How to make a vacuum pump from a refrigerator compressor, and where it can come in handy

When disassembling an old refrigerator, a working compressor can be converted into a vacuum pump. The latter is useful for vacuuming vegetables and fruits in bags when freezing, stabilizing wood, when working with epoxy or installing an air conditioner.

What you will need:

• refrigerator compressor;
  
• Chipboard or plywood;
  
• cable with plug;
  
• vacuum pressure gauge;
  
• tee;
  
• hose;
  
• clamps – 5 pcs.;
  
• tee valve or air vent.

Vacuum pump manufacturing process

The compressor is screwed to chipboard or plywood.

A plug is connected to it if it was cut from the wire during dismantling.

Next, you need to screw the vacuum gauge onto the base; for this you will need to make a bracket for it. A hose is pulled onto the vacuum gauge. A tee is installed at its other end. All connections are fixed with clamps. Then you need to turn on the compressor and determine the suction tube. A hose from a tee is connected to it.




A hose 1-2 m long is installed on the remaining fitting of the tee. A tee tap or air vent is cut into it.The latter will allow you to urgently release the vacuum, for example, so that the compressor does not draw in foam from the chamber.

This compressor can be used to pump air out of bags when freezing vegetables and fruits. Also, by vacuum sealing marinated meat in this way, you can speed up its softening several times.


If you install a fitting in the lid of a jar, you will get a vacuum chamber to stabilize the wood.




It is enough to pour pentacryl into it and create a vacuum. You can also quickly saturate the wood with oil in this way. A vacuum pump will also come in handy when installing an air conditioner.

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