Efitz Posted August 2, 2015 Report Share Posted August 2, 2015 Building a vacuum box for making stencils. I am laying out the hole pattern for the top. I have it laid out in a 1" grid. Just curious if this is consistent to what others are doing? I can easily put a hole in the center of the 1" grid to make it a 1/2" grid. Just thought I'd try and get ahead of the learning curve by asking before I built. First time posting on the site but want say thanks for the wealth of knowledge that is shared on here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SNOWMAN CUSTOM BAITS Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 mine is on 1/2" centers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark poulson Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 I only know about vacuum boxes from wood veneering, but typically. as long as you can create a vacuum, that's the key. The closer to the edge of your workpiece the holes are, the tighter you can pull your material to your master with less vacuum, but the basic idea is to remove the air from beneath the master, so atmospheric pressure will force the stencil material down over the master. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Try it first, you can always drill 1/2" later if not successful. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Efitz Posted August 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Thanks for the replies. Much appreciated . Yeah I know I could adjust holes later. I mostly wanted to see if I was heading down a good path. I'm making the top out of 1/8" aluminum I had laying around. I've never used or even seen a vacuum box before snooping around in TU. Thanks again!!!! Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Efitz Posted August 3, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 Thanks for the post Bob. I'm anxious to get it put together and experiment with it. I know those head shakes and looks from the wife. haha! I've seen them plenty of times. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vodkaman Posted August 3, 2015 Report Share Posted August 3, 2015 The best ever 'head shake' was a comment from Wifey when I showed her a video of my 4 section swimbait. She said, "Why you video fish"? She thought it was real Dave 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Offshore G Posted August 4, 2015 Report Share Posted August 4, 2015 I honestly just used an old coffee tin and stabbed holes in it with a screwdriver. It works great! Used a blow torch to heat up the sheets, vacuum on and boom! Perfect stencils....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Travis Posted August 5, 2015 Report Share Posted August 5, 2015 I used a small nail plate in the past as my base for a small stencil vacuum box. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Efitz Posted August 5, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 5, 2015 Thanks guys! For all the info. I'm building a little larger box due to the fact I'll be working on Muskie lures. Just finished punching and de-burring the hole for the top plate this evening. Gonna see if I can get the box built in the next few days. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
