Carbon fiber vacuum bagging kit?

[afterburn 549]

I want to do this.
Is there a better "kit " with pump and assorted adapters for sale that anyone could recommend?
For smaller parts at first. (2ft x2 ft )
Thanx!

[unclebilly]

You can get a vacuum pump on Amazon or **** cheap that will also do AC. Then you literally need some plastic and some duct tape to make it work. Don’t overthink this.

[afterburn 549]

Yes , But I hate buying twice...thinking I got a good one and it is crap.
Plus, do I not need some bag fittings?>

[MBAtarga]

I don't know if carbon fiber requires any different treatment than woodworking/veneering use for a vacuum bag. I would think it would be identical - and if that's the case - www.joewoodworker.com is an excellent site for information as well as products for purchase.

https://www.joewoodworker.com/

[908/930]

2'x2' is still a fairly large part, do a couple really small ones first. I assume you are doing a wet layup and not prepreg material? You don't really need bag fittings, the sealant tape more like soft acrylic cord is excellent at sealing anything, for larger parts using prepreg I would just run 3 or 4 x 1/4" dia pvc tubes in the bag wrap the end with cloth and seal them to the bag, use one for vac gauge and T the others to the vac pump. A old ac compressor from a freezer is likely enough to get you going if you have one available. You need some sort of catch can before the vac pump.

No recommendation on equipment kit.

[Mahler9th]

ACP used to sell a DIY kit. I have one. Not sure they sell that one any more but you can give them a call.

https://acpcomposites.com/category/vacuum-bagging

They have excellent products. And they helped me get started years ago.

I have also used an air operator vacuum pump from Harbor Freight.

[javadog]

Watch some YouTube videos first. There's a company in the UK that has dozens of videos on this topic for people like you that want to get into this as a hobby.

[afterburn 549]

Thanx!!
Yes, I know.
I used to make bug stuff that went into an autoclave for cure. (Lear fan Jet)
But
I don't want to buy a HF pump. (or much of anything as I don't have good results from that crap.
Something better I think.

[Dpmulvan]

I read this before I bought a pump. https://explorecomposites.com/articles/tools-and-equipment/buying-a-vacuum-pump/

[908/930]

The high vac pumps I used way back were both Edwards, nice but pricy. Any used ones local to you?

[masraum]

It took me a min for this thread to click.

My first thought was "why's he need a c/f vacuum?"
But, of course, there's one out there if that's what you're into.

[afterburn 549]

Lol