Fluid bed cups

[jl3140]

I made a 3" fluid bed a few months ago and used coffee filters for the filter part at the bottom of the cup well several ended up tearing while I was painting so I decided to check around at what to use. I couldn't find too much information on it. I ended up finding a guy on eBay selling cups with a hard filter at the bottom so I bought one to see what the material actually is. I ended up purchasing a 2" cup and remaking my fluid bed to fit the 2" cup since the 3" was a bit too large for my liking. The cup arrived about a week ago and I have absolutely no idea what the filter material is. What do you guys use for filters on the bottom of your fluid bed cups?

[Kasilofchrisn]

I use knock out test caps.
Put it in your PVC then knock out the center circle and discard.
Remove the remaining ring put your membrane over the cup and replace the ring for a nice tight fit.
Coffee filters are not consistent in thickness so imho make lousy membrane.
My favorite is the outer material from vacuum cleaner bags.
You can also use brown paper bags,tyvek housewrap or post office onvelopes label side up.
Different types of paper can also be used.
The hard bottom stuff is fluidizing plate.
I bought some on EBAY awhile back and cut my own circles out. Then I hot glued them in my cups.
You can buy cups premade this way from Tj's tackle for all sizes.
3",2" and 1 1/2" cups.

[jl3140]

I'll have to try out the vacuum cleaner bag idea. I did not know that the hard bottom part is fluidizing plate, that makes it a lot easier to find now that I know the name. Thanks for the tips and advice!

[LipRipper84]

I made a 4"X4" plywood base with a groove I dremeled into it that is the dia. of the pipe then epoxied a short piece of pipe in the groove(with a hole in the side for an air supply) and attached a pvc union on top of the pipe.  I attached another short peice of pipe on top of the union for the paint to set in (just taller than a powder paint jar).  The pvc union will unscrew and there is a rubber gasket in the middle that makes a good seal.  I use a peice of 20# typing paper (cut to fit) for a membrane on top of the gasket.  Screw the union assembly back together dump in some paint, give it a shot of air and get to dippin'

The small piece of pvc in the base needs to be about 3" tall to give room for the aerorator fitting to fit snug in to.  I use a small air control valve to increase or decrease the air pressure as needed.  I have noticed that different paints will react to the same amount of air pressure differently

2" pvc union $8
2" pvc pipe $5
plywood base $.a few
air control fitting $5

This setup works good for me and its cheap and easy to make several for the price of one store bought fluid bed

Good luck and happy painting
                          LR

[simplycrappie]

The material i use is 1/8" fluidizing sheet that is cut to fit into a recessed groove in the cup it is very durable and will last indefinatly i have painted hundreds of thousands of jigheads and never have had any problems with any of my cups.

[jl3140]

The material i use is 1/8" fluidizing sheet that is cut to fit into a recessed groove in the cup it is very durable and will last indefinatly i have painted hundreds of thousands of jigheads and never have had any problems with any of my cups.

simply crappie, where did you purchase the fluidizing sheet? Anywhere I've seen it's crazy expensive. Also, how did you cut it to fit the cup?