Vacuum Pump/Compressor Question for chuck

[Renoj]

Hi,

This may be an obvious question but my knowledge of the subject is scarce.

Was looking up vacuum pumps and the double piston style attached came up quite a lot.

It is sometimes sold as a vacuum pump/compressor and I noticed that it looks exactly like what is on top of my compressor. Is it the same thing? Can I use the inlet as a vacuum?

edit: I took the inlet filter off and put some sandpaper over the hole and it does make a vacuum but I’m nervous it may ultimately mess up the valves?

 

[ArferMo]

Yes you can use the air inlet of both piston and diaphragm compressors as a vacuum source. I wrote a piece for 'Practical Woodworking' in the 80s describing just that. The only precaution is to use a vacuum filter on the inlet.

The only proviso is that there is no storage tank on the compressor. For those it might be better adding a venturi device to creat a vacuum from an air flow.

Vacuum Filter I/2" BSP inlets

Edit: I seem to remember testing a strange Black and Decker compressor that used a diaphragm and couldn't get it to work pulling a vacuum. I think it needed a check valve on the inlet side but I never explored further. Google 'Pneumatic check valve' to locate one.