heating a vacuum press

[mikic1]

Just in case you need verified press component suppliers, I put all my suppliers in a list here,
https://www.junksupply.com/making-a-heated-press/

Cheers
Miki

[Maufils]

Just in case you need verified press component suppliers, I put all my suppliers in a list here,
https://www.junksupply.com/making-a-heated-press/

Cheers
Miki

Thanks for the info, will start without blanket for now and will upgrade later. Good knowledge post about base flattness and camber effects. Building Happy Monkey style too ;-)

[Wheatlpa]

Hi Maufils,

I actually got my entropy from a place in the states and had it delivered to a parcel pick up company in Vermont. Unfortunately with the border closed this no longer works. The shop in the states is called Jamestown Distributors. Not sure if they ship to Canada but they are really easy to work with. Let me know if you find something closer as I will be starting up building again soon. Too many woodworking projects to get done first!

Pat

[serchman]

Just in case you need verified press component suppliers, I put all my suppliers in a list here,
https://www.junksupply.com/making-a-heated-press/

Cheers
Miki

Thanks for the info, will start without blanket for now and will upgrade later. Good knowledge post about base flattness and camber effects. Building Happy Monkey style too ;-)

Very nice press! nice job man. did you take some more pictures about the construction? and what about costs? that would help me... thanks a lot for the support.
BR

[ertooso]

how do you manage that with a vacuum table?

[FredK]

A question for Wheatlpa,

I looked at the link, https://photos.app.goo.gl/KX1ctzDuPpw3Qiu49 and wonder how you managed to get the cables tight that went through your vacuum bag without leaking? Or did you use the blanket only on top and outside the vacuum bag?
Thank you

[Wheatlpa]

Hi FredK,

Well, the heat blanket that I bought did not come with plugs, so before I wired them up I drilled holes in the table the exact diameter of the cables and simply passed them through. I then used silicone to fill in any gaps from both sides. I have pressed 5 pairs of skis with this setup and so far no issues. It also helps that I made the table out of plywood with a masonite top so easy to drill through.

I am sure there are better ways to do this but this was the simplest method at the time. If I get around to making a longer table I might figure out a different way but the "good enough" method isn't too bad.

[FredK]

Thank you!

[OAC]

My experience is that the heat within a vaccuum bag really worns out the vac pumps! The ones I have are almost gone. Difficult to draw any vaccuum worth its name.

FYI, I switched to regular press with firehose and compressed air.
I won't ditch vaccuum. It's a good starting point. But its too messy compared with pneu. press. If you build several pairs.