Does anyone around the Atlanta area have some AC gauges or vacuum pump? I'm doing my AC system again, and would like to get a proper charge this time...

Anyone? I don't need the manifold anymore, just the vacuum pump.

Anyone? I don't need the manifold anymore, just the vacuum pump.

I took a compressor off an old freezer and was able to get 28" on my system with it. With a new drier, compressor and t/x valve all designed for R134A, I let it sit under 28" for 24 hours and never had a problem.

If you've got a shop compressor, you can probably get 28+ at the inlet. Just don't run it longer than you have to.

You can get the R134a pumps from www.harborfreight.com. You need a compressor but they do work very well and will pull down to 32 in vaccum in under 2 mins.

I'm sorry to be a naysayer, but there probably isn't a vacuum pump available (for less than $100,000.00 anyway) that will pull a vacuum of 32" Hg.

The best you can hope for with a commercial dual stage pump is 30" and these little compressor (venturi) type things that HFT and Northern sell will get down to about 27". (By the way, 27" isn't bad, but you need to hold the vacuum there --without any perceptible change-- for 24 hours instead of 1 hour with 29".)

I doubt that the shop compressor will suck enough from its inlet. A salvaged refrigeration compressor is a much better idea, in the absence of the proper tool.