About Vacuum Forming

[supercub]

I've used a piece of plastic mesh from the bag air valve intake to the gun to provide a path for the air to evacuate. It works okay, just don't get the mesh between the wet leather and the bag unless you want to leave permanent grooves (mesh impressions) on the leather. I've also used an empty plastic pistol ammo box (with holes around the perimeter) as a platten - it worked, but I like the mesh better.

[hestes]

Have any of you ever tried the space bags & a vacuum cleaner?

[Dwight]

I would think that unless you had the grand daddy of all vacuum cleaners, . . . it probably doesn't pull enough a vacuum.

BUT, . . . nothing ventured, . . . nothing gained.

I do know that if I could hook up my bag to my old Mustang I used to have, . . . or my Olds 442, . . . those would have done the trick. Either one pulled a strong 25 inch vacuum.

May God bless,

Dwight

[hestes]

Ah. I don't have any experience with any of the vacuum pumps so I wasn't sure what the difference was.

[camano ridge]

I have not personally tried it myself however there is a maker on cascity.com (leathershop forum) and occasionally on this site boothill bob he uses the space bags and vacuum looking at the work he does it seems to work for him. http://leatherworker.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=48288&hl= this is a sample of his work and he used a space saver bag and vacuum and or course additional hand bonning.

Edited July 27, 2013 by camano ridge

[particle]

Yep, it just helps to keep a seal from forming right at the nipple. Uh, I think that's what it's called... Allows more air to be sucked out of the bag, more quickly.

[hestes]

I don't. My pump goes directly to the bag, . . . no valve, . . . no filter, . . . just a 3 foot long section of black rubber gasoline hose.

Dwight, what size of hose do you use? I couldn't tell from the picture.

I just tried forming one with a space bag and vacuum. It looks better than when I was forming them by hand (or is it the placebo effect? lol). We'll see how it turns out once it's dry.

Thanks to everyone for all the helpful info in this thread!

[Dwight]

My vacuum hose is 3/8 inch black rubber gasoline hose.

One thing you can do, . . . use your fingers and thumbs to assist the vacuum in pulling it into the shape you want.

Again, . . . I never tried the vacuum cleaner, . . . my experience came from owning a vacuum forming sign shop a couple of decades ago.

It took power to make the signs, . . . so when I started thinking about this, . . . I added my HVAC experience where we also used a vacuum pump, . . . and I bypassed the rug cleaner, . . . in favor of equipment I was pretty sure would work.

May God bless,

Dwight

[SooperJake]

I'm running the same pump but bought the good poly bag from Veneer Supplies, along with an extra bag clamp and hose kit. I have since cut the bag in half to make it more storage friendly. I can spritz the bag with water on the outside and a bone folder will slide along nicely while the gun/holster is vacuum formed. I've also been casing and plastic bagging the holster for an hour or so before molding which lets me use less water and hastens the drying afterward. I seem to get crisper boning this way.Great demo Dwight.

[olds cool]

My brother-in-law (cgriff54) and I were just discussing the vacuum storage bags. Good to know some other folks have had decent results with them. I think we'll give that a try since I can't afford the pump right now. I've got one of the big 30 gal Shop Vacs that outta get some good suction. Hope to get around to it this week. I'll try to remember to post some results.