Because the fumes from solvents can eventually kill the pump, we preferred
to use an in-house water vacuum on a water outlet (attached to your water
faucet).   It was wonderful, no fumes, just work with dessicators in the
hood, once lid is on, move to vacuum OR we liked a Nalgene hand pump - the
larger variety.  It worked quite nicely on with smaller dessicators. The
dessicators could be moved outside hood UNLESS they are O-ring that expand
with exposure to solvents (xylene, methacrylate) then they stayed in the
hood.  Beware of using a dessicator that needs "greasing" on the ground
glass surfaces, these can lock up like concrete, so release and clean these
surfaces daily and regrease, NOT with silicon grease!  Use Lubriseal, much
easier to clean off with acetone or even xylene (wear gloves). 



At 03:00 PM 1/29/02 -0800, you wrote:
>I need to set up a vac. pump inside an over-crowded hood for
>infiltrating specimens.
>
>2 questions:
>
>Where can I buy the world's smallest vac. pump?
>
>What is the minimum vac. setting I would need to effectively infiltrate
>specimens of bone and soft tissue (in one piece) about 1cm x 3cm?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Trisha
>U of Washington, Seattle
>
>
>
>
>
Gayle Callis
MT,HT,HTL(ASCP)
Histopathology Supervisor
Veterinary Molecular Biology - Marsh Lab
Montana State University - Bozeman
19th and Lincoln St
Bozeman MT 59717-3610

406 994-6367
406 994-4303 (FAX)