Neoprene WetSuit Material @ JoAnn's Fabrics?? B'Bye.....

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

I needed to cobble up my NuArc Vacuum Frame for 23X31's....that is until  I can do better.

A pretty straightforward project, a Few Mitres on 1.5 Square Tubing...Some Brazing...Drill and Tap, Flat Black Krylon, Gasketing Bead, New Glass.  Done. Ready for the fabric.

Not so fast grasshoppah!  I drove out to the mall yesterday to JoAnn's to score some new membrane....NOTHING doin'!!!

"Don't have it any more, can't order it, can't find it."

2 JoAnn's and 2 Hancocks later, and today, a bunch of upholstery shops in town, but nada. I've driven to Grainger, and 2 local Industrial Suppliers that specializes in that kind of thing. Nope. Grainger could do me, but $$$$$! and not today.

I've bought neoprene core fabric multiple times locally, known as wetsuit material and it's been about .120". Some call it SCUBA fabric. Like Mousepads, except with fabric on BOTH sides.

It's been a terrific solution, but it isn't quite a slick as the real deal. Cleap and lasts a LOOOOONG time.

So. I am beaten again.

Where do you guys go for membrane on the cheap. Oh, and today...

[Homer]

I believe most guys use the pond liner you get from....the pond store?....really have no idea where to source locally, maybe a tractor supply....

[Frog]

Won't help for a drive there today solution, but for years, this has been the go-to place. http://www.foamorder.com/neoprene.html

The way-less-stretchy-but-usable pond liner can be found at big box building stores, or in my area, suprisingly, even some feed and pet type places.

[GaryG]

Don't let muskrats near your exposure unit!!

Seems like a pond liner will work, but our 20'X20' $400 Firestone
pond liner didn't hold that rascally muskrat out. He chewed and chewed
so many holes in it, dag-nabit thing!! Gimme that 22/410 over,under!

I'm sure you can find a smaller piece. Good and strong stuff.

[mimosatexas]

I got my current blanket from http://www.foamorder.com/neoprene.html like Frog mentioned.

I ordered about 4 different types of material off ebay, checked all the options at joanns and lowes as well, including marine upholstery and pond liner and shower floor liner.  None really worked very well compared to the neoprene.  The pond liner material has a subtle texture that WILL mess with halftones.  The others just don't hold vacuum or adhere well enough to the inside of the frame.  I see the diy guys saying pond liner works or this or that works for $10, but they either are lying or are printing super basic spot color stuff that isn't bigger than maybe 10x16 on a 23x31 or even smaller on a 20x24.

[bimmridder]

I snagged some rubber off the roll when they were patching our roof. No idea where it came from, but it was free and it works.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

Appreciate the responses!

I'll order some, but for now I'll check with some roofers for a scrap of rubber. Great idea!

Thanks!

Stan

[tpitman]

You can get pond liner at Home Depot. Make sure you leave it kind of loose since it won't pull down in tight corners like the wetsuit material. It does work pretty well, though.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

UPDATE:

I scored a scrap of pond liner from one of the local landscaping stores that sells pond and Koi supplies. Cheap enough for a stop-gap measure, but I've hit a snag.

I'm not getting any vacuum under my lid so far.  I just screwed the "clamping" plate through to the frame every 9 or 10 inches....just like my NuArc vacuum blanket was made.  I found some 1/4" thick aluminum flat stock, 1 1/4" wide and the salvage yard which is about what the factory used. 

It's possible the leakage is under the edge of the membrane.  I'm missing something very basic I think.

Do you guys use double stick tape between the frame and the membrane?  I never did with my wetsuit neoprene.

Stan

[tpitman]

I made mine with a wood frame, and used aluminum strips with screws about every 2 or 3 inches to secure it. Weatherstripping underneath the frame to seal against the glass. Always worked pretty well.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

Yes, frame to glass weatherstripping is in place.  It seems to be a good fit.

I seem to have leaks elsewhere. Looking now....  I do have a vacuum gauge around here somewhere.

I'll find it.

[Gilligan]

Make some smoke and see where it gets sucked in at.

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

Make some smoke and see where it gets sucked in at.

Great idea!

I have already found 3 of the leaks. It turns out brazing with a "toy torch" wasn't such a great plan. My good torch wasn't available the day I stuck the tubing together without a 120 mile round trip, and an oxygen bottle swap. I used to do this type of work all the time and had a shop setup for it. Now my metal working ability is pretty lame.

[shirtz]

pondliner.com

[Itsa Little CrOoked]

I've given in and am using the pond liner for now. It's quite loose and I know it will work for a while. But I REALLY LIKED that wetsuit material.  The last batch I used lasted a long, LOOONG time and was really cheap.