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Vacuum chucking

Joined
Jan 11, 2005
Messages
14
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Location
Oxnard, California
Does anyone know of a source for sheets of thin, adhesive backed, closed cell neoprene that could be used to seal the rim of a vacuum chuck cylinder. Also, does anyone have any ideas on other materials they may have used for the same purpose. I need something that will seal very well but will not move/flex much when working on the item.
 
alternate material

I use the foam pockets you buy to ship dishes in. They are available at Uhaul or most large home improvement warehouses such as Lowes. To apply to my chuck I use 3M super 77 adhesive spray. These work great and are cheap.
Matt
 
I found 10" x 12" x 1/8" sheets at a local craft store (Michaels) here in NJ. I paid .10 per sheet at that time. They were on sale. Normally about .30 per sheet. I'm sure you have a similar art and craft store where you are. Use a spray adhesive to apply as mkart suggested.

Ed
 
Foamies

Go to the craft section at your local WALLY WORLD and look for "Foamies". They come both with and without self sticking backs. They work great. I also use packing foam from the Uhaul store and use spray glue. Learned this from David Lancaster at the symposium in KC.

Vernon
 
Last edited:
I found some rolls of weatherstripping by Frost King at the local HD that works well. Has self adhesive on back, about 1 inch wide and flexible enough to "bend" around the vacuum chuck. You just leave it a little long and force it together at the ends - when under vacuum it seals fine. I am at work and can't look up the exact package number but you want the product with the least compression - that is the closed cell. Frost King also has a web site that gives some good info on their products and will show the "closed cell" products.

Wilford
 
Big Dog said:
Does anyone know of a source for sheets of thin, adhesive backed, closed cell neoprene that could be used to seal the rim of a vacuum chuck cylinder.
www.mcmaster.com

But I would use the non-adhesive backed and solvent based contact cement instead.
 
The eighth-inch foam underlayment sheet that home centers sell with their laminate flooring is a closed cell type and works quite well with the vacuum chucks. I spray the back of the foam and then stick it on to my drum chucks and flat chucks. I cut whatever size "doughnuts" are needed and sometimes even use the centers for the smaller chucks. This foam is the cheapest material I have found for this.

Don
 
Like Ed I often use Micheals product. I think they call it "Fun Foam"
This is a dense material and works great for anything that has a real good contact area like bowls and platers.

I usually attach it with an even bead of hot melt glue. This gives a good air seal an remains flexible. I put the chuck face down on the foam and run the glue bead around the outside where they meet. then trim the foam on the lathe with a skew point down.

For chucks I'm using on almost round objects I need a foam with bit more cushion to get a seal. I have found a vinal backed drawer liner with about 1/4 thick foam. The vinal backing seems to give it a longer life and the thickness take up a small bit out out of round for a good hold.

happy Turning,
Al
 
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