I got weak suction..

[thejuice]

From my vacuum table. Right now the air is holding the paper down but it doesn't take much to slide it. My question is how can I improve the suction of table. I've been around gigposters for a little while looking at what others have done to build vacuum tables in the past. I used Andy Mac's book as a rough guide to build this table (should of followed it a little closer).

Materials:
Finished 3/4" MDF 42x48
19x25" area of 1" grid. but I filled half of them when I wasn't getting enough suction.
the holes drilled are 3/16"
Lots of wood glue.



front



inside


inside closer

Some questions:
1.Is my vacuum not strong enough? (I'm running a 10 volt)
2.I haven't baffeled (spelling??) the inside but I think that will be the next step how much will this really help?
Some questions: 1. Is 3/4 MDF causing to much friction on the air flow?
3. Would drilling bigger holes help?

Thanks in advance for your help.
-joe

[El Negro Magnifico!]

What a loaded thread title.

[IVARTON]

Your holes are too big.


(nope... not gonna bite.)

[swampviking]

Oh mazn...

[Barry Obama]

your holes are too large. they should be 1/32 or 1/64th. there should be a LOT more of them and the should completely fill the surface except for a 1" strip around the edges. Also prolly need a better vacuum source.

[thejuice]

so the thickness of the mdf doesn't matter that much?

[Brad]

i heard length more than thickness

[thejuice]

i heard length more than thickness

hehe

[thejuice]

Where are the andy's when you need them?

[JustinHelton]

I also think by Andy macs plans there are strips of wood that runs between the rows of holes, kind of making a pathway for the air to flow, that could be your problem, to much open area for the air to flow around in.