Help! - Vacuum Press Vent Cloth

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sefuller

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Jan 9, 2002
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milwaukee, wi
I need to replace the battle worn vent cloth in our new (used) vacuum press. The price from the
manufacturer is around $ 70.00 delivered, but it looks like regular felt. Does anyone know if I
can pick up a reasonable substitute at the fabric store? It is for a Vacu Seal 4468.

Thanks much,
Scott Fuller
Milwaukee, WI
 
Can you substitute parts from possibly the Print Mount or some other company that manufactures a similar machine? Did you check with Larson Juhl?
 
I checked directly with Hunt, who are typically 20% or so cheaper than Larson. I did check with Larson - they don't carry the vent cloth. I have not checked any other manufacturers.

Thanks,
Scott
 
I worked for a framer that had the same problem you're having and he just went down to the fabric store and bought 2 yards of regular felt. It was a whole lot cheaper than what Seal wanted to sell him and it worked just fine.
 
Yes you can use a good quality felt from a fabric store. I do suggest you use a light colour so you can see where various residue has stuck to or marked the cloth. We have sent several of our customers down to the fabric store.

Before we did recommend they do that, we purchased felt from a fabric store and used it in our showroom Seal 4468 demo and it worked fine. It should cost you about $20 for 2 yards of material.

Tack it down with some strips of a Hi-Tack 3M ATG tape. Their #969 is probably the best or #976 would do. You want to make sure that the felt stays covering the suction vents in the upper right and left corners.

Alan Sturgess
 
We use a double layer of white polyester felt. When it gets dirty we replace it.

And you can add a sheet of 4mm polyflute between the layers of felt. It compresses somewhat, but the channels allow more air flow, and the board is flexible enough that it conforms to the shape of whatever you're mounting.

With polyflute and felt, our press reaches maximum vacuum faster.
 
When our vent cloth got a little two dirty, we just tossed it. We have a Print Mount 40 X 60 Hot Shot. It takes about five seconds to start grabing, and a few more seconds to reach max. vac. and that's when the press is cold. If your press is taking longer, perhaps it's time to re- seat your hinges or start looking for leaks.

John
 
Actually, the manual for the Vacu Seal 4468 says it takes a minute or more to pull full vacuum, so I would guess that is just a difference in the two designs.
 
OK, I'm at work now and I just timed it. With a cold press from on to full vac. 18 seconds. It's faster with a hot press.

John
 
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