Hi,
I'm just starting out with resin infusion and for this I bought the resin infusion starter kit.
The package arrived yesterday and I very enthusiastically, immediately tried the following setup.
Vaccumpump - quick release - 8mm hose - catch pot - 6mm hose - line clamp - plug (double stop at the end)
Just to see if and how well my vacuumpump worked and to get familiar with the vacuumsystem. All connections are taped up and the barb connectors have a hose clamp over the hose.
After the initial few fixed errors I left the system full vacuum overnight, disconnected from the vacuumpump. When I returned in the morning I found the vacuumgauge at -25 instead of the initial -29 lb.
I did a second test run after this without the plug at the end as I thought maybe the line clamp and plug interacted with each other. However after 1.5 hours I found the vacuumgauge at -27.5.
Do you have any tips and or tricks on how to make this setup airtight? Or is this normal?
I suspect the black 6mm connector in the catch pot might be the one leaking but I don't know exactly.

Sincerely,
Laurens

try wrapping your fitting connections with tacky tape.  I've found several leaks of that kind over the years.

Considering typically people would do a leak test over a 15-20min period, those figures do not sound too bad. There is a tiny leak somewhere so check the silicone seal for any stray hairs or dirt and also the same on the gland and perhaps tighten the gland slightly.


Warren Penalver
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant

Thank you both a lot, checked the system extra carefully for small hairs and dirt, and wrapped them with tacky tape. Did my first resin infusion and had a great result. Everything stayed perfectly vacuum for the full 24 hours

Glad to hear it all worked out in the end.  Once you have the system leak tight, it is just building the experience and skill to make a reliably leak free vacuum bag.


Warren Penalver
Easy Composites / Carbon Mods - Technical Support Assistant

One trick that really improves the EC catchpot seal at the "cheap" hose through connnector is to simply slide a short piece of aluminium or other metal or hard plastic tubing INSIDE the 6 mm ID "budget" plastic hose.
Make sure it sits right where the compression "grommet"  inside the black  plastic  screw down hose clamp squeezes the 6 mm clear PVC hose.

The drop you have seen is more than good enough for a normal infusion, but I normally clamp off the bag at both  the vacuum tube and the infusion end after  infusion, often I  add a Y-piece hose connector and an extra vacuum gauge that then measures the vacuum in the bag , without requiring the catch-pot assembly to be completely vacuum tight.

Spend the time making your bags completely vacuum tight.. thats much more important and can be a real challenge

Good luck!


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