What size vacuum pump for 20x24 vacuum easel?

[jerry_cunningham]

I am looking at buying a 20x24 Besler vacuum easel that does not have a vacuum pump. I would like to buy a regular industrial vacuum pump so that I can locate it outside of the darkroom and get away from the noise and vibration. I would rather not use a regular home vacuum cleaner because of those reasons. Can someone give me some idea of the specifications on a vacuum pump that should work easily?

Sincerely,

Jerry

[neal_shields]

Most industral vacuum pumps that I am know about are disigned to

produce high levels of vacuum which are necessary, for example, to

boil water in a closed system. The small ones (like are used by air

conditioning service men) are quiet but won't have near enough air

flow (volume) to work your vacuum easel. The large ones which would

have enough volume will not be as quiet as a vacuum cleaner.

 

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I would suggest a trip to the Good Will to get an Electrolux type

vacuum cleaner and then to the Home Depot to get some cheap 2" flex

duct. I have a vacuum easel and the pump that came with it seems to

be just like a vacuum cleaner and makes about the same amount of

noise.

 

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If you want to try a small vacuum pump, you can use the compressor

out of a junk window AC unit, this will produce about the same level

of vacuum as a serviceman's vacuum pump.

 

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Neal

[thilo_schmid]

Jerry,

 

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Don't use a normal vacuum cleaner. It will most likely overheat,

because there is not much air flowing through the holes. I've got a

Linhof vacuum easel (prox. the same size) and the pump has the

following specs: 2 m³/s, vac 90%. Hope that helps.

 

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BTW: you may want to control the vacuum "pressure" with a valve and a

meter, if your easel does not already have those features.

 

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Regards,

[thilo_schmid]

Jerry,

 

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I'm sorry, the specs should be 2 m³/h, of course. 2 m²/s would

evacuate your darkroom :-)

 

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Regards,