Creating a pump

[ardunos]

<P>I was looking online on the different pumps (Bathmate, Penomet) and don't really feel like spending that kind of money just yet. Hence, I would like to try making my own pump. Can anyone give me any suggestions? </P>

 

[horseymann]

Sure , Find a sturdy water bottle. Your local dollar store should have all sorts. Then take the long stem out of a hair spray bottle or glass cleaner bottle. Drill a hole in the top of the water bottle just big enough to insert the stem. Then use silicone around the stem and bottle so there's a good seal. It will now look like a water bottle with a straw sticking out of the top. Then you need to find a couple of feet of rubber hose to fit over the straw.You want the hose to fit snuggly over the straw, sometimes using vasoline helps get the hose over the straw. Then you need a rubber gromet for the base end of the pump.I find that a bicycle inner tube from the tire works well. You need to find one of the largest tubes at a bicycle store to fit over the base end of your home made pump. And they work great. Oya you need to cut the inner tube in about a 3 inch length, then strech it over the base end of your pump. This makes an air tight seal when pressed against your body. Happy building and keep us informed wirh your progress.

 

[FuzzyKen]

<P>I was looking online on the different pumps (Bathmate, Penomet) and don't really feel like spending that kind of money just yet. Hence, I would like to try making my own pump. Can anyone give me any suggestions? </P>

This is one place where saving money is a "mixed bag" however there are ways to cut the bill down quite a bit. With regards to the pump itself go to either Harbor Freight or your local Auto Supply Store. There are very high quality vacuum pumps used in the automotive trades that are available for very low prices. This applies to both hand operated and electric.

The electric pumps are used for the evacuation before recharge of automobile air conditioning. If you watch the sales you can get a top grade electric for under $100 and if you want a brass trigger operated hand pump these are often found in areas where the parts for servicing brake systems are located. These can be used for bleeding brake systems.

While I agree that cutting costs on the pump is very important I would not agree on that approach with the cylinder. Cheap cylinders or poorly designed cylinders are an invitation to injury. If you look on the internet you can develop sources for the same thick wall lucite tubing that the vacuum pump manufacturers use in their cylinders. If you are good with tools and are a patient individual a clear lucite tube can easily be fashioned into a good cylinder with common things available at a hardware store. Remember however that the thickness of the wall of the tube is very important. The first reason is the danger of collapse and splintering under vacuum loads and the second is the ability to smooth and shape the contact edge that seals against your body. If you want a vacuum gauge again you can adapt from the automotive trades if your brake system pump does not have them by simply placing a T fitting in the suction line. There are vacuum lock clips and hobby plastic sources as well as your local hardware store that can supply about 95% of what you want easily.

Personally to get something that is not going to fracture or splinter easily under use you are in fact better of saving your money on the pump and spending it on the cylinder and the best out there are the thick wall cylinders from Vacu-Tech. This is very important and it is not worth taking a chance with the family jewels and sceptre. Good Luck