My name is Jim and I want to report several things about my new manual pump experience.
As you may have guessed I just received mine so after reading the directions I started to put it together.
The first thing I noticed as I looked into the cylinder was that I could not see all the way through. The small hole in the very end where the hose hooks on was filled with plastic sanding debris from the production process. The plastic got heated while sanding and some debris got stuck plugging the air passage hole. A small drill bit removed it.
Then I went to put the air hose on that same nipple and try the vacuum on my hand as recommended. I could not get the hose on because that same surface had more plastic shards on the outside edge and the edge was square. I picked up a scalpel and put a small bevel on the plastic tube nipple. I went one step further and put a bevel on the inside edge of the hose. At least I was able to get the hose on far enough to stay and hold vacuum. It is my opinion that the nipple on the cylinder is just a little large for that hose and I would like to recommend the nipple be reduced. The hose fits the pump just fine but of course the hose nipple is smaller there.
I then picked up the 2 cylinder rings and decided the smaller of the 2 was the right size for me. I ran my finger all over it. It appears a 2 piece mold is used to form these. The outside and most of the throat are very smooth and friendly to tender skin. Some kind of mold miss match occurred when my parts were molded. Both have a lip or ringed edge where the mold is not an exact match and a little extra rubber makes a bump or ridge at the match line and where it would touch any users skin and scrape as the skin moves through even with lubrication.
I pulled out a round wood rasp and worked all of that ridge off the small red ring. Once I had basic shape I picked up some fresh sand paper and starting at 80 grit worked the rubber down to 400 grit using a sanding dowel for a backer rod to support the paper and keep things even. Now that surface is fared in and very smooth.
Thanks for hearing me out. I am pleased with this purchase and these things are minor but worth comment. Please take a look at these areas and get back to me as feedback is always welcome.
Respectfully Yours
Jim
NOTE: I sent the above message privately to Steve on 14 June 2010 because I wanted to give the supplier an opportunity to fix the problems and respond.
As you may have guessed I just received mine so after reading the directions I started to put it together.
The first thing I noticed as I looked into the cylinder was that I could not see all the way through. The small hole in the very end where the hose hooks on was filled with plastic sanding debris from the production process. The plastic got heated while sanding and some debris got stuck plugging the air passage hole. A small drill bit removed it.
Then I went to put the air hose on that same nipple and try the vacuum on my hand as recommended. I could not get the hose on because that same surface had more plastic shards on the outside edge and the edge was square. I picked up a scalpel and put a small bevel on the plastic tube nipple. I went one step further and put a bevel on the inside edge of the hose. At least I was able to get the hose on far enough to stay and hold vacuum. It is my opinion that the nipple on the cylinder is just a little large for that hose and I would like to recommend the nipple be reduced. The hose fits the pump just fine but of course the hose nipple is smaller there.
I then picked up the 2 cylinder rings and decided the smaller of the 2 was the right size for me. I ran my finger all over it. It appears a 2 piece mold is used to form these. The outside and most of the throat are very smooth and friendly to tender skin. Some kind of mold miss match occurred when my parts were molded. Both have a lip or ringed edge where the mold is not an exact match and a little extra rubber makes a bump or ridge at the match line and where it would touch any users skin and scrape as the skin moves through even with lubrication.
I pulled out a round wood rasp and worked all of that ridge off the small red ring. Once I had basic shape I picked up some fresh sand paper and starting at 80 grit worked the rubber down to 400 grit using a sanding dowel for a backer rod to support the paper and keep things even. Now that surface is fared in and very smooth.
Thanks for hearing me out. I am pleased with this purchase and these things are minor but worth comment. Please take a look at these areas and get back to me as feedback is always welcome.
Respectfully Yours
Jim
NOTE: I sent the above message privately to Steve on 14 June 2010 because I wanted to give the supplier an opportunity to fix the problems and respond.