That's really rocking, Jerry. I take back all my comments on intermittent forepumps for this - if you're doing quick-turn evap, it just won't be in the picture. I did my evap by rewinding (adding a few turns) to a spot welding transformer, then controlling the AC HV side of that with a variac and SSR. The inrush current for tungsten boats is serious biz - 5 or 10 times the rated "running" current, depending on temps.
That can be awefully brutal to switch on the LV side...it's bad enough on the HV side! I tried a HW store dimmer first - fried it, bought a special 2kw one, it kinda worked, but the variac and switch were the best in the end.
I'll be puttling all that out again to use it soon myself. Fusors make a lot fewer X rays if the inside tank walls aren't as high-Z (stainless). I'll be putting down either Ti or Be for a thin coat (the Be has potential other advantages there...maybe). We're trying to get output of course, but I personally would like a low-rad diet, and prevention is kind of a neater way when you can do it.