Harbor Freight 2.5 CFM Pump Setup?

[Plate Smacker]

I've seen some threads about using this pump.
Is there a setup to control vacuum?
What is max vacuum in inHg?
Anybody setup for bottle top filter care to share how they use it and their setup?
Is this pump too strong?
Is it as loud as a freight train?
Can it pump for 3 hours straight or will it explode?

Filtering Testosterone Decanoate and Nandrolone Decanoate. They flow a little slower than Enanthate and not trying to sit down with a hand vacuum for 3 hours filtering 400mL of each.

Using with bottle top filter and GL45 Glass media bottle. Autofil PP Funnel Assembly, 1000mL 0.2um Foxx Nylon

 

[RedSwingline]

I have the same pump. It works quite well. It ran for an hour filtering test D @ 400mg/ml in mig840. One thing to note is that it needs to run outside or at least in a well vented area is it is Not an oilless pump.

 

[enhancedbiohack]

Same. I've used that style pump forever. Filter the finished product warm and it's pretty simple and takes no time. No real set up required. I can't remember the size of the hose. It's not quite but nothing your neighbors will hear. The same style filtration as your Pic as well. I've got to get my set up out pretty soon. Unless you're brewing a massive amount, it shouldn't run for 3 hours.

 

[egruberman]

Do you need to pull a vacuum that deeply? I would think an oilless diaphragm style pump from Gast would be way less messy.

What is max vacuum in inHg?

75 microns is 0.00295 inHg.

There are some lab applications for deep vacuum (<500 microns) but I can't think of any common ones. The larger 2-stage oil filled pumps are nice for composite work, but typically they're used for HVAC applications. A deep vacuum is needed to remove any moisture or foreign gases from the refrigerant lines, which otherwise would shorten the life of the system.

 

[RedSwingline]

I am using this filter setup.

SF Stainless Steel Filter Holder, 500mL (180100-50)

SF Stainless Steel Filter Holder, 500mL (180100-50)

www.sterlitech.com

I have used both oilless and the HF, both work. The HF is about 20% faster with a .22 micron 47mm ptfe filter. The lines are 1/4”.

 

[Plate Smacker]

Do you need to pull a vacuum that deeply? I would think an oilless diaphragm style pump from Gast would be way less messy.



75 microns is 0.00295 inHg.

There are some lab applications for deep vacuum (<500 microns) but I can't think of any common ones. The larger 2-stage oil filled pumps are nice for composite work, but typically they're used for HVAC applications. A deep vacuum is needed to remove any moisture or foreign gases from the refrigerant lines, which otherwise would shorten the life of the system.

Seems kind of low on vacuum.
My hand pump is usually between
5 to10inHg

 

[egruberman]

Seems kind of low on vacuum.
My hand pump is usually between
5 to10inHg

Relative vs absolute. .003 inHg is an absolute measure. Presuming local atmospheric pressure is 29.92 inches of mercury then .003 inHg would be -29.917 inHg relative.

“Deep” vacuum is considered anything less than 500 microns or roughly -29.90 inHg.

It makes sense that a 2-stage pump would yield a greater flow rate than a diaphragm single stage pump. They have greater flow and pull a deeper vacuum. My main beef with them is dealing with the oil which absorbs moisture and needs to be changed frequently. The pump itself will also aerosolize the oil into the environment. I have an 8CFM professional grade HVAC unit that works great for composites and HVAC work, but I don’t like to run it indoors.

Gast diaphragm units are cheap as beans on eBay, just work for most things and need very little maintenance, mostly just occasional cleaning. I’ve picked up a number of units off eBay for tens of dollars that were seized up. Typically they can be disassembled easily, cleaned up and put back to use. The problem typically being that the pump ingested something that it shouldn’t have.

 

[Plate Smacker]

How about this one?
Scitolab Oilless Pump on Amazon

Is there something that can allow adjustment of vacuum. Only need max of around 10inHg

 

[Plate Smacker]

Or this one with 3 year protection plan.

 

[egruberman]

How about this one?
Scitolab Oilless Pump on Amazon

Is there something that can allow adjustment of vacuum. Only need max of around 10inHg

I think that's a clone of a Gast pump that I have. Should be fine.

If you need a consistent vacuum pressure, you'd use a vacuum regulator. Otherwise, you're just going to get the maximum vacuum the pump can provide a given flow rate.

 

[Plate Smacker]

I think that's a clone of a Gast pump that I have. Should be fine.

If you need a consistent vacuum pressure, you'd use a vacuum regulator. Otherwise, you're just going to get the maximum vacuum the pump can provide a given flow rate.

I went ahead and got the Joanlab pump because it offers 3 year protection plan. $200 all together.
Will report how it works with bottle top filter.
Hopefully done with sitting around for 3 hours with a hand pump, having to bring pressure back up every minute.
Thanks for the info on vacuum regulator.

 

[egruberman]

Thanks for the info on vacuum regulator.

That'll help you keep vacuum pressure within specification for the filter being used which will prevent the possibility of pulling small bits of filter fiber into your sterile product leaving those floaters that have plagued a certain vendor's oil here. It'll also give you consistent flow.

You might consider a vacuum trap as well.

 

[bornSkinny]

OP glad you found a solution for your needs.

For anyone else reading this in the future, I have used that HF exact pump for home brew and it works well as is.

When I first set it up I had read other threads here about adding a valve to control rate of suction but this didn't work well at all, and I quickly abandoned this and let it run full boar.

As I believe was mentioned, it's pretty loud. You don't need to go outside, and hopefully you aren't brewing outside as that is not sanitary. Your bathroom or kitchen should have ventilation. You should not be running it 3 hours straight.

As far as the concern of adjusting the pressure so you don't pull apart your bottle top filters I've never seen this happen using this pump and it is pretty strong. I think It's more likely if you don't change it out as it obviously becomes clogged, it will blow out and make a huge mess. So don't be cheap. Swap it out after filtering a reasonable amount of gear. Not saying you can't get floaters using this, but I never have.

Harbor Freight often has coupons, never pay full price, you should get this at least 20% off. It's a good deal.

Hope someone finds this information useful.

 

[Plate Smacker]

OP glad you found a solution for your needs.

For anyone else reading this in the future, I have used that HF exact pump for home brew and it works well as is.

When I first set it up I had read other threads here about adding a valve to control rate of suction but this didn't work well at all, and I quickly abandoned this and let it run full boar.

As I believe was mentioned, it's pretty loud. You don't need to go outside, and hopefully you aren't brewing outside as that is not sanitary. Your bathroom or kitchen should have ventilation. You should not be running it 3 hours straight.

As far as the concern of adjusting the pressure so you don't pull apart your bottle top filters I've never seen this happen using this pump and it is pretty strong. I think It's more likely if you don't change it out as it obviously becomes clogged, it will blow out and make a huge mess. So don't be cheap. Swap it out after filtering a reasonable amount of gear. Not saying you can't get floaters using this, but I never have.

Harbor Freight often has coupons, never pay full price, you should get this at least 20% off. It's a good deal.

Hope someone finds this information useful.

Thanks for adding your experience. All the info helps everyone.

 

[Ateam2023]

I went ahead and got the Joanlab pump because it offers 3 year protection plan. $200 all together.
Will report how it works with bottle top filter.
Hopefully done with sitting around for 3 hours with a hand pump, having to bring pressure back up every minute.
Thanks for the info on vacuum regulator.

I would be interested in your success when you run it,, Let us know

 

[Plate Smacker]

Thing is solid. Was expecting cheap build.
Pic with razor to get idea of size.
Comes with 2 inline high flow filters to prevent moisture going into machine.
Packaged very well and protected.
Plugged in and covered vacuum tube and it goes to max 23inHg.
I can adjust that with inline valve, but going to instead bleed air in by poking small hole in tube pre inline filter, and use electrical tape to adjust size of hole to get between 5-10inHg.
Using tomorrow. Have to clean and sanitize things.

 

[Plate Smacker]

Make a vacuum relief valve pre inline filter to machine. Adjust to needed vacuum.

 

[Ateam2023]

Thing is solid. Was expecting cheap build.
Pic with razor to get idea of size.
Comes with 2 inline high flow filters to prevent moisture going into machine.
Packaged very well and protected.
Plugged in and covered vacuum tube and it goes to max 23inHg.
I can adjust that with inline valve, but going to instead bleed air in by poking small hole in tube pre inline filter, and use electrical tape to adjust size of hole to get between 5-10inHg.
Using tomorrow. Have to clean and sanitize things.
View attachment 313521
View attachment 313522
View attachment 313523

that looks like its gonna be a good setup, have you ran the machine yet to see how loud it is? I bet its a quiet machine ,,

 

[Plate Smacker]

Hacked the matrix with a Tee Fitting and an 18G needle which gives 7inHg. 20G needle gives 15inHg.

View attachment 1000038161.mov

 

[Ateam2023]

Hacked the matrix with a Tee Fitting and an 18G needle which gives 7inHg. 20G needle gives 15inHg.

View attachment 313591

that sound reminds me , when we used to blast "wax" with the closed loop extraction method,,,