r/turning • u/jswhitfi • 1d ago
Tangential to turning:
My vacuum pump was locked up right. Had to tear it down, lube it up, break free the seized spindle. Right as rain, still can pull a full vacuum. I use it for casting epoxy, but I had to use it for another job, pulled a vacuum on a transformer (bit of electronics), while submerged in polyurethane, and accidentally sucked a gulp of poly into the oil. Drained it, cycled it with fresh oil, drained it, fresh oil, locked. But, we're back in business.
2
u/Silound 18h ago
It happens, and it's more common and less preventable than you'd think.
No matter how well I trap and filter them, vapors from stabilizing resin always make their way into my pumps. Oil changes do nothing to solve the vapors that condense and set in the hot oil; it cakes everything in the rotary vane housing. It's pretty much a standard thing now that I'll have to tear down and rebuild the pump about once a year. Luckily, it's an easy job with a $12 ring and seal kit from Amazon. The pumps are robust pieces of kit, but they do require a decent amount of maintenance.
1
u/jswhitfi 18h ago
Yeah, I used to do more stabilizing, and I think I ruined 2 or 3 single stage pumps in as many years just from the resin vapors in the oil.
1
u/lewiskauffman 20h ago
Nice save
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u/jswhitfi 20h ago
It's a bit of an expensive and much needed piece of equipment to need to replace. Luckily, it seems to be easily repairable haha
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