped over the switch “fill with oil first” and also did not think “what is this for?” when he found a bottle of oil in the box.)
The vanes are epoxy/glass laminate, instead of cast iron, and the pump housing inside is rough. The oil pump is tiny, but brass, and probably does the job.
One thing I have learned when dealing with cheap Chinese products is to tear them down immediately upon acquisition. Normally they have really decent parts to them, but attention to detail is nil, along with quality lubricants and lack thereof.
Example, 8k lb smittybilt winch, good product, powdercoat covering 75% of the power lugs, nasty cheap grease, almost like lard, etc. After rebuilding using common sense and materials I would put it up for about 500% more use than a factory unit.
I heard a long time ago Asian countries paid duties on oil / grease exported in products. So they did the next best thing and made lubes from fish oil, which I suppose had a lower tax bracket.
It is good for your Omega 3 levels, though…
Are the Yellow Jacket pumps good for this application? Seem to be popular with the A/C crowd.
I have a small shop and we have two vacuum pumps. One is the cheap Robinair unit meant for refrigeration work. The other is a Busch knock-off called a Oerlikon Leybold. They are both exactly the same age. I use the Robinair for degassing only and it smokes like crazy after 10 minutes. I use the Oerlikon Leybold for infusion. If a vacuum fails, I’ll lose $1,000 to $4,000 worth of product. The Oerlikon Leybold cost me $1,500 and is a reliable but reasonably priced alternative to the Busch. However, I must say I am looking at rebuilt Busch’s now.
A cheap vacuum pump just ain’t worth it. I guess it depends on the value of your parts.
Leybold is considered the Mercedes of the vacuum pumps. Used in many critical areas, like hospitals, mining, etc.
Airco pumps do NOT do the job. Their very good vacuum can be used for degassing, but indeed I would not infuse with it. (although I have done it)
Does anyone have a shop vacuum system, similar to a compressed air system? I’m thinking of building one with a 1.5 or 3 hp vacuum pump with reservoir tank and pressure switch so that I always have vacuum available when needed.
I have a couple of systems coming in next weekend, another 2-3 days for customs and transport, and I have them in my hands.
Will be compressor-like systems, and systems with dual pump / dual vacuum level. Exciting!
Does this mean your shop is expanding due to extra business?!!
Have a look at this company in NZ, I have been using their equipment with great success for Vac. Infusion etc. big capacity range from the smallest application up to 100ft. Hull infusions, price - very affordable!.
http://www.vabs.co.nz/vacmobiles/aboutus.html
US Agent : Michael Heaton <mheaton@comcast.net> - http://www.teamtextiles.com/
As I’ve said before we’ve used VABS for years. In fact we just bought a new pump for our new autoclave, I’m waiting for the sparkys to hook it up so I can play. Pulls at 65m3/hr and less than <0.5mbar. They also are helping set up the vacuum systems for the autoclave.
Looking at VABS website you can get a unit for around $3000 in most countries. It’s not a $180 Harbor Freight pump but if you are going to do composites properly then you need a proper pump.
I’m just getting into composites and need to buy my own vacuum pump. I have read quite a bit in the forum and would like to know your thoughts on this pump http://www.usatoolwarehouse.com/usatoolwarehouse/ROB-15120A.html ? I can’t afford a Busch or equivalent pump.