Shop vacs max pressure is rated in inches of water. A vacuum pump is measured in PSIG. Most good shop vacs can pull 70 - 100" of water, or about 3 PSI (negative). That's a huge difference from a vacuum pump at -25 PSI. Of course, the vacuum pump can only pull a few CFM...

: I'm using a shop vac. It actually sucked more than the small vacuum pump.

: I don't think it probably draws more than 10-15". 25" might even be
: too much--you might consider putting in a small needle valve to let off
: some of the vacuum pressure.

: Pictures are at the developer's. I don't think I'll have them done and
: scanned before the West Coast Rendezvous, so it will be a week. If you're
: going to be at the Rendezvous, I can show you the blades in person!

: Vacuum bagging wood into the laminate sounds really neat. I'd love to do a
: blade with bird's eye maple in it! Or, maybe nice bookmatched figured
: veneers on either side of the centerline.

: 1/2" curve shouldn't be much of a problem (especially if you have no
: compound curvature). If you do have a compound curve, the vacuum will
: handle it, but your wood might split.

: Shawn