Hello friends of the putz. As most of you know I published a couple of tutorial sheets on ways to replace and repair broken windows and doors on our vintage putz houses. WE all know that trying to replace need doors and windows are an absolute pain trying to do it from the light hole in the back. Other than that I suggested that you break the house off the base "RIP THEIR HEADS OFF", a techniques developed by our very own LES. I then came up with "THE SUPER SECRET METHOD", a little time consuming but you can keep your sanity. After years of thinking about a solution I always toyed with the idea of using a vacuum with suction cups that would hold the Cellophane in place while you position the piece. I knew I was onto something but my first attempts were cumbersome. First I jury rigged a small shop vac. (see picture) Noise, dusty and awkward, not to mention way to powerful! Then I tried to cut down the power by using a large volume syringe. I had some success but it was a two person job, a real pain. Then one day I was talking to an engineer friend of mine and ask him if he might have a solution to this problem. As I demonstrated my preliminary efforts he just laughed and asked me why I want to rediscover the wheel? Confused I asked him what that's suppose to mean? He pulled out his smart phone and google this thing called a Vacuum Pen. I present you with the "WindoVac"! Of course I threw my own label on it for fun and future.

The WindoVac has a suction cup that once damped will hold a cellophane cell in place until the glue sets. This works by either pushing the Cel through the window/door opening then pulling it into position. The WindoVac also works by suctioning the back of the Cel and pushing it through the back lighting hole. Rubber cement works the best. First by putting a layer of rubber cement on the inside of the opening, then a thin layer of glue on the face of the Cel. I designed a tool called "THE PADDLE" for applying the cement easily from the front. Suck up the Cel and from the front or the back pull/push your piece into the desired location. TahDa!

The WindoVac work by pressing and holding the large button, that pushes all the air out of it's bladder. Then you dampen the suction cup and place it on the Cel and release the button. This creates the vacuum needed to hold the Cel. When you have the piece in it's proper position you just release the button and that breaks the suction. TahDa! It takes just a little practice but this works great most of the time. Please feel free to let me know the pros and cons of this tool. Thank you.

Pete...

Another genius idea!...Sorta reminds me of the suction paper feed pickup on an offset press...if i remember correctly...

Howard...

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