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Bridge vacuum clamp?
https://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=40812		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  JSDenvir [ Fri Jul 05, 2013 8:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
The LMI vac clamp is great. In between uses though, you have to protect the surface that comes into contact with the top. DAMHIKT :-)

Steve
Author:  bobgramann [ Fri Jul 05, 2013 9:18 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
I have the LMI clamp because I was too lazy to make my own. It's great. You can get the rubber from LMI as well. I have made a couple of vacuum clamps of different sizes with the rubber I bought from them. You could get the rubber from them and make your own bridge clamp.
Author:  James Ringelspaugh [ Fri Jul 05, 2013 10:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
JSDenvir wrote:
The LMI vac clamp is great...
Author:  Jim Watts [ Fri Jul 05, 2013 11:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
I guess I'm assuming it's a silicone rubber membrane and an aluminum frame.
These guys should have you need if your interested in going that route.
http://www.torrtech.com/
I use a vacuum bridge clamp I made, works fine. I'll try to get a picture for you if you want.
Here's a photo of bag I made in situ to reattach a bridge on a 10 string, my clamp wasn't long enough.
As you can see, way too much glue, but good pressure, the guitars doing fine 2 years down the road.
the bags kinda ugly though, but the guitar cleaned up nicely.

Attachment:
10 string bridge repair.jpg
Author:  Blake Dixon [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 12:12 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
What do you use to protect your clamp? I have one as well and just keep it in a zip lock bag?
Blake
Author:  Dkeddy27 [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 1:49 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
Just made mine last week! I'm getting my gasket tape & vinyl from Joe woodworker http://www.veneersupplies.com/
I bought a cheap chopping board from Walmart and tapped #10 panhead screws every 1".
Author:  Mike Lindstrom [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 6:26 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
I've replaced the rubber membrane and the foam weatherstripping material on my LMI clamp. They sell the parts and it's easy to do. Make sure you store it face down on a flat surface or if face up, don't put anything on it. It doesn't take long to deform the foam, even with light pressure. Typically, I take it off after 10-15 minutes and clean off all the squeeze out both from the bridge and from the clamps, then reclamp. Keep it clean or you're asking for trouble. And I'm sure we all know it's only going to fail after the glue is on and time is pressing.
Author:  John Killin [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 8:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
I built mine with the rubber from an exercise stretch band. They come in different thicknesses and you can get them in pretty much any department store sporting good section. I used a thinner material because it is what I had. Next time I’ll go thicker.

Attachment:
Vacuum Bridge Clamp.jpg


The frame was made from 1/4” sheets of acrylic that I laminated together with acetone. I stuck the rubber down with RTV gasket sealant then screwed the top half of the frame down. The gasket is the LMI gasket.

Steve Smith has a plan for one in the tutorial section.
http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10117&t=23895
Author:  Robert Renick [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 9:51 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
I have making one of these on my list as well. I found this thread with some helpful info:
http://www.luthierforum.com/index.php?/ ... uum-press/
Ebay sources for rubber:
http://stores.ebay.com/Jet-Gasket-and-S ... 7675.l2563
http://stores.ebay.com/RuBBeR-HoUsE-wAs ... 7675.l2563
No rubber but a good source of vacuum stuff, they have some breather release film that looks useful: http://www.avtcomposites.com/cgi-bin/co ... egory=1300

I have done the bond plexi with acetone trick for other vacuum fixtures, works well, so I am planning that route. I wonder if some scrap from an old wet suite would work for the neoprene?
Author:  Jim Watts [ Sat Jul 06, 2013 11:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
I see I somehow lost a few sentences in my post above.
I was trying to imply that it's possible to patch silicone rubber using GE RTV 108 adhesive and that Torr Tech has supplies for patching or building vacuum clamps.
The bridge clamp I made looks a lot like the one John Killin posted BTW.
Author:  Bob Garrish [ Tue Jul 09, 2013 11:38 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
Filippo Morelli wrote:
Hi Guys,
Well my St. Lutherie bridge vacuum clamp gave up the ghost. The rubber tore right where it is glued to the frame. Best as I can tell the glue bled out when the rubber was affixed to the frame, leaving a jagged edge where the rubber eventually tore. I did get about 6 guitars or so glued up with it before it gave up the ghost and I'd like to continue vacuum clamping bridges.

Does anyone have a recommendation as to where to buy a vacuum clamp?

Thanks!

Filippo


Aww poop! The last time I made that style was six years ago, I made a few with top plates after that but they cost double. I'd put it over a jointer to clean off the top of the acrylic and glue on another piece of rubber if you want to fix it up on the cheap- you can get a 12"x12" piece of neoprene sheet for $6 from McMaster Carr, or ~$10 if you want adhesive backed. I'd send you some for free, but the shipping would cost more than the shipping plus the product from McMaster!

The rubber is neoprene rubber, which is different than neoprene foam (which is what a wetsuit is). If you want other choices, you can look up 'rubber sheet' on Amazon Supply; they have all kinds of weird stuff, and their pricing isn't half bad.
Author:  Blake Dixon [ Tue Jul 09, 2013 1:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
Pool liner might work as well as long as you get the thin stuff. It seams to stretch a lot!

Blake.
Author:  Bob Garrish [ Thu Jul 11, 2013 7:35 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
Filippo Morelli wrote:
Bob Garrish wrote:
Aww poop! .... I'd send you some for free, but the shipping would cost more than the shipping plus the product from McMaster!

laughing6-hehe yeah no kidding. Shipping has gotten cuckoo.

I thought about making my own, just because $100+ship from LMI seems a bit on the expensive side. I had not thought about fixing this one ... but then again doesn't seem like this is too hard to make.

The rubber on yours had some transference to the finish on the last guitar I did. Now I had the vac clamp on way longer than it needed to be ... and likely it would not have happened with 20-30 minutes and hide glue. Is neoprene rubber the way to go, or is there some other wisdom on this?

Thanks,

Filippo


I'm not sure exactly what you mean by transference, like a texture or did it actually adhere? On a fully cured finish, nothing should be able to affect it, but the only finishes which are truly 'fully cured' in a reasonable time in lutherie are polyester and polyurethane. Your best bet to prevent any sort of reaction is silicone rubber, it's the most inert (and expensive) of the common rubbers, though that'll only help if it's a borderline problem.

The other option is to use something like vinyl sheet (shower curtain) for the membrane. It'll work just as well...I've done more than a couple vacuum clamping runs with garbage bags sealed to a hose with rubber bands- so long as it keeps the air out it'll work.
Author:  lazycat [ Thu Sep 05, 2013 11:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Bridge vacuum clamp?
Hi Guys I do not post much as I had to sell all my tools and wood to pay bills and such. I used plastic window material, the stuff they use for windows in canvas covers for boats, it can be found at any fabric store its super cheap and works great.
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