Half Day Introduction to Vacuum Bagging
 
8.30am to 12.30pm
Saturday November 17
The Wood Play Studio
Level 2, 69 Charles Street
Coburg 3058
 
Ever wanted to get into vacuum bagging yet can’t find a way to start? Then check out this Half Day Vacuum Bagging Workshop with Peter Schwarzel.
 
Vacuum bagging is a very cool process and is a choice method of manufacture in the marine and composite manufacturing industries. It can be used to press veneers to surfaces uniformly and efficiently. It can be used to form complex shapes and making parts for all types of objects. Mastering vacuum bagging can expand your woodworking skill set exponentially!
 
About Vacuum Bagging
 
Like regular woodworking vacuum bagging is a process. Choose your substrate. Apply an adhesive and lay down the veneer or laminate. Place the job in a large plastic bag and then use a pump or venturi to extract the air from the bag allowing pressure bond the materials together as the adhesive cures. Vacuum bagging has two general applications:
 
Pressing veneers and laminates to a flat substrate such as plywood
Pressing layers of composites around a mould to create shapes and forms.
 
All this sounds relatively straight forward, yet for effective and reliable results, vacuum bagging requires a thorough understanding of all its technical and material considerations. 
 
About the Half Day Vacuum Bagging Workshop
 
This Half Day Vacuum Bagging Workshop presented by Peter Schwarzel is an informative hands-on workshop providing you with a detailed overview of adhesives and vacuum bagging techniques. The workshop is divided into four parts:
 
Adhesives
 
We start with adhesives, discussing the pro and cons of the many types of adhesives available and their application to vacuum bagging. We cover how to test a surface for its cleanliness and how to best apply adhesives. And to understand the performance of various adhesives, we will glue some test pieces togther and at the end of the workshop we will try and break them!
 
Forms and Vacuum
 
In this session we cover what features a form should have for vacuum bagging. You will learn what’s the best approach, placing the form in the bag, or attaching the bag to the form. We will have a close look at vacuum pumps and venturis, and what's best for you. We shall also form and glue a 3 ply veneer part and release it using rapid set epoxy and PU adhesive. During this session we will also learn how pressure can create steam in the bag. And learn how the saturation pressure of water and the vacuum bag may be utilised to dry timber.
 
Bags, Closures & Clamps
 
In this session we cover soft and hard bags, stretchy bags and even shopping bags. We will look at cauls and form plants. We will study and experiment with bagging tape, zippers and edge clamps. And let’s not forget bag breathers! We will also look at how to find leaks and how to solve other bagging challenges! 
 
Review
 
The workshop is finished off with a complete BIG REVIEW bringing us to the end of the days vacuum journey.
 
Key Learnings from the Workshop
 
By the end of this workshop, you will have gained a broad understanding of all the technical and material considerations of vacuum bagging. This workshop will also give you the confidence to get vacuum bagging for yourself by answering key questions around selecting the right adhesives for the task and how to use vacuum for clamping or moulding for effective and reliable results. Don’t miss this great experience, book your bench space today!
 
Who is Peter Schwarzel
 
Your workshop leader is engineer and digital manufacturer Peter Schwarzel. Peter has been gluing things together for over 45 years including yacht structures, furniture and musical instruments. Peter has also used his knowledge of advanced materials and digital manufacturing technologies to design bespoke machinery and light structures for the cycling, yachting and automotive industries. Based in Northern NSW, Peter now focuses on making CNC machine kits for makers through his business Tetra Motion. Come join Peter and allow him to guide you through vacuum bagging at the Wood Play Studio.
 
Tickets on sale now
 
Tickets to this Half Day Introduction to Vacuum Bagging Workshop with Peter Schwarzel are now on sale. Only 10 places available, book your bench space today and build your vacuum bagging skills!