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Hi guys & gals,

I am looking at the interest in vacuum jigs and pressing. If there is enough interest/committment, I will initiate a conversation with a vendor to try to incur favorable pricing to our community.

Terry, I don't fit any category. I'd love it but have a basement shop in a townhouse. I'm sure a compressor would make my neighbors lynch me (the vac and power tools are getting them close to that already)

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

Don,

I have a vacuum setup in my basement. You don't need a compressor, just a vacuum pump, which is a LOT more quiet than a compressor. I have a setup for braces, and one for a bridge. They're easy to make and can be made such that they store away easily out of the way. The most expensive part is the pump. I wouldn't hesitate to get into using vacuuming if I had it to do all over again. If someone could provide equipment at a good price, it's a good move.

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"I want to know what kind of pickups Vince Gill uses in his Tele, because if I had those, as good of a player as I am, I'm sure I could make it sound like that.
Only badly."

I'd like a Vacuum setup mainly for bridge gluing. That should would make things much easier on my tornavoz guitars..

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

Thanks Don. I used a vacuum pump along time ago, force mating mosquitoes, and had forgotten about it. Ours was a bit noisey but this was 25 years ago and I'm sure they are better now. I have seen your jigs and that sure would be a nice way to go. Thanks for setting me straight, I change my vote to a definite Yes.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

I just saw a system that was slicker than snot. Frank Finocchio has a vacuum system that has a corian base and on one side a 16' dish is bored into the corian, and on top of that a circle cut from MDF lays on it. The MDF ring has been sealed with finish and forms a very tight fit to the corian.

And on the other side of the corian base a 28' dish has been bored into it.

This was a great set up, he had it on a refuse restaurant supply cart and the whole thing was very small and portable.

I haven't started looking for someone who could make these dishes yet, but that was a very slick set up and I think I may try to duplicate that rig.

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Brock Poling
Columbus, Ohio
http://www.polingguitars.com

I have several vacuum jigs at the moment that I like. I have the bridge jig and the LMI guitar holder. I am also working on one to do all the bracings. Harry Fleischman uses the vacuum bracing jig and claims that it glues up in a lot less time. I tried his at his shop and liked it alot. I am also tring to come up with a jig that would hold a guitar neck (rounded). I am sure one of the great aluminum fabricator guys out there can come up with something better than I ever could... but these aluminum jigs always cost a small fortune.

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Dave Bland

remember...

"If it doesn't play in tune...it's just pretty wood"

I've been using vacuum since the Fox class and find it to make some things easier. Still have several jigs to build though.

The pumps are much quieter that you would think. You can barely hear my running at all.

Ebay is a good place to find the used one cheap. I think John Mayes told me about that. He had some pretty cool setups using vacuum in his shop as I recall.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

FYI if you're just getting into it - Sylvan Wells has a little "vacuum basics" on his site. (Along with other great jigs too)

Brock, like this?

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Great looking press Lance. I'm guessing not too many people use hide glue in these though, unless they do partial assemblies, b/c the hide glue starts to gel? (Unless your work area is really really warm?) I get nervous just doing my X-braces. (my shop is in the basement at 66 degrees or so...) Please tell us about your rig.

Oops - should have mentioned, this is Michael Keller's Jig. Sorry ... Actually, the use of a press is much quicker, and easer to use HHG with. I use this press for my bridges and I always use HHG. Don Williams made this up for me and i love it. I have tried to use HHG and the FOX type clamp for my bridges, but im just not fast enough, and the glue gels, with the vac clamp, i plop the bridge on, push in the index pins, lay the press on and run it for 10 minuets, then remove it, clean up the squeeze out, and replace it for 45 more minutes.

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Those presses look very handy. I think a system like this will be my next major project. I used one once (Jose Romanillos had one, and the go-bar deck was already in use), and it was easy and worked well. The main thing for me though, will be bridge gluing... it looks quite effective for that.

Regards,
Joshua French

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

Yes, I definitely know that the vac bridge clamp is quicker. How do you approach the glue up for the top braces where you have to glue about a dozen skinny surfaces. Do you you use HHG on those as well?

Terry - the one time I used one, I used fish glue which is pretty high tack, and had to glue the braces fairly quickly (9 braces). But they stayed in place just fine, and the vacuum was quick enough to clamp them without incident.

Regards,
Joshua French

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Instagram: @jfrenchluthier
Web: https://www.jfrenchguitars.com/

Does anyone have plansd to build the set ups Lance showed? The go bar deck definitely has its limitations.

I definitely intend to build the bridge vac and top bracing vac fixtures, & possibly a headstock routing jig, etc. I don't have a written PLAN if that's what you mean. There's pictures on the web, and most are simple enough to build. I am talking with the owner of a vacuum press company, and he's willing to work with me, and our community in a mutually beneficial way, so I'll make known my findings shortly.

I wonder how many are guys are interested in buying either an electric vacuum pump or Venturi (uses your compressor)and accoutiments (vac hose, sealant tape, fittings, etc)

[QUOTE=Terry Stowell]
I wonder how many are guys are interested in buying either an electric vacuum pump or Venturi (uses your compressor)and accoutiments (vac hose, sealant tape, fittings, etc)[/QUOTE]

I would be interested in the electric vacuum pump as I don't have a compressor. I'd be interested to see what package he can put together.

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Don Atwood
Arlington, VA

I would be interested in a complete package. I've heard that Brian Burns uses a vacuum bag to do high quality laminated sides; that application intrigues me.

I'll attest to Harry Fleishman's system working - the guy who was using it next to me (who was using go-bars) certainly had an easier time!

I have a press similar to the one shown by Lance and have used it for several years. It is hinged at one end and has recently started leaking air. I suspect the hinged end is the one leaking. What hinge, if any, is being used?

This vacuum setup is used to join double-top soundboards that use Nomex inside. Top braces are also joined:

OLFers - Please post any vacuum jig pics you have. Hopefully it will inspire us to the next level

Here is a shot of my vacuum jig which I made in 1992 and demoed at the
last ASIA symposium. It has worked flawlessly for 13 years. Inside there is
a cutout that accepts my 24" round radius plates. That allows it to be
used for either the top or back of an acoustic instrument. I use a GAST
vacuum pump which I bought on eBay for under $100.00. I recently
bought a spare although it is very reliable and has been working for
about 6 years. Anyway, here is the picture:

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Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com

Sylvan, I am getting ready to make a vacuum press similar to yours. Can you tell me what you are using for the membrane, and where you purchased it?

TIA,
Dave

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

Dave -
Check the article at my web site, wellsguitars.com. It gives the sources for
the membrane, etc. at the end of the article!

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Sylvan
http://www.wellsguitars.com