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Old 09-11-2019, 02:52 PM
Howard Klepper Howard Klepper is offline
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Location: Earthly Paradise of Northern California
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Vacuum clamping cannot ever get you more pressure than the ambient air pressure. And you are not at sea level. Of course, no pump will get you the full ambient pressure--good ones get to maybe 80%. That is far less than the pressure you get from ordinary clamps. A hand pump won't likely get you half of ambient. IMO vacuum clamping is a lot of complication for no benefit in an individual maker's shop. It might be worthwhile in a factory where many guitars are being clamped simultaneously every day, and it could pay for itself over time.

I tried bolts a couple of times. They were the only bridges I have had come loose. The pressure was not where it needs to be, which is in the belly and the wings. You might come up with an elaborate caul that directs the pressure there, but then you are doing more work for the same result you could get from clamps.
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Last edited by Howard Klepper; 09-11-2019 at 02:58 PM.
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