Building my own cylinder... anybody interested?

Hi everyone.

I am not a pumper, but I soon will be. I have arranged to go and visit PEnine next week who will help me to build my own cylinder. I am also finding out about getting a vacuum gauge built to specifications by a local company.

The point is - if we build this thing, will anybody be interested in say a guide, illustrated with photos, step by step exactly how we built it?
I just want to see if there’s any interest in this, if so, I will think of putting together a DIY guide with photos we take.

I made a cylinder out of a glass lamp. It was one of those lamps with shells in it. All I had to do was fit the pump valve at the top. I used instillation foam to seal it.

The only problem was the lamp was a little too short. And the wanker was pressing at the top.

Go to Auto Zone or any other such auto store. They have very nice vacuum pumps. They use them for adding fluids to the car. Like break fluid and such.

A lamp - LOL…

We are going to use clear acrylic tubing and sheet for an end cap with a special chemical bond glue.

I live in Australia, and I don’t know about anywhere else, but every auto store I’ve been to has not had any sort of vacuum guage suitable for this purpose… it in fact took me a hell of a long time to track down a specialist guage manufacturer.

Build it and they will come. Did you see that movie?

If it’s not too much trouble, take the photo journal. If it turns out good and is not too Australia specific as far as parts go, you should have a good audience.

Maybe you could start your own distributorship for the down under area!

Cool gp. Though I do highly doubt it as a business prospect - it’s just too damn easy to build yourself. Of course there will always be the lazy and those with two left thumbs amongst us! :D

Secjay, Let me know if I can help with the drawings. I have attached an animated gif that I did to show an insert concept.

Tube G.gif

Secjay,

I have included a link to AutoZone.com with a brake bleeder vacuum pump for $26 if you are interested.

http://www.auto zone.com/servle … %7C%7EEA%7C%7EB

I hope it worked.

789

I live in Australia, and I don’t know about anywhere else, but every auto store I’ve been to has not had any sort of vacuum gauge suitable for this purpose… it in fact took me a hell of a long time to track down a specialist gauge manufacturer.

Most auto stores sell a little hand held / actuated vacuum pump with with a little gauge on it for testing vacuum control devices on Autos.
All you would need is a cylinder with an end cap, a little vacuum nipple in the end cap, a piece of vacuum hose and the little pump.
When you say "specialty gauge" I think $$$, the idea is to save money, or else you might as well go buy a real penile pump.

took me a minute to find it, but here’s a link to what I’m talking about:
Welcome to MITYVAC | SKF

Try McMaster Carr for the tubing and other parts:

McMaster-Carr

The vacuum pump I bought from Auto Zone came with the hose, and the male recepter. The only thing you would need is the female adapter that connects to the tube.

And I paid something like 26 bucks. And this thing is much nicer than those plastic pumps you get from Kaplan. Mine is all metal with a gauge. I really don’t think it will ever break.

For the acrylic tube try:

http://www.mcma ster.com/param/ … cMMainWidth=812

Wow thanks for all the replies, guys.

I’ve heard of the mityvac, and it does look pretty perfect, although I haven’t been able to find it anywhere. Maybe I should actually go and ask the guys at the counter instead of wandering around the stores like some guy who is obviously looking for something that he is not going to use for the intended purpose ;)

AutoZone is an American thing I assume, I’ve never heard of it. Like I said, I’m in Aus, so it doesn’t help me much - even if they ship to Aus, the cost would make it not so worth it any more.

When I say a gauge supplier selling me a “custom” gauge, I mean they have all the parts and whack them together for you according to your specs. Similar gauges are between 20-30$ AU. I’m not sure on the price yet, but upper limit is about $50 (and that’s if it’s exactly what I need)

McMaster is where I believe Rob was able to track down the clear acrylic, though he will have to verify that statement…

Thanks for the offer, but the point I was trying to make was that I would take photos of the whole construction process, not illustrated as in drawaings. Like a real life case report… Good animation by the way :up:

I would.

Definitely interested.