FrugalVacuumChuck.com

Make your own vacuum chuck

Many inquiries, below are a few suggestions.

The 'secret' to my 'FrugalVacuumChuck' is I placed the sealed bearing in the chuck which rotated and attached a flexible tube into the bearing which did not rotate and extended through the headstock then attached to a vacuum source. with this setup a outboard adapter is not needed and therefore will fit 99% of all lathes.

The bearings that I used are referred to as 'motor grade', with double neoprene seals.  7/8"OD x 3/8"ID x 9/32" thick.  You can research on line (Amazon) or buy from a commercial bearing supplier or Graingers.  I shy away from the very cheap Chinese bearings.   

3/8" OD x 1/4"IDpolyethylenetubing ​ (Home Depot, Ace Hardware) (refrigerator water supply tubing) will fit into the bearing and will carry the vacuum through the headstock.  If the fit of bearing/tubing is loose a wrap or two of scotch tape will snug up the fit.  Slide a 3/8"ID hose from your vacuum source.  In most cases you will not need hose clamps.

Below is a link to a 4 page illustrated instructions for suggestions machining your vacuum chuck:

VacuumChuckMachining Polyethylene 4-24-1.pdf

​

My very popular - 3 Sealed Bearings,

Extension Tubes and Instructions

Make a variety of different sized vacuum cups to be held with your 4 jaw chuck by turning a tenon on a dense hardwood block and common PVC couplers found in building centers and hardware stores.  Detailed step by step instructions included. Starter set of 'foamies', (the gasket between PVC and your workpiece, not shown) included.  

NOTICE: Bearing sets no longer available​