Glass Repair and Vacuum Pumps

[Brian Whatcott]

It was years ago. The question popped up on r.a.h
How to make a low cost vacuum pump.
I remembered this when talking to my son today.
He was fixing a spider web chip on his windshield.
He mentioned the thumbtack, the double sided adhesive gasket, the
funnel cap. The syringe and the UV acrylic.
Syringe? I needed to fix a chip too, so I bought a kit (around $10)
And there it was: the 5 or 10 cc throw away syringe, with the x cross
section stem, with two notches on it, and a spring to register in either
notch.

This kit looked like the work of an engineer. The most utility for the
least cost.
First apply the acrylic liquid - in the shade, then apply the syringe,
pulling the plunger out into the notch, to apply 10 minutes of suck.
Then release the syringe, and push the plunger into the other notch, to
apply 20 minutes of blow, then remove the gadgets, and let the acrylic
cook in UV.

Such a neat use of a syringe. That's the kind of idea Jim could have
used then. Come to think of it - maybe he DID. For checking a pressure
sensor, or some such.

Brian W. Altus OK

[vaughn[_3_]]

"brian whatcott" > wrote in message
...
> It was years ago. The question popped up on r.a.h
> How to make a low cost vacuum pump.

Yep, that windshield repair kit sounds good. Some enlightened auto insurance
companies will fix a chip "free" (without applying your deductible) just to keep
the problem from growing into an expensive windshield replacement.

For a general purpose vacuum pump, I use a compressor out of an old window AC
unit. Mine has lasted for many years of occasional use. I store it sealed up
in a plastic 5-gallon bucket.

Vaughn

[Peter Dohm]

"vaughn" > wrote in message
...
>
> "brian whatcott" > wrote in message
> ...
>> It was years ago. The question popped up on r.a.h
>> How to make a low cost vacuum pump.
>
> Yep, that windshield repair kit sounds good. Some enlightened auto
> insurance companies will fix a chip "free" (without applying your
> deductible) just to keep the problem from growing into an expensive
> windshield replacement.
>
> For a general purpose vacuum pump, I use a compressor out of an old window
> AC unit. Mine has lasted for many years of occasional use. I store it
> sealed up in a plastic 5-gallon bucket.
>
> Vaughn
>
True, some will, and others will encourage a replacement as soon as it's
even remotely warranted. The truth is that most automobile windshields are
surprisingly cheap today--after adjusting for inflation, they are just a few
cents on the dollar of what they were forty years ago. Even the classic car
windshields have gone down a lot after abjusting for inflation; but the
greater difference is in the mounting methods on the newer (meaning the last
thirth or more years) cars--the replacement windshield will not be under
stress.

Peter

[Fred the Red Shirt]

On Mar 13, 5:22*pm, brian whatcott > wrote:
> It was years ago. *The question popped up on r.a.h
> * How to make a low cost vacuum pump.
> I remembered this when talking to my son today.
> He was fixing a spider web chip on his windshield.
> * ...

With good head a water aspirator can give you a pretty
decent vacuum (down to a quarter atmosphere or so)
and will also quickly evacuate a large volume.

Last I looked you could buy a plastic model for under
$20.00. If you need a harder vacuum, it would still be
suitable for a first stage.

[Fred the Red Shirt]

On Mar 13, 6:57*pm, "vaughn" > wrote:
> ...
>
> Yep, that windshield repair kit sounds good. *Some enlightened auto insurance
> companies will fix a chip "free" (without applying your deductible) just to keep
> the problem from growing into an expensive windshield replacement.
>
> ..

Some comprehensive coverage will replace a windshield for free. I've
had
it done.

--

FF