| The Roarockit™ "Thin Air Press" Vacuum Kit Cool Indeed. But Does It Suck? Updated: 4/22/05, 5/12/05, 7/6/05, 11/15/05 and 2/19/06 Update: 2/19/06 I have received several comments via email and phone (!) about this article. They have ranged from encouraging and enlightening to ridiculous and downright belligerent. So I've decided to make some simple changes. To be fair, I've removed the Roarockit reviews from other woodworkers that I had posted. Additionally, I've removed the video because it shows the name of my business in the copyright information. I've also color-coded the positive and negative text to show those who refuse to read the entire article, that I'm not "trashing" the RR system. Count the blues versus reds! Lastly, I've moved this article to a page that has no other links to any of my personal or business websites. |
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I've received a huge amount of requests asking my opinion of this intriguing device so I bought one with the hope of offering a decent review.
I bought my kit online at the Roarockit™ website and it was delivered within just a few days. I paid $54.99 plus $10.50 for shipping. In addition to the instructions, the kit includes a hand powered vacuum pump, breather netting, a 12-gauge vacuum bag measuring 13.5" by 47" and 3 rolls of butyl sealing tape.
About this article:
I've done my best to be as objective as possible with this review. The owner of the Roarockit Company has contacted me several times requesting that I remove this article or at least re-write it and put a more positive "spin" on the review.
The argument is clear though. If I write an unfavorable product review, it would be construed as my own bias against a product that I don't sell. However, if I write a favorable review, it would hardly be objective in light of the fact the owner of the company has repeatedly requested modifications to the review.
On April 22, 2005, the Roarockit company contacted me again requesting removal of the article. Instead I agreed to re-review the product. Two new vacuum bags were sent to me for review.
My feeling is that the best approach is to simply present my findings. The information below is simply the results of my completely informal testing of 3 vacuum bags and the pumping kit.
Kit Components
The manufacturer says that the pump is capable up pulling up to 25" of Hg. I was able to pull 23" when I tested it with a vacuum gauge, vinyl Tupperware lid and some plumbers putty. With a little research, I found out that the hand pump and the check valve are borrowed from the world of wine enthusiasts. No big deal though. Heck, the vacuum connector and valve stem on the JWW veneer press are borrowed from another industry too!
The vacuum bag is 12-gauge vinyl that is very nicely welded. The bags are available in two sizes and are equipped with a rubber check valve that works very well.
The kit also includes 3 rolls of butyl sealing tape, which are used to seal the bag end. According to the manufacturer, the tape can be re-used until it is contaminated with sawdust or debris.
Lastly, the kit comes with a reasonable length of nylon mesh tubing. This is used over the plies of wood that make up a laminated project. It prevents air pockets from forming that would create areas of uneven pressure inside the bag. The mesh is strikingly similar to the material used to package grocery produce such as oranges and apples.
Pump...Pump...Pump...Pump...
I started pumping reasonably fast and developed a rhythm. I watched the needle on the gauge in anticipation of movement. It was pump #100 and the gauge hadn't moved. Subsequent tests with the same size bag yielded the same results.
By pump #125, the gauge needle registered 5" of hg. I wanted to get 21" which is generally considered to be an acceptable level of vacuum for standard veneer glue. Two hundred and seventy-five pumps later, the needle read 21" of hg. Phew. Stop the clock! Three and half minutes and 400 pumps of the handle brought the bag to 21".
The hardest part is getting from 18" of hg to 21". It takes about 75 pulls on the vacuum plunger to get that last little bit of pressure. As you can imagine, even a motorized pump pulls vacuum slowly at these higher pressures.
So that's how the system gets to full vacuum. But how would the average user know when 21" of hg is reached? Without a gauge, there is simply no way to know if you have enough vacuum pressure inside the bag for a decent bond. According to the Roarockit™ company, this has not been a problem for thousands of other users.
| On my first round of testing, I found that the bag had lost pressure two minutes after I finished pumping. It had dropped to 18" which is still an acceptable amount of vacuum pressure in my opinion. The Roarockit™ company says this drop in pressure is normal and is caused by the redistribution of air inside the bag. I'm not sure that I agree with that idea. |  Pre-installed sealing tape |
It took five additional minutes before the gauge read 15". At that pressure, a good bond isn't likely. I replaced the butyl sealing tape and brought the bag back down to 21". Within 20 minutes the bag had dropped to 15" and within an hour, the bag had no pressure at all. I suspect this may have been a defective bag or that I did not install the sealing tape correctly.
The key is to apply the tape very tightly into the corners. Perhaps this is why the manufacturer now pre-installs the tape (a good idea!). Subsequent testing of the 2 new vacuum bags did not show an appreciable drop in pressure.
After a pressing, removal of the sealing tape is a bit difficult. The tape is very strong and doesn't release from the vinyl easily. I'd guess that the average user would get two pressings per roll of tape. Additional tape can be purchased at the Roarockit™ website but cleaning all of the tape from the bag opening might be difficult. In some areas it came off very easily and other areas were almost impossible to remove. I also took some time to play around with the breather netting. It's a bit too rigid for use over some veneers. The extreme pressure inside the bag causes the netting to leave small indentations in softer veneers like walnut and redwood. According to the Roarockit™ company, this has not been a problem for thousands of other users. There are other breather fabrics available but I still prefer to use two grooved platens instead. |
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Conclusion
Overall, I think the Roarockit™ system is a great way to learn the basics of vacuum pressure and the uses that vacuum has in laminating and possibly in veneer work. The kit gives you everything you need to do a small project like an occasional humidor lid, table leg, or picture frame. But it may come at the cost of uncertainty in the finished panel. Standard veneer glue needs an hour of press time so you might have to re-pump the bag every 15 or 20 minutes for added piece of mind. According to the Roarockit™ company, this has not been a problem for thousands of other users.
The press itself is a great idea but without a gauge, I'd worry about my panels and would feel the need to keep pumping the bag every few minutes. Without knowing the vacuum pressure, it's always a guess as to whether you have pumped enough air out and have sealed the vacuum bag correctly. For young skateboard builders this might not be a huge issue, but in veneering there is potential to ruin a nice piece of burl. According to the Roarockit™ company, this has not been a problem for thousands of other users. Tip #1: A quick fix for this issue is to simply place a cheap vacuum gauge inside the bag along with your project. Be certain that the gauge port is not covered by the vinyl or the reading will be inaccurate.
For a single project, the bag sealing tape works very well. Instead of removing the tape from the bag, I opted to just cut off that section of the bag and start over with a fresh roll of tape. Caulking cord could be used as well but it's also difficult to remove. I was also able to seal the bag end with some packing tape. Tip #2: For long term use, a wood bag closure would allow you to open and close the bag without the mess and expense (albeit a very little expense).
Ted Hunter, owner of the Roarockit Company has requested that I not post any other reviews of the kit because he feels that I would only post the negative ones. So if you would like to contribute your experience with the Roarockit system, feel free to post your comments at the Roarockit forum. |
And for more information, Google has found several other reviews.
The Good:
The idea is ingenious. A wine pump doing vacuum work for under $75… sweet!
The Bad:
The lack of having a vacuum gauge leaves no certainty of adequate pressure inside the bag. This can be remedied easily. The bag closure system works well but it's difficult to re-use.
The Ugly:
Me... nearly passing out after madly pumping a plastic vacuum pump. I need to get off this computer and onto an exercise bike. Sheesh!
