Frugal Bob at symposium (pre Covid years)
FrugalVacuumChuck.com
About Us
It started 15 years ago with a stack of unfinished bowl and platter bottoms. I read an article in the fall 2009 magazine 'Woodturning Design' (now defunct) describing a vacuum chuck held by lathe four jaw scroll chuck with a bearing imbedded in the chuck and a lamp rod to carry the vacuum through headstock. This eliminated an outboard adapter (not available for my antiquated lathe). I cobbled together a chuck and acquired a salvaged vacuum pump (previously used for home medical oxygen) from a local flea market .
The system worked and I was so proud that I demonstrated it at my local Chicago Woodturners meeting. The setup was well received and members requested that I purchase pumps at the flea market to bring to next meeting and also bring bearings (double sealed machine grade bearings are not available from local sources).
A light bulb flashed, being retired from a lifetime in retail sales, I saw an opportunity for a part time business.
I setup a website, started demonstrating at symposiums and local club meetings. Buying and rebuilding salvage pumps and acquiring all the necessary parts to provide a 'Frugal Vacuum Chuck' in kit form.
Many improvement and product enhancements. Developed and offered a finished chuck with lathe threads for turners who did not want to machine their own chucks. Adapted high density polyethylene tubing to carry vacuum through the headstock, eliminating the lamp rod rattle.
BOOM! Covid hit and all of the medical oxygen concentrators were being rebuilt and put back into service. I decided it was time to slide back into retirement.
Previous post last May (2022)
Old Frugal Bob is bored with being retired and has placed a large order of dry (oil free) (no smog) reciprocating piston new vacuum pumps -27"Hg, 3.5CFM slated for arrival early May+/-. The new pumps are similar to the original Thomas and Gast medical oxygen surplus pumps that I originally sold. The good news- LOWER PRICES!