"Chet" fired this volley in
et:

I knocked together a quickie version of the modifications suggested
for Lloyd's sock-type actuator.
I was blown away by it's power.
I used some 1.5" pvc with caps and a bicycle inner tube.
Hooked up a small vacuum pump, and couldn't not believe the amount
of
'pull' on the rod!

Chet



With that size pipe, and depending upon the vaccum, it would be as
much as (about) 26 pounds.

(probably less, since you aren't pulling down to 10^-8 Torr. G)

LLoyd