This is the vacuum pump that Tim Cook and I designed and built for less than $20, we call it the "Cheap Little Sucker". It was so effective that EAI now supplys the plans with the Berkut kit. As you can see it is a very simple design. The big round black thing is a freon compressor off of a beer keg cooler. It was just junked, but a closer inspection revealed that the thermostat was the only thing that was wrong with the cooler. You can also use an automobile A/C compressor and an electric motor.

Remember: on the opposite side of a compressor IS a vacuum. Therefore, we put a compression fitting, a couple of 'T' fittings, a bleeder valve, and an automotive vacuum guage on the vacuum side of the compressor. Wired in a switch and away we went! It worked great! Very little noise, heat and capable of pulling 25+ inches of vacuum - what more could you ask for?

To take a look at the pump diagram click here. If you need more assistance, HERE is the text for the plans that were published in the Berkut newsletter.

Note: (If you choose to use a refrigeration unit for your pump, be sure to properly dispose of (or re-cycle) the freon in the system before you start. Do NOT just cut the lines and let the freon out. The last thing you want to do is damage the very atmosphere that you will fly through one day - hopefully it will still be there.)