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Vacuum chuck pump; where do you put the darn thing?

John Hicks

John Hicks

Joined
Jan 23, 2020
Messages
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Location
Shingletown CA
Can I see what folks came up with for mounting a vacuum pump on, or near your lathe? Pictures would be nice!
I just got the frugal vacuum pump I ordered (boy is it quiet compared to my air compressor) I am trying to figure out a good place to put it, without having it in the way.
 
Mine is on a recycled grinder stand that is mounted on a small furniture mover. When I need it, I roll it out next to the lathe ... when the job is done, it lives in a corner of the shop.
 

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Mine is on an old cabinet about 15' away from my lathe. This helps with noise (although it is fairly quiet) and it is away from dust & chips. It also has a large gauge on the pump which I can see from my lathe. In the photo #1 it is barely visible (note -Vac Pump).

All controls are right next to the lathe for easy access without having to move from my turning position. Air hose & electrical connections are overhead attached to ceiling joists. Compressor line is not needed but comes in handy many times.
This set up has worked very well since I got my "new" lathe (1996). :)
 

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Mine is in a filtered/vented compartment that sits on the top of the drawers where my grinder is mounted. The whole thing is on wheels so it moves easily as needed. The vac gauge is on a magnetic mount that sits on the headstock in use and goes on the bed tube out of the way when not used.Pump switch is in a movable box down under the ways.B22C4E4B-5671-4AF8-8F3A-734B1F204F78.jpeg
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I use a 3 channel AC remote control for my vacuum pump (and shop vac), so I have mine out of the way, sitting under a table about 8 feet away from the lathe, with the gauge and vacuum controls on a panel on an upright behind the lathe.LatheWorkstation.jpg
 
John,
The pump doesn't have to be right next to the lathe. The valve to start and release the vacuum, and the gauge to see how much vacuum you have, need to be right handy, but not the pump. My pump is 4' on the other side of the wall that divides my tiny shop from the remaining 1 car garage, plugged into an outlet controlled by a switch that's next to the valve and gauge.
 
I have a small room under a staircase where I house my air compressor. The room is insulated to reduce sound transmission. My vacuum pump sits on a shelf in that room, with a hose through the wall. I have a switch and Guage mounted at the lathe. Only drawback is that it is so quiet I have forgotten to shut it off.
 
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Mine is on the wall above the tail stock. The vacuum gauge is at eye level so I can glance over and make sure I’m not about to lose the piece. I’ve made a box to cover the pump when it’s not in use. Keeps dust and shavings off the machine. C10A385F-AFA0-4B8A-B01D-75F84769D1BC.jpegA724734B-D48A-4C2F-B4F8-C6BF0DBBDAD1.jpeg
 
Lou Jacobs said:
Mine is on the wall above the tail stock. The vacuum gauge is at eye level so I can glance over and make sure I’m not about to lose the piece. I’ve made a box to cover the pump when it’s not in use. Keeps dust and shavings off the machine. View attachment 41031View attachment 41032
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A cover is a good idea. Mine gets covered with chips, being that sits down low behind the headstock. I need to do the same. I think I have some plastic sheet covers that I kept out of new equipment packaging that I'll use.
 
I avoid most of the noise by placing my air compressor, vacuum pump and dust collector in an anteroom which also contains cabinets to store rarely used tools and supplies. Both the vacuum pump and the air compressor are plumbed to their destinations with 1/2-inch copper pipe. I use a Long Ranger remote switch to turn on the vacuum pump and/or the dust collector.
 
Dennis J Gooding said:
I avoid most of the noise by placing my air compressor, vacuum pump and dust collector in an anteroom which also contains cabinets to store rarely used tools and supplies. Both the vacuum pump and the air compressor are plumbed to their destinations with 1/2-inch copper pipe. I use a Long Ranger remote switch to turn on the vacuum pump and/or the dust collector.
Click to expand...
My vacuum pump is really quiet. It's just a low humble of sorts. Certainly not annoying enough to justify the trouble to isolate it. I do have dual mufflers on mine.
 
Tom Lucas said:
My vacuum pump is really quiet. It's just a low humble of sorts. Certainly not annoying enough to justify the trouble to isolate it. I do have dual mufflers on mine.
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I am not familiar with the noise level of other vacuum pumps, but the Gast pump that I used when I built my system several years ago is annoyingly loud.
 
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