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Flexible hose for vacuum chuck hookup

Joined
Mar 27, 2020
Messages
51
Likes
64
Location
Harrisonburg, VA
I use a vacuum chuck quite a bit, with a Gast pump hooked up to the spindle port on my Robust AB. Right now, it's connected with 3/8" rubber compressed air hose and that works pretty well, but it's a little stiff and hard to manage when I move the headstock. I'm wondering if there's some alternative that is more flexible, thus more easily coiled up. My local Ace hdwe has some compressed-air hose that is definitely more flexible but I have my doubts about whether it will work or not. Holding pressure is one thing, holding vacuum is another - this stuff might collapse. Anyone have a suggestion for a more-flexible alternative to the standard rubber compressed air hose? Thanks.
 
Joined
May 31, 2019
Messages
290
Likes
360
Location
Highland, MI
I use 1/4" rubber air hose sold by the foot at the local True Value hardware. It seems to be more flexible than the 3/8", even when my shop is at 35F, and there's plenty of suck at the vacuum chuck.
 
Joined
Jan 4, 2021
Messages
3
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5
Location
Deer Park, NY
Hi David, you're right, you have to be careful with compressor hose. I use braided clear high pressure tubing from McMaster Carr. They show a rating for both pressure and vacuum. They sell both a hard and soft variety (not sure what I have). It's not that expensive. It is rated at 29 in of Hg. It's not as flexible as rubber air hose but I use it on my AB and it seems fine to me.
 

Roger Wiegand

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Wayland, MA
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I use thick-wall tygon (clear vinyl). It is neither vey flexible nor does it coil nicely. It's what I (and everyone else) used for decades in the lab on any vacuum system, as an upgrade to the red rubber hose with 1/2" thick walls. I suppose a better choice would be a better choice! Never even thought about it.

My vacuum bagging system uses a much skinnier hard yellow plastic hose that won't stretch out and lay flat at all. It coils all too well. Not a better choice.
 
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
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Location
Erie, PA
I use cheap possibly 3/8 vinyl from Lowes. Super pliable, weighs next to nothing and works like a charm.
 
Joined
Nov 18, 2012
Messages
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1,782
Location
Torrance, CA
Stretching the subject a touch; I typically hook up my Vacuum Chuck when I want to use it. I always wonder if I could just leave it hooked up...as long as my Chuck or faceplates work. Any thoughts on this?
 
Joined
Jul 18, 2018
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Location
Baltimore, MD
Russ, my only reaction is why stress the bearing more than you need to? It only takes a minute to put the tube in the handwheel.
 
Joined
Sep 12, 2017
Messages
897
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1,077
Location
Marietta, Georgia
I recommend taking the vacuum system off too. My Oneway connector got warm when I ran it at normal turning speeds without removing it. That tells me that practice will drastically reduce the working life of the adaptor. It just takes a few minutes to unscrew it from the spindle and put the handwheel back on.
 

Timothy Allen

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Joined
Sep 11, 2019
Messages
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Location
Maine
I use braided vinyl tubing similar to what GRJensen showed; and I do not leave my vacuum system set up when I am not using it (all the components come off the lathe and are stored in a drawer).
 
Joined
May 4, 2010
Messages
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1,850
Location
Bozeman, MT
The Oneway adapter for the Powermatic is a pita to get on and off. Mine's been on for years without any problems. Yet.
 
Joined
Nov 4, 2011
Messages
495
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744
Location
Bay Settlement, WI
I pull my vacuum system off the lathe and park it in the corner when I am not using it.
 

john lucas

AAW Forum Expert
Joined
Apr 26, 2004
Messages
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Location
Cookeville, TN
I had my hand wheel.bored to accept the bearing I use on mynvacuum chuck so I can install.or remove it in seconds. I use a thin piece of closed cell.foam in the bottom of the opening .to seal the vacuum and that just stays in the hole. I still.turn a lot of spindles and eed to use the draw bar a lot so leaving the vacuum.chuck inmplace isnt an option. I am looking for a more flexible tubing. I bought the clear braided line from the hardware store but it becomes very stiff after a few years.
 
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
1,265
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992
Location
Erie, PA
I forget his name and he passed a while back but he made vacuum adapters. I bought the adapter that fit into the hand wheel of the Powermatic, it has 2 o rings that seals it. I was so impressed that I bought hand wheels he made for my jet and my Delta 46-460s to use the adapter. I don't leave it in but its 1 second in and 1 second out. Craft Supplies has what looks like the exact same adapter in the catalog but it has been unavailable for about a year. I have purchased bearings to make my own as I made up another vacuum system and no longer want to wait for Craft Supplies.
 
Joined
May 6, 2004
Messages
628
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128
Location
Sonoma, CA
Hi Dave,
Hugh Buttrum here. Hope you are well.
I use the braided nylon tubing from the hardware store....like G Jensen.
Hugh
 
Joined
Aug 6, 2009
Messages
694
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498
Location
Lummi Island, WA
I forget his name and he passed a while back but he made vacuum adapters.
Bill - You might be thinking of the JT Turning Tools vacuum adapter - I got one when I bought my Robust lathe about 9 years ago. They offered it as an accessory. It's the best adapter out there - I've managed to trash a few others over the years, but this one is truly robust.

Tom passed away a few months ago and I don't think there's anyone to carry on. The good news is that Brent at Robust tells me they are making one patterned on the JT version...
 
Last edited:
Joined
Apr 20, 2006
Messages
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992
Location
Erie, PA
Yes it was Tom at JT Turning Tools. I had put an order for one in and paid for it just days before his passing. Took a while but my money was returned (would rather of had the adapter). Mine has to be 12 to 14 years old. Good to know that Robust is making them.
 
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