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Metalworking (rec.crafts.metalworking) Discuss various aspects of working with metal, such as machining, welding, metal joining, screwing, casting, hardening/tempering, blacksmithing/forging, spinning and hammer work, sheet metal work. |
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#1
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
I have a chance to get an old, but serviceable medical vacuum pump, at a
very reasonable price. When I switched it, gave off a very offensive odour. What is the best way to decontaminate the thing? I am thinking in terms of lots of alcohol, but am open to suggestions. Thanks in advance. Steve R. -- Reply address munged to bugger up spammers |
#2
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
Steve R. wrote:
I have a chance to get an old, but serviceable medical vacuum pump, at a very reasonable price. When I switched it, gave off a very offensive odour. What is the best way to decontaminate the thing? I am thinking in terms of lots of alcohol, but am open to suggestions. Depends what the odour is caused by. Try to find out what it has been used for in the past. Ask the seller. The odour might be something dangerous, but it might not. If it's something dangerous, decontaminating it is a difficult job. If not, just change the oil. Incidentally, the old belt-driven pumps are often much better made than the modern direct-drive pumps, so they can be a really good deal. Best wishes, Chris |
#3
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
On 2008-03-07, Steve R. wrote:
I have a chance to get an old, but serviceable medical vacuum pump, at a very reasonable price. When I switched it, gave off a very offensive odour. What is the best way to decontaminate the thing? I am thinking in terms of lots of alcohol, but am open to suggestions. I would not use alcohol near any seals. Can you close the inlet and let it pump vacuum for an hour? i |
#4
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
Steve,
No alcohol, unless you are opening up everything and cleaning/ repairing on the bench. Drain and replace the oil. If you are on the US side of the pond, I can send you some vacuum pump oil for the refill. I have several lifetimes supply, DJ On Mar 6, 8:19 pm, "Steve R." wrote: I have a chance to get an old, but serviceable medical vacuum pump, at a very reasonable price. When I switched it, gave off a very offensive odour. What is the best way to decontaminate the thing? I am thinking in terms of lots of alcohol, but am open to suggestions. Thanks in advance. Steve R. -- Reply address munged to bugger up spammers |
#5
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
On Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:19:41 +0000, Steve R. wrote:
I have a chance to get an old, but serviceable medical vacuum pump, at a very reasonable price. When I switched it, gave off a very offensive odour. What is the best way to decontaminate the thing? I am thinking in terms of lots of alcohol, but am open to suggestions. Thanks in advance. Steve R. Steve: That will only work for a while, and once you sober up the hangover will be horrendous. If you find yourself persistently seeking solutions in the bottle I suggest a good 12-step program. -- Tim Wescott Control systems and communications consulting http://www.wescottdesign.com Need to learn how to apply control theory in your embedded system? "Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" by Tim Wescott Elsevier/Newnes, http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html |
#6
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Vacuum pump question
Tim Wescott wrote:
On Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:19:41 +0000, Steve R. wrote: I have a chance to get an old, but serviceable medical vacuum pump, at a very reasonable price. When I switched it, gave off a very offensive odour. What is the best way to decontaminate the thing? I am thinking in terms of lots of alcohol, but am open to suggestions. Thanks in advance. Steve R. Steve: That will only work for a while, and once you sober up the hangover will be horrendous. If you find yourself persistently seeking solutions in the bottle I suggest a good 12-step program. Well spotted, Tim. That's funny! Best wishes, Chris |
#7
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
Check and see if there is a filter on the input side which will need
to be replaced. The more expensive units have a filter to prevent foreign objects from getting into the pump and destroying the precision parts. These filters (like an automotive fuel filter) tend to trap odors and materials, whereas the metal parts of the pump itself are unlikely to trap odors. For the same reason as the filter was originally intended, you should avoid putting any liquid, particularly solvent, into a vacuum pump, unless you have the entire thing disassembled on a bench. These pumps are designed strictly for air and gas use, not liquid or aerosol. If it's ex-medical, it was probably used for suction or something, with the vacuum evacuating air from a filter/trap unit, and the waste being sucked into the trap. |
#8
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
On Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:19:41 GMT, "Steve R." wrote:
I have a chance to get an old, but serviceable medical vacuum pump, at a very reasonable price. When I switched it, gave off a very offensive odour. What is the best way to decontaminate the thing? I am thinking in terms of lots of alcohol, but am open to suggestions. First of all, what kind of pump is it? There's a few types that could be used in a medical profession. Is it a simple pump like a Gast, or a "real" 2-stage pump? If the latter, sometimes the oil gets contaminated and stinks. HyVac makes an oil that you use to flush out the pump, then refill with new oil. Works great. Otherwise, rebuilding will take care of it. Beware, though, a rebuild kit for a 2-stage pump can easily run over $200. Joe |
#9
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Vacuum pump question
Joe fired this volley in
: Beware, though, a rebuild kit for a 2-stage pump can easily run over $200. yeah... and with a little careful shopping, you can get a brand new Robinaire HVAC pump (good down to about .2u) for under $250. LLoyd |
#10
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Vacuum pump question
On Thu, 06 Mar 2008 22:34:20 -0600, with neither quill nor qualm,
Ignoramus24341 quickly quoth: On 2008-03-07, Steve R. wrote: I have a chance to get an old, but serviceable medical vacuum pump, at a very reasonable price. When I switched it, gave off a very offensive odour. What is the best way to decontaminate the thing? I am thinking in terms of lots of alcohol, but am open to suggestions. I would not use alcohol near any seals. Yeah, those drunken bastiches might fall off the dock and drown. -- The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man. -- Euripides |
#11
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
Steve R. wrote:
I have a chance to get an old, but serviceable medical vacuum pump, at a very reasonable price. When I switched it, gave off a very offensive odour. What is the best way to decontaminate the thing? I am thinking in terms of lots of alcohol, but am open to suggestions. don't run alcohol though a vacuum pump with the motor running. compressed air + alcohol = engine or fire. vacuum pump oil itself can smell horrible even without unknown stuff mixed in. I don't mind tearing pumps apart, as long as I know what they were used for, or were rebuilt and came with fresh oil. If you don't want to tear it apart, you could try flushing it and dumping in fresh vacuum pump oil and repeating. I always get standard pump and difusion pump oil from kurt lesker company. They have incredible tech support, and can surely tell you more about your pump than you could find on the internet. |
#12
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
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#13
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
"Christopher Tidy" wrote in message ... Steve R. wrote: I have a chance to get an old, but serviceable medical vacuum pump, at a very reasonable price. When I switched it, gave off a very offensive odour. What is the best way to decontaminate the thing? I am thinking in terms of lots of alcohol, but am open to suggestions. Depends what the odour is caused by. Try to find out what it has been used for in the past. Ask the seller. The odour might be something dangerous, but it might not. If it's something dangerous, decontaminating it is a difficult job. If not, just change the oil. Incidentally, the old belt-driven pumps are often much better made than the modern direct-drive pumps, so they can be a really good deal. Best wishes, Chris It's just a little portable direct drive unit. The manual suggests that should be used for suctioning out newborn babies, and small surgical wounds. I have no way of tracing the original user. It was donated to a local thrift store, but probably came from out of town. I decided to buy it anyway (under $20.00). It will have to live outside until the smell is gone. Steve R. -- Reply address munged to bugger up spammers |
#14
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
"woodworker88" wrote in message ... Check and see if there is a filter on the input side which will need to be replaced. The more expensive units have a filter to prevent foreign objects from getting into the pump and destroying the precision parts. These filters (like an automotive fuel filter) tend to trap odors and materials, whereas the metal parts of the pump itself are unlikely to trap odors. For the same reason as the filter was originally intended, you should avoid putting any liquid, particularly solvent, into a vacuum pump, unless you have the entire thing disassembled on a bench. These pumps are designed strictly for air and gas use, not liquid or aerosol. If it's ex-medical, it was probably used for suction or something, with the vacuum evacuating air from a filter/trap unit, and the waste being sucked into the trap. This one is for medical use, as in suction, and has a bottle for the sucked up fluids. It's rated at 25 inches of Hg max. Steve R. |
#15
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
On 2008-03-08, Steve R. wrote:
"woodworker88" wrote in message ... Check and see if there is a filter on the input side which will need to be replaced. The more expensive units have a filter to prevent foreign objects from getting into the pump and destroying the precision parts. These filters (like an automotive fuel filter) tend to trap odors and materials, whereas the metal parts of the pump itself are unlikely to trap odors. For the same reason as the filter was originally intended, you should avoid putting any liquid, particularly solvent, into a vacuum pump, unless you have the entire thing disassembled on a bench. These pumps are designed strictly for air and gas use, not liquid or aerosol. If it's ex-medical, it was probably used for suction or something, with the vacuum evacuating air from a filter/trap unit, and the waste being sucked into the trap. This one is for medical use, as in suction, and has a bottle for the sucked up fluids. It's rated at 25 inches of Hg max. I would get rid of it. i |
#16
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
Ignoramus8691 wrote:
On 2008-03-08, Steve R. wrote: "woodworker88" wrote in message ... Check and see if there is a filter on the input side which will need to be replaced. The more expensive units have a filter to prevent foreign objects from getting into the pump and destroying the precision parts. These filters (like an automotive fuel filter) tend to trap odors and materials, whereas the metal parts of the pump itself are unlikely to trap odors. For the same reason as the filter was originally intended, you should avoid putting any liquid, particularly solvent, into a vacuum pump, unless you have the entire thing disassembled on a bench. These pumps are designed strictly for air and gas use, not liquid or aerosol. If it's ex-medical, it was probably used for suction or something, with the vacuum evacuating air from a filter/trap unit, and the waste being sucked into the trap. This one is for medical use, as in suction, and has a bottle for the sucked up fluids. It's rated at 25 inches of Hg max. I would get rid of it. i I call bull****. |
#17
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
Steve R. wrote:
"woodworker88" wrote in message ... Check and see if there is a filter on the input side which will need to be replaced. The more expensive units have a filter to prevent foreign objects from getting into the pump and destroying the precision parts. These filters (like an automotive fuel filter) tend to trap odors and materials, whereas the metal parts of the pump itself are unlikely to trap odors. For the same reason as the filter was originally intended, you should avoid putting any liquid, particularly solvent, into a vacuum pump, unless you have the entire thing disassembled on a bench. These pumps are designed strictly for air and gas use, not liquid or aerosol. If it's ex-medical, it was probably used for suction or something, with the vacuum evacuating air from a filter/trap unit, and the waste being sucked into the trap. This one is for medical use, as in suction, and has a bottle for the sucked up fluids. It's rated at 25 inches of Hg max. Steve R. Sounds like it got used and was not properly cleaned. What make/model is it. Many of the portable units come apart and can be sterilized in an autoclave. All of ours can be and they are various years. Depending on the unit replacement parts are likely available. The Laerdal and DevilBiss units we have can be stripped down. These units do not use oil usually, they have nylon or similar rings and parts in the pumps. -- Steve W. Near Cooperstown, New York Life is not like a box of chocolates it's more like a jar of jalapenos- what you do today could burn your ass tomorrow! |
#18
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
"Steve W." wrote in message ... Steve R. wrote: "woodworker88" wrote in message ... Check and see if there is a filter on the input side which will need to be replaced. The more expensive units have a filter to prevent foreign objects from getting into the pump and destroying the precision parts. These filters (like an automotive fuel filter) tend to trap odors and materials, whereas the metal parts of the pump itself are unlikely to trap odors. For the same reason as the filter was originally intended, you should avoid putting any liquid, particularly solvent, into a vacuum pump, unless you have the entire thing disassembled on a bench. These pumps are designed strictly for air and gas use, not liquid or aerosol. If it's ex-medical, it was probably used for suction or something, with the vacuum evacuating air from a filter/trap unit, and the waste being sucked into the trap. This one is for medical use, as in suction, and has a bottle for the sucked up fluids. It's rated at 25 inches of Hg max. Steve R. Sounds like it got used and was not properly cleaned. What make/model is it. Many of the portable units come apart and can be sterilized in an autoclave. All of ours can be and they are various years. Depending on the unit replacement parts are likely available. The Laerdal and DevilBiss units we have can be stripped down. These units do not use oil usually, they have nylon or similar rings and parts in the pumps. -- Steve W. Near Cooperstown, New York Life is not like a box of chocolates it's more like a jar of jalapenos- what you do today could burn your ass tomorrow! Thanks!. The trap will come apart. At the moment it's plumped up with surgical tubing. That will be disposed of. I'm sure that it's oil free. I will check on the make. It's late at night here, and the pump is in the trunk of the car, outside. I thought it might be useful for testing automotive vacuum relays, and debubbleising stuff I do in the workshop. No way will I throw it out! Steve R. -- Reply address munged to bugger up spammers |
#19
Posted to rec.crafts.metalworking
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Vacuum pump question
"Steve R." wrote in message news:IauAj.59065$w94.47830@pd7urf2no... "Steve W." wrote in message ... Steve R. wrote: "woodworker88" wrote in message ... Check and see if there is a filter on the input side which will need to be replaced. The more expensive units have a filter to prevent foreign objects from getting into the pump and destroying the precision parts. These filters (like an automotive fuel filter) tend to trap odors and materials, whereas the metal parts of the pump itself are unlikely to trap odors. For the same reason as the filter was originally intended, you should avoid putting any liquid, particularly solvent, into a vacuum pump, unless you have the entire thing disassembled on a bench. These pumps are designed strictly for air and gas use, not liquid or aerosol. If it's ex-medical, it was probably used for suction or something, with the vacuum evacuating air from a filter/trap unit, and the waste being sucked into the trap. This one is for medical use, as in suction, and has a bottle for the sucked up fluids. It's rated at 25 inches of Hg max. Steve R. Sounds like it got used and was not properly cleaned. What make/model is it. Many of the portable units come apart and can be sterilized in an autoclave. All of ours can be and they are various years. Depending on the unit replacement parts are likely available. The Laerdal and DevilBiss units we have can be stripped down. These units do not use oil usually, they have nylon or similar rings and parts in the pumps. -- Steve W. Near Cooperstown, New York Life is not like a box of chocolates it's more like a jar of jalapenos- what you do today could burn your ass tomorrow! Thanks!. The trap will come apart. At the moment it's plumped up with surgical tubing. That will be disposed of. I'm sure that it's oil free. I will check on the make. It's late at night here, and the pump is in the trunk of the car, outside. I thought it might be useful for testing automotive vacuum relays, and debubbleising stuff I do in the workshop. No way will I throw it out! Steve R. -- Reply address munged to bugger up spammers Arrrg! That should have been "plumbed up". By the way, I have used high vacuum equipment. The pump I have is not in that category. Steve R. -- Reply address munged to bugger up spammers |
#20
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Vacuum pump question
On 2008-03-07, Mechanical Magic wrote:
Steve, No alcohol, unless you are opening up everything and cleaning/ repairing on the bench. Drain and replace the oil. Based on the intended use, it may not *have* any oil. It may be a diaphragm type pump, or a rotary vane pump. The intended use does *not* need the high vacuum which an oil filled pump can produce. Perhaps a photo posted to the dropbox http://www.metalworking.com would make it easier to tell what kind of pump it is. (Once you have acknowledgement that the photo is up on the dropbox, then post the URL to it here. Enjoy, DoN. -- Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564 (too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html --- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero --- |
#21
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Vacuum pump question
"DoN. Nichols" wrote in message ... On 2008-03-07, Mechanical Magic wrote: Steve, No alcohol, unless you are opening up everything and cleaning/ repairing on the bench. Drain and replace the oil. Based on the intended use, it may not *have* any oil. It may be a diaphragm type pump, or a rotary vane pump. The intended use does *not* need the high vacuum which an oil filled pump can produce. Perhaps a photo posted to the dropbox http://www.metalworking.com would make it easier to tell what kind of pump it is. (Once you have acknowledgement that the photo is up on the dropbox, then post the URL to it here. Enjoy, DoN. -- Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564 (too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html --- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero --- It may be a few days before I can photograph it. Rain is pending, and I do not want to bring it into the house until it's sterile. Steve R. -- Reply address munged to bugger up spammers |
#22
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Vacuum pump question
On Sun, 09 Mar 2008 11:46:35 GMT, Steve R. wrote:
"DoN. Nichols" wrote in message ... Based on the intended use, it may not *have* any oil. It may be a diaphragm type pump, or a rotary vane pump. The intended use does *not* need the high vacuum which an oil filled pump can produce. It may be a few days before I can photograph it. Rain is pending, and I do not want to bring it into the house until it's sterile. There is a third type of suction pump used in biomedical applications, uses a heating element inside an air canister, with check valves on the input and output. Heating element cycles on, air expands & gets pushed out one side. Heater turns off, it sucks air in through the other checkvalve. If nurses hook it up wrong or if the jar to catch the blech gets full, all that crud gets sucked into the canister & cooks on the heating element. Probably the worst job I ever had to do as a biomed tech was to fix that. |
#23
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Vacuum pump question
On Fri, 07 Mar 2008 04:19:41 GMT, "Steve R." wrote:
I have a chance to get an old, but serviceable medical vacuum pump, at a very reasonable price. When I switched it, gave off a very offensive odour. What is the best way to decontaminate the thing? I am thinking in terms of lots of alcohol, but am open to suggestions. I used a spare vacuum pump a few years ago rather than suck on a pipe to assist in syphoning some petrol. I didn't use a fluid trap but turned off the pump as soon as soon as I possibly could - despite that a tiny, minscule drop of fuel somehow reached the pump. Nothing, not even multiple changes of oil would make the whiff of petrol go away every time the pump was used (for composites consolidation). In the end a full strip and seal change was necessary. -- |
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