el cheapo vacu-form table?

monster · Post by **monster** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:22 pm

i was talking to my shop teacher about vacu-form tables, and he mentioned that it would be easier to use a 5 gallon bucket instead of a wood base for the vacuum chamber, since all you'd have to do is buy an atachment for the shop vac that i'd use and glue it to a hole in the side (that i'd have to drill). leaving the total cost only a little more than the cost of a heat source (i think i'll go with a cheap electric grill from the big WM) and plastic for the actual vacu-forming.

would this work? because i'm trying to figure out the best angle for asking my parents if i can make one (they are nazi's when it comes to my creative instinct)

PS i'd also need to get a cookie sheet for the surface

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:26 pm

It'd limit you to the somewhat small size of the top of the 5-gallon jug, but there's no reason it wouldnt work. If you wanted to, you could cut the thing in half (the top way) its it doesnt have so much unnecessary empty space inside.

monster · Post by **monster** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:52 pm

good idea, but what if i cut it vertically and laid it on it's side? a few pieces of wod to keep it from rolling and i could double my space?

that would add work, and all i need the cheap setup for is my P64 case, after i prove myself to my parents i'll go ahead and make a real pro setup without asking them. that'll teach 'em.

i'm so excited, i'm asking for the dremel XPR 400 for my birthday in june, so i'll have the best dremel here and my mom OK'ed it!!! [/penis envy]

Post by **bicostp** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:55 pm

Could you post a side-view diagram/blueprint? I'm thinking about how I could make a vacumn form case for my PSoneP. I've already got the barrel, a shop vac, and a spotlight, so that should make things cheaper...

soundwave · Post by **soundwave** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 5:59 pm

Yeah, the cut in half to get the semi-cylinder thing would work, you'd just need to cut the lid in half and use some silicone to seal it, which isnt too hard.

monster · Post by **monster** » Tue Apr 26, 2005 9:33 pm

bicostp wrote:Could you post a side-view diagram/blueprint? I'm thinking about how I could make a vacumn form case for my PSoneP. I've already got the barrel, a shop vac, and a spotlight, so that should make things cheaper...

the original idea (and the one i'm using) is just place the drilled cookie sheet (like an air hockey table surface) on top of the 5 gallon bucket, seal that with sillicone caulk (i love to say that out loud), then drill out a hole in the side of the bucket and stick the hose in, caulk that, then suspend the grill/lights/heat source above the whole thing. i think i'll use 1/2" thick dowels with a crossmember on top, i'll bolt the handles of the grill to that crossmember to hold it up.

maybe i'll put some water in the bucket to keep it steady, maybe a few bricks. remember kids, hot grills are bad when they fall on you

Post by **bicostp** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 6:58 am

So what, you put the plastic on top of the mold (which is on top of the cookie sheet) and turn on the grill and start the shop vac?

monster · Post by **monster** » Wed Apr 27, 2005 3:39 pm

no, i'll do like one of the people who created the guides does, use those black clips that people use for documents to clip the plastic on a tray above the mold, near the heat source, once it is melty (easily seen due to droopage) unclip the holder and put plastic on top of mold, then suck like a whitehouse intern