On Apr 25, 1:34*pm, Bruce L. Bergman
wrote:
.

* Check pawn shops, E-bay and Craigslist, and other sources for a used
vacuum pump. *Unless it's been beat to death and the oil never
changed, they last.

* The only differences between a R-12 and R-134 manifold is the Acme
QC hose fittings and the markings on the gauges - and the high side
goes higher. *The one from Harbor Freight will work fine, but if you
don't trust them they run around $100 for a 'real' one.

* It is possible to build your own recovery machine out of a good used
hermetic compressor and other spare pieces, but you have to have a
clue how to do it - in Eastern Europe where the Communist system meant
they simply could not buy refrigerant at any price before the Wall
fell, they've been recovering and reusing refrigerants for decades
with homemade gear.


I actually looked up a couple of web pages on fabbing a vac pump from
a refridge compressor - I do not have time to play right now. I
started looking on E-bay (used Robinairs nearby selling for about
$160+) Nothing on Craigslist locally and a used tool emporium had
USED pumps starting at $260!!!.