I have a vacuum pump from Surplus Center, the $86 one. I have it hooked up directly my cnc router table with some copper tubing and everything works fine. What is the duty rating on this thing. Can I just let it run?

I know the theory behind vacuum press for veneer wood working and they always say turn on the pump and let the glue over night, does this mean the vacuum pump is running constantly through the night? If so I guess I could run my vacuum pump for like a 6 hour CNC session?

Hi, for your answer you might get it here http://www.joewoodworker.com/ they have a lot of info on vacuum pumps. take a look at this one http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/EVS/concept.htm and this one also http://www.joewoodworker.com/veneering/vacuumclamping.htm

I've been through his site before, I thought the main focus was to make different versions of vacuum reservoirs. But thanks, I'll re-check it out.

I have the same pump, but don't have it set up yet. You want to use a vacuum switch and reservoir to turn the pump on and off as needed.

According to the manual from the Gast website, the vanes should last from 5000-15000 hours. It looks like our pumps have a thermal shutoff if they get too hot.

I use a venturi pump for veneering (until I get the new pump setup), and with a vacuum switch, it only runs about 15 seconds every 20 minutes or so, with a good seal.

A way to test it, and this applies to almost anything, is to turn it on and let it run and simply see how hot it gets. If you can hold your hand on it indefinitely it is fine, if you can only hold your and on for few seconds that is still okay but if you pull your hand away immediately shrieking OW then it is too hot.

Probably you will find if your system has no leaks the pump stays cool but if you have leaks it gets warm.

If the pump has an oil bath it is 100% duty.
If not, it is not 100% duty. It will fry if you just let it run.

I was going to say a whole bunch of stuff then I needed to visit the website I bought the vac pump from to reference it in my post, then I read the description of the vac pump....DUHHHH don't I feel stupid, I'm usually pretty anal and I can't believe I didn't remember the pump description.

It is an oil-less pump and has thermal protection, it also says in the description continuous duty....well that puts me in my place. Thanks to those that helped.

...then I read the description of the vac pump....DUHHHH don't I feel stupid....It is an oil-less pump and has thermal protection, it also says in the description continuous duty....well that puts me in my place. Thanks to those that helped.

Yes but you are in no different place than most of us. I divide the stupidity I feel by the number of people I am aware of who pull the same trick; so you are helping the total :D .

The worst is when you pull a trick like this with a fancy machine and have the technician come in and point out in front of an audience of employees your stupid error....makes it real diffcult to jump all over those same employees when they pull similar tricks.