Hand pump for vacuum frame?

I just bought a beautiful 16x20 vacuum frame, and a small motor-driven pump for the suction. Now that I am looking at it, I wonder whether anyone has ever used a manual, hand-held pump for the vacuum. The amount of air to be evacuated is tiny -- it seems like the motor pump is overkill for the purpose.

My exposure times are under 30 seconds. I can see how a long exposure time would not be practical, but for periods of less than a minute, can handheld pumps do the job? If so, any recommendations for models and sources?

An automotive vacuum brake bleeder might work. For example; https://www.skf.com/mityvac/products/hand-vacuum-pressure-pumps/hand-pump-kits/mv8020

The mityvac is pretty much the original, there are a lot of similar ones in the market, including some that are bigger. The one I linked might struggle a bit to draw enough air from a 16x20 frame.

Back in the day I used my vacuum cleaner. Is there some reason you do not want to use the supplied vacuum pump motor? Paper is porous, you need to maintain a vacuum while you're focusing, etc.

Vacuum frames are designed for use in pre-press contacting applications were very tight contact is needed, usually between two films or a film and a lithography plate (the sort that is used in an offset printing press). The frame is pumped down to 14" of vacuum and the vacuum is held there for ~30 seconds unless you have a nuVac or other 'fast-draw' system. In their intended application the problem is that air trapped between two sheets of impermeable material has to diffuse out between the sheets - a bubble of air has no reason to move and can sit there being recalcitrant for a long while.

If you are contacting a negative to a porous medium, like photographic paper or Pt/Pd paper, then the pump-down is easier and faster. Also for contacting to a photographic print the register doesn't have to be all that precise.

So you may be able to use a small hand vacuum pump without problems.

If I may ask, what is the problem with using the vacuum pump that came with the frame?


Vacuum cleaner style pumps are used with vacuum easels and vacuum camera backs. They don't supply enough vacuum for a vacuum frame.

Nicholas Lindan said:

If I may ask, what is the problem with using the vacuum pump that came with the frame?

Click to expand...

None! It just seems like overkill and I like to simplify where possible.

Thanks, all, for the replies. I am grateful for the insights.

Back when I had a dark room and a 4x5 enlarger I used the vacuum frame to hold the paper down flat. I don't think you can find a normal print easel for 16x20 and larger.

There is a distinction between a vacuum frame and a vacuum easel - sometimes the terms are used interchangeably, leading to a small amount of confusion.

A vacuum frame consists of framed glass that hinges up over a gasketed rubber blanket. There is a hole in a corner of the blanket that attaches to a hose leading to a vane (Gast style) vacuum pump. A vacuum frame exerts 14 pounds/sq. inch of clamping force - about a ton per square foot. With the high clamping force and a vacuum between the exposed material the films are held in extremely intimate contact. There is no danger of breaking the glass with thicker materials, unlike a contact printing frame.

A vacuum easel is a shallow box with holes drilled in its upper surface every 1/2 inch or so. The box is attached to a vacuum cleaner type pump. The easel holds the paper flat with about 1-2 pounds/sq inch - which is plenty to hold film or paper flat. Vacuum easels are also used to hold the film in process cameras.

The small pump from a food vacuum sealer would probably work. Some have an additional port for small tubing. I see these at thrift stores all the time, usually with broken lock-down tabs but functional pumps.