Vacuum Sealing Jars 

simplest but the best ive seen diy vacuum pump in the whole youtube world. your a genius. ;)

I'm thinking the groove in the wood dowel for an o ring but also either dip the end of the brass tube in liquid rubber for sealing instead of using the rubber flat washer or use a piece of bicycle inner tube stretched over that end. you might even cut the dowel to 2 inches, drill in the middle put a threaded rod on it with a handle, drill another hole on the side of the dowel and put one of the electrical tape things you made on the top of it, then put a top on the brass tube to prevent the plunger from coming out. You're idea inspires more ideas! Thanks.

I used my shop Vac and a rubber gasket from a jar ring affixed to end of hose wand and to my surprise it worked, but then it needs electricity to work

a small one way valve from aquarium supplies can be mounted in the side of the cane tip. this will negate the need to lift the pump on the downstroke. just pump rapidly in and out.

Sometimes it just doesn't pay to try to reinvent the wheel

Bravo for this little video, it answered my needs spot on. I wanted to vacuum seal some paint, and maybe later do some short-term fridge storage. I was impressed with much of your technique and the simplicity of your electrician's tape as a 'valve'. One thing concerned me was that your experiment includes a vacuum gauge which would not normally be part of routine sealing - so one would not know just how effective was one's pumping. I am using a food vacuum sealer which has an integrated gauge, which means I do know the vacuum is good and I would recommend getting one to anybody - especially if you can pick a not-so-good machine second-hand on eBay.

Great video. Very creative on the pump. Instead of electrical tape for the check valve try silicone self fusing tape. I am pretty sure its the same material used on the commercial seals.

Interesting creative thinking. I enjoyed your video.

I think your shop vac would have worked if you had had a rubber seal at the end where the hose of the vac met the metal of the lid.

Works for me!

Interesting lecture, Mitch. Can we call you MacGyver now?

Hey this is great piece of advice. I'm trying to vacuum seal bottles for salsa but I want to use a V cork. Any ideas how to get this done?

Thank you, The link to the pump-n-seal is now at the bottom of the video description.

If you can get a second-hand stomach pumping syringe, they will hold about a quart.

Buy a Foodsaver vacuum sealer and save all the hassle.

Can't you heat the jars and lids. Then take them out of the oven and then add the food and then put the lid and the twist lid on? I think they should seal. Or maybe the heat will create moisture in the jars depending on the content?

How about MacMitchmiester?

Just buy a vacuum sealer

Nice video. Nice idea. Thanks