The hand operated vacuum pump is made of a durable polychloroethylene plastic. It is designed for pulling a partial vacuum, of up to 500 mm Hg, on small closed systems of about 600 ml or less. Each pump of the handle displaces 15ml in volume. A vacuum gauge on the pump reads in both Pascals (0.1-0 MPa) and mm of Hg (760-0 mm Hg) to indicate actual vacuum. A quick-release valve provides vacuum release without disconnecting the pump.