BTW, you don't need Joe Woodworker's vacuum press to perform vacuum bagging. Folks have been vacuum bagging for years with just a vacuum pump. The press just cycles on and off refilling PVC chambers, which are actually supplying the vacuum. A pump would just run continuously. His site goes into all the details and trade-offs. You could get off much cheaper by just buying a refurbished pump from him, a filter, and a few fittings. You could also check Craig's list. Just don't buy an oil-filled pump intended for HVAC or you'll fill your shop with a fine mist of oil-filled exhaust.

I used a pump with a few valves and hoses for a couple of years. Switching to the JoeWoodworker setup with the reservoirs made things a lot smoother, since the vacuum pulls down almost instantly once yo open the valve.
I also think it's easier on the pump to cycle than run continuously for hours, though this may not be correct.