If you have a compressed air supply, you could use a venturi type vacuum generator.
I used these at work a few years ago to create vacuum in a system to draw fluid through a filter. Company name is Secomak, though they supply this through a sub company...
http://www.beck-air.com/PneuPower/tabid/82/Default.aspxThe unit (on this page) is a "pneu power type B" can create -1.0 bar vacuum (the particular application I used this for was a 205 litre stainless stainless steel drum of which it could evacuate 205 litres to -0.6 bar vacuum in around 8 seconds using a 7 bar main compressed air pressure.
Worth a thought if you want something with a bit of poke.

There are only 2 tools in life: Gaffa tape and WD40. If it moves and shouldn't, use the gaffa tape, if it doesn't move and should, use the WD40.