The kit is designed for laminating custom skateboards using skateboard molds. It can also be used to for woodworking projects such as bows, furniture parts, paddles, etc.

The kit can be re-used many times, and with a little care and maintenance, can last for hundreds of pressings.

How to use this product:

• Insert your glued veneers (and shape to be moulded) into the heavy-duty vinyl vacuum bag
• Position the breather netting under the valve
• Seal the bag
• Connect the pump and extract the air out
• Wait for you project to dry in the press
• Watch as it generates enough pressure to press 7, 8 or even 9 layers of maple into a 3-dimensionally shaped project.
• Before you glue your veneers, a dry run is highly recommended!

Is this reusable, and for how many times?

The kits are designed to be used many many times. With a little care and maintenance, the kits will last for years.

Will the glue stick to the bag?

PVA glue and epoxy will not stick to the bag. Any dried glue can be loosened with fingers and either shaken or blown out with a shop vac.

How many projects can I press at once?

One project at a time. You are limited by how fast your glue dries. Once you start spreading water-based glue on the veneer sheets, you have about 7 minutes to get them pressed before the glue dries. Dry glue will not bond together.

How can I get the air out faster?

These larger bags have a lot of air in them at the start. A quick way to remove most of the air is to remove the top cap of the grey valve and hover a vacuum hose over the valve. Much of the air can be removed however vacuum cleaners are high volume but low pressure so they will not generate the pressure required to press a deck. Quickly reattach the cap onto the valve and finish the high pressure pumping using the handpump.

Why not use an electric pump system?

Because this is easier! The valves are designed to work with the manual pumps supplied. The beauty of these one-way valves is that the pump does not need to be hooked up for the entire time the project is drying in the bag. The bag remains air tight, so that you dont need an electric pump. Once a project is pressed, it can be set aside while you go onto other pressings.

Do the valves leak?

While many people assume air is leaking back through the valve, they are made of cast rubber and almost never leak. The most common problem with slow leakage is the open-end seal tape. If the seal is not properly closed up (check both sides) you will lose vacuum. If the top cap of the valve is not compromised with dust and debris, the valve will not leak.

What is a Dry Run and why should I do that?

It means to press your project in the bag, without putting any glue on the veneer sheets. Stack the dry sheets of veneer over the mold, seal them into the press with the breather netting in place, and pump the air out. Check for 10 minutes to make sure the TAP bag is not leaking. This will help you become familiar with the process before you commit glue to your veneer sheets.

Package contents:

• Vacuum bag 660 x 715 mm
• Hand vacuum pump
• Sealing tape
• Adhesive net: plastic net that ensures the bag is emptied evenly
• Connector for pump
• Manual