Attaching spoil board to plenum

[jbuell]

Does a Trupan spoil board need to be fixed (screwed or glued )to the plenum on a vacuum hold down?

Also curious on methods for creating a versatile vac hold down that can cut sheets as well as use pucks for 4/4 6'-8' long hardwood boards. Can pucks be used on the Trupan as long as it has a good seal on the plenum?

In the midsts of planning my first vacuum table and need to get my head around how this can be accomplished.

[knight_toolworks]

pucks won't stick mdf at all. you can put a sheet of soemthign thats smooth down use your vac system to hold it and stick the pucks to that. or just screw the pucks down thats what I did.

[brucehiggins]

I put a piece of pre-finished 1/2 birch ply on top of the trupan and use a few spots of hot glue (as someone else suggested) for attaching small pieces of hardwood. It is fast and works very well. I leave onion skin and keep a router table set up with a flush trim bit. Gives me peace of mind knowing the piece won't move.

[tim_m]

Check out the BradyVac at http://www.shopbottools.com/BradysTricks.htm
I've been using these for everything. You can make them in any size you want. You can get rid of the pucks and make a vac table just for doing the 4/4 boards

[Brady Watson]

I generally don't glue mine down because I switch out 1/4" thick 'masks' that are like the BradyVac II. You can tack the bleeder to the plenum with a little bit of silicone and that will hold it in place. Just be sure to put a dab in the center of the plenum if you put some on the outside or vacuum will cause the bleeder to have a dip in the center of it.

-B

[jbuell]

I like the silicone idea.

Tim-
If I use the BradyVac to hold down 4/4 boards I presume I would need to place a non porous broad over the plenum with holes cut out for the Fein vacuum ports? This would allow the BradyVac a surface to grab? Am I thinking along the proper lines here?

[ljdm]

If you place any type of girl over the plenum, be very careful! ( non porous broad ?)

[jbuell]

Lou has the good fortune of a nice punch line. Really wishing I was within that 30 minute edit window before this really spins out of control. Making a spelling error like this in a forum that is 99.9% male has the potential to flower with school boy giddiness.
correction: non porous board

[tim_m]

I would just make a vac table the size of your smallest board. I've made them down to 4"x12" and they work great. Today I'm carving 1 3/4" curly maple stool tops on one that is 12"dia. Put thin gasket tape on both sides of your table for a good seal.

[ljdm]

I REALLY tried hard to resist the temptation to give that replay, but............
Without that little bit of schoolboy-ness every now and then, I'd have to act my age all the time. You act old, you is old. I don't wanna grow up, I'm a toys are....never mind, you get my drift. Back to reality.