vacuum pumps

I have one like this and it works fine:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NICE-GAST-LABORATORY-VACUUM-DIAPHRAGM-PUMP-D0A-V191-AA-/140893962097?pt=BI_Pumps&hash=item20cdef3f71

I think I paid about $60 for it in an ebay auction. It’s plenty
powerful enough for veneering and holding work down.

It’s a well known brand. Being 2 stage it probably pulls a high vacuum and not a lot of volume with a 1/2HP drive.
Don’t know exactly what you plan to do with it, but if you are plannig to do some vacuum bagging of laminated shapes, or veneering, it should work.
I have a similar pump for investment casting. You will need to get some vacuum pump oil for it.

-- Michael :-{| Diapers and politicians both need to be changed often; and for the same reason.

Uhh… it now says $1200.00 I think it must have changed.

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."

If you want to save some money, Veneer Supplies offer this rebuilt Rietschle-Thomas pump for $104. I bought one over 6 years ago and it still works fine. Check the customer reviews, there are a lot of happy owners.

-- I long for the days when Coke was a cola, and a joint was a bad place to be (Merle Haggard)