MiniMach Vacuum Woodworking Bench

"M.POWER's MiniMach

Wood. You can rout it. You can sand it. You can carve it. You can plane it. But how do you hold it? Especially those aggravating small pieces? M.POWER's MiniMach really helps.

The MiniMach is a 13- by 24-in. vacuum fixture that holds your work without the obstruction of clamps. Using a vacuum to hold your workpiece has several advantages. For one thing, you won't have to work around clamps, stopping and starting the tool while repositioning everything. If you're working on a lot of parts, this really speeds up the process. In addition, you don't have to worry about clamp marks.

The only assembly the MiniMach requires is screwing the gate valve and tapered hose adapter into the bottom of the device. Then you simply slip your shop vacuum hose onto the taper, turn on the vacuum, and you're in business. Suction is turned on and off by the gate valve. Set the MiniMach on a flat surface and open the gate valve. This attaches the device to your benchtop. When you set your workpiece onto the top, the spring-loaded ball valves open. The pressure of your workpiece will open only those valves beneath it, so that suction is applied only to the area directly under your workpiece.

You must keep a few things in mind in order for all of this to work. The bench you are seating the MiniMach to must be fairly flat. The gaskets only make up for small irregularities. When I used the device on my melamine-topped workbench, it didn't move a bit. If your bench isn't flat, make up a mounting board. Your workpiece must also be flat, and can't be rough sawn. Your workpiece must also cover one or more cells. The smallest cell is 2-1/2 by 4 in., so even the smallest of pieces will cover a cell.

I used the MiniMach to rigidly hold workpieces for planing, belt sanding, and routing. Even template routing worked with no slipping. I used pieces as small as 3 by 4 in. and as large as 48 by 48 in. When working on pieces larger than the MiniMach itself (13 by 24 in.), though, you need to provide a spacer on the bench to help support the end. Solid wood and manufactured materials were held equally well, as long as the material was flat.

The MiniMach requires the high static pressure found in shop vacuums, and will not work with a dust collector. The manufacturer recommends a vacuum with a 1.5 hp or greater motor. The tapered adapter fits hoses with an internal diameter of 1 to 1-3/8 in. Vents in the adapter prevent the shop vacuum from being completely choked off. This is necessary so your vacuum won't overheat. Even with the vents, the manufacturer recommends you use the device in 30-minute stretches, allowing the vacuum to cool off for 10 minutes between uses.

Don't own a shop vacuum? Another way you can create a suitable vacuum for the MiniMach is by using a venturi or rotary-vane pump. The engineers at M.POWER can help you with the specs to set these up.

One drawback to the MiniMach is having to listen to your shop vacuum. If you're routing, you're probably wearing hearing protection already. But if I'm hand planing, the last thing I want is the noise of my power tools.

As you work with the MiniMach, be careful with the gaskets. If they tear, you won't have the seal you need. Replacement gasket material is provided in case you need to make a patch.

PROS:
Good holding power
No need for awkward clamping
Speeds up repetitive operations

CONS:
Must listen to the noise of shop vacuum
[NB can be run off a venturi though for less noise] Bench and material must be very flat

Bottom Line:
The MiniMach is a simple and effective tool for vacuum clamping. It's useful for machining multiple parts, like routing a whole kitchen full of door and drawer fronts, without wasting time moving clamps. It works.