DIY Vacuum Pump-27 Easy To Do Projects You Can Build On A Budget

Creating a DIY vacuum pump can be surprisingly useful for various tasks at home or in your workshop. I remember the time I decided to make one for myself. It was fascinating to learn that these homemade pumps can generate much stronger suction power compared to regular vacuum cleaners or shop vacuums.

The great thing about DIY vacuum pumps is that you can make them using recycled parts, like an old air compressor. I scavenged parts from different places, like thrift stores, garage sales, and even my own attic and basement. It felt like a treasure hunt, finding the perfect pieces to put together for my project.

With a DIY vacuum pump, you can do tasks like suctioning up tiny particles or removing gases from sealed containers. I found it particularly handy for some science experiments I was doing at home. Plus, the satisfaction of building something useful from recycled materials was really rewarding.

If you’re interested in trying your hand at making a DIY vacuum pump, you can check out guides and projects online, just like the list I prepared. There are plenty of interesting and easy-to-follow projects out there waiting for you to explore and try out.

1- Home Distillery Vacuum Pump

Home-brewers need to degas their alcohol product and a DIY vacuum pump by homebrewtalk can do the job with ease. Get these detailed instructions that will provide step by step photos to show you how to create the DIY vacuum chamber and pump that will safely and quickly distill your homebrew.

2- DIY Vacuum Chamber

Learn how to build a DIY vacuum chamber like in this Youtube Video I am discussing with you to use for degassing epoxy. People who are involved in DIY projects that use epoxy or silicone often have the need to degas the products before using and this easy DIY vacuum pump can do the job.

This vacuum chamber and pump are small and lightweight so it is easy to transport if your DIY projects take place away from home.

3- Venturi Style DIY Vacuum Pump

I recommend this diy vacuum pump to beginners or those who have a small budget and needs. Using two liquids that create the vacuum power and spending less than $25, you can use these pictorial instructions for building a small vacuum pump by makezine that is surprisingly powerful.

4- DIY Air Pump

Convert a refrigerator air compressor in a homemade vacuum chamber like this one by motherearthnews that is capable of blowing air in or sucking air out. In under an hour, you can create this DIY vacuum pump that can inflate a tire or evacuate a pipeline.

5- Windsurfing Power

DIY air vacuum pump by seabreeze can do so much more than just assist you with things that must be done, these handy devices are useful during play and hobby time too. Check this idea out I have included in my list to discover how to make a vacuum pump that will provide power for windsurfing.

6- 12V Air Compressor Conversion

When does a 12V air compressor transform into a vacuum pump? When you follow these plans and create diy hand vacuum pump like this one by avdweb from it.

7- DIY Vacuum  Chamber

Transform a few household objects and a garden hose into a powerful vacuum chamber by instructables. Perfect for degassing fluids for mold-making.

8- Manual DIY Vacuum Pump

What I like the most in this brilliant idea is, four cheap items that you probably have on hand is all that’s needed to make this functional manual vacuum pump like this one by avs. Easy to read PDF file will teach you to create this pump in just a few minutes.

9- Cheap DIY Vacuum Chamber

A recycled fridge compressor is the main component of this efficient vacuum pump. Learn how to make a vacuum chamber in this youtube video that has great detail so you will not miss a step in the building process.

This vacuum pump is mounted on wood along with a container to make degassing of products very convenient. Ideal for serious crafters and the recycled parts make it inexpensive to build.

10- Bicycle DIY Vcuum Pump

Recycle an old bicycle tire pump into a diy hand vacuum pump with this idea by paksc. Easy to follow instructional video will walk you through the DIY process and you’ll end up with a functional and practical vacuum pump for minimal expense.

11- Electric DIY Vacuum Pump

Little and powerful, this DIY electric vacuum pump by berkut13 has been referred to as the ‘cheap little sucker’. Easy to build at a minimal cost, this sucker can handle all of your vacuum needs for crafts and similar endeavors.

12- Tire Inflator Vacuum Pump

A tire inflator can easily be converted into a DIY vacuum pump by instructables with a simple switch of the hoses. Place the hose on the input side for sucking air in rather than having the hose on the output side where the air is blown out.

Mini vacuum pumps that you create run much quieter than commercially built models and they do the job just as well.

13- Aquarium Pump Into A Vacuum Pump

An old aquarium pump is easy to recycle into a homemade vacuum pump like this one by instructables with these detailed instructions. Aquarium pumps are designed to blow air out and create circulation for water, reverse the valves and you can create a pump that sucks in instead of blowing out.

The resulting pump is quiet, efficient, and powerful. These instructions can be used to transform other pumps that are similar to aquarium pumps too. You may also like to check out DIY water pumps.

14- Fridge Compressor DIY Vacuum Pump

An old refrigerator that still has a good compressor is a gold mine. Remove the compressor and follow these detailed instructions for making a vacuum pump by instructables.

15- Recycled Refrigerator Vacuum Pump

Extra parts from a discarded refrigerator can be recycled into a functional vacuum pump for under $30. A length of PVC pipe and a few other components will be needed for the transformation, but the resulting DIY vacuum chamber by labonthecheap and pump will work spectacularly.

A discarded dehumidifier will work if you do not have an old refrigerator to use for this DIY project.

16- Fridge Compressor Vacuum Pump

An old non-working fridge still contains valuable components that can be used for many DIY projects, including building a vacuum pump by homemadetools.

The compressor can be recycled into the main component of a DIY vacuum chamber so you can create a DIY tool that will assist you in many workshop projects. This easy to follow video will show you how to build a vacuum pump with recycled fridge parts.

17- DIY Vacuum Pump For Men

This DIY vacuum pump by aiclegal is for men only, but female DIYers may want to build one for their partner. Instead of being embarrassed going into an adult shop and buying a penis pump, or ordering an expensive one online, use these plans to build your own.

The pump is inexpensive to build and easy to customize to the exact size needed.

18- Electric DIY Vacuum Pump Under 10$

Watch this YouTube video to discover how to convert a $10 air compressor into a high draw vacuum pump. Ideal for use by hunters or gardeners for food preservation, or school science experiments.

This powerful diyvacuum pump on Youtube will remove all the air from a container so food can be frozen without fear of freezer burn. This YouTube video provides a demonstration at the end showing viewers how the electric vacuum pump can suck all the air out of a plastic water bottle.

19- Degassing DIY Vacuum Chamber

This one has many uses around the home workshop and is ideal for degassing epoxy, paint, and more. It is a simple build that starts with a small box constructed from plywood and coated with body filler, silicone sealant and paint to make it airtight.

A YouTube instructional video is embedded into this website so you can watch the building process and make yourself one of these handy degassing homemade vacuum chambers by hackaday.

20- DIY Vacuum Pump For Paint

When you need the paint to pass through all the layers of the item, then this is the vacuum pump you should build. When you need a liquid to pass all the way through a solid, suction power is the way to make that happen and this DIY vacuum pump by tdpri has the power to do it.

21- Bicycle Homemade Vacuum Pump

Use these instructions to create a diy vacuum pump by instructables from an old bicycle tire pump. Ideal for those living off-grid and need non-electric methods of getting work done. This bicycle vacuum pump can be used to squeeze out resin or other liquid, to apply force to laminated wood, and many other uses around the homestead. Cheap and easy to build, plus it is lightweight and portable.

22- DIY Vacuum Pump Tweezers

Use this idea and instructions to create yourself a diy vacuum pump tweezer by aonomus from a recycled aquarium pump. There is always a need for this type of tweezers when you are working with small parts. Ideal for the hobby craft person or jewelry maker.

23- DIY Mini Vacuum Pump

This design is a multi-purpose, manually-operated diy mini pump by instructables made from a balloon pump. It has enough suction power to remove air from food containers and to do other small tasks. Cheap, lightweight and easy to make mini pump is a great way to recycle that old balloon pump.

24- Silicone Degassing Vacuum Pump

Learn how to build a high powered vacuum pump in this youtube video for degassing silicone. Simple to make and easy to use, reviews state this powerful vacuum pump pulls all the bubbles out of silicone.

25- 12V DIY Vacuum Pump

Learn how to create a powerful 12V diy vacuum pump in this Youtube Video using a recycled air compressor from a car. Easy and inexpensive to build, plus the pump is compact and lightweight making it easy to transport.

26- DIY Vacuum Pump Chamber

These detailed instructions deal with the three main problems of building a DIY vacuum pump chamber by instructables – the right type of materials to use for the base, the heat that is generated and creating the perfect vacuum seal.

All three of these problems are addressed and answered on this website and results is a powerful diy vacuum chamber that will bond metal to glass.

27- DIY Vacuum Press

If you are a woodworker, a vacuum press on a Youtube is a needed tool that will enable you to bond wood veneer and work with exotic wood types. Instead of paying a lot of money for a ready-made vacuum press, make your own cheaply with these plans.

Conclusion

Now you have multiple DIY vacuum pumps or chambers to build your own vacuum pump. Select from any of  these vacuum pumps that you find easy to build and are within your budget. Hope my round of diy vacuum pumps will help you in your decision to build one for yourself.

References:

Research Gate, February 2021International Journal of Engineering and Advanced Technology, “Production, Measurement and Applications of Vacuum Systems”, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349803281_Production_Measurement_and_Applications_of_Vacuum_Systems

AIP Publishing, Research Article, July 14 2023, Volume 2787, Issue 1, “High viscosity paraffinic oil preparation for vacuum pump”, https://pubs.aip.org/aip/acp/article-abstract/2787/1/040016/2902454/High-viscosity-paraffinic-oil-preparation-for?redirectedFrom=fulltext

Science Direct, Agricultural-and-biological-sciences, “Vacuum Pump Capacity”, Volume 1, by P.Billion..R> Diaz in Encyclopedia of Dairy Sciences (Third Edition), 2016, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/agricultural-and-biological-sciences/vacuum-pump