Suction Cups?

[Jessica Germiller]

Hello all...I believe something was mentioned in the 'rigs' discussion about this...but i figured I would start a new thread for it.

Has anyone ever had bad luck with suction cups? i.e. Dents, scratches, etc...
If so-how did it happen??

my partner and I have 3 suction cups and we have used them about 10 times and havn't caused any damage yet
**knock on wood** but I was just wondering if it has happened and how??

Also...does anyone know where to get the SMALL suction cups? I'm having a hard time getting some, not sure how small-just smaller than the 6-inch ones. Thanks in advance:)


p.s. just to be clear i am talking about the vacume pump suction cups


-Jess

[Brian Falvey]

try here....good selection
http://www.anver.com/document/vacuum%20components/vacuum%20cups/cups-flat.htm

[John Jovic]

I've had the 6" Manfrotto/Bogen suction cups
( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=206012&is=REG&addedTroughType=search ) scuff/scratch paint surface, but nothing that couldn't be buffed out. They are just too stiff for paint, but are fantastic on glass.

The 4.5" Woods Power grip cups ( http://cinemasupplies.stores.yahoo.net/succupmoun.html ) have a tendancy to deform the clear on a paint finish so that when you remove the suction cup you can see the shape of the cup "indented" in the paint. It's visible on dark surfaces more than light ones. It goes away after a few hours. Woods is an American company, Im sure they have many distributors who sell their suction cups to the glass industry.

Have a look at this;

http://www.powrgrip.com/cgi-bin/powrgrip/product_info_downloads.html

If you are careless then you could easilly dent a panel if you put the cup on a spot which has little strenght or if you simply put too much stress on it.

JJ

[Drew Phillips]

The only time I've had trouble is when it was very hot out, around 105 degrees, and the suction cup formed a ring in the soft paint. Other than that I've never had a problem.

[Justin Libano]

I try to keep these OFF the paint and on glass. They actually do work better on the glass as noted above by John Jovic

[Brian Lalor]

In the case of paint deformation, how long were the suction cups attached to the painted surface before you saw the ring?

[Morgan J Segal]

Yes, I put a big dent in my own car experimenting, but I was pushing the limits of the equipment

[John Jovic]

In the case of paint deformation, how long were the suction cups attached to the painted surface before you saw the ring?

Can't really remember any specific instance but typically you might have suction cups attached for at least 10 minutes, maybe lots longer. It seems to affect the "clear" rather than the paint. I've noticed that it doesn't seem to happen if the paint doesn't have a clear coat.

Most paints (or clears) are actually quite soft and that's why the vacuum can deform them. As I said, it seems to go away on it's own.

JJ