boy’s toys 3 – tapered wooden plugs
For all those DIY sailors out there who have sworn and cursed every time they've struggled to get a flexible hose over a seacock, a toilet inlet or outlet connection, sink outlet or hosetail - then this could be the answer! I must confess that this isn't my idea but something I picked up from a very well respected shipwright here in Dartmouth who is now retired (thanks Dave).
As with most good ideas, you can see from the picture that the concept is rather simple. A tapered wooden plug that accommodates each size of hose that needs to be fitted. In use the hose is placed over the narrower end of the plug and heated gently with a heat gun so that you are able to slide the hose up sufficiently far to expand the hose to a diameter exceeding that of the fitting you are trying to fit the hose to. With this achieved and whilst the hose remains warm, all that needs to be done is to pull off the hose and then install it directly onto the fitting before the hose cools down sufficiently and contracts. Just the one word of warning - be patient and only use minimal heat so as not to change the characteristics of the hose material.
I appreciate that most of us don't have access to a lathe to turn the plugs but friends (thanks Trevor for ours) or a visit to a local college or school for a course in woodturning should do the trick.
As with most good ideas, you can see from the picture that the concept is rather simple. A tapered wooden plug that accommodates each size of hose that needs to be fitted. In use the hose is placed over the narrower end of the plug and heated gently with a heat gun so that you are able to slide the hose up sufficiently far to expand the hose to a diameter exceeding that of the fitting you are trying to fit the hose to. With this achieved and whilst the hose remains warm, all that needs to be done is to pull off the hose and then install it directly onto the fitting before the hose cools down sufficiently and contracts. Just the one word of warning - be patient and only use minimal heat so as not to change the characteristics of the hose material.
I appreciate that most of us don't have access to a lathe to turn the plugs but friends (thanks Trevor for ours) or a visit to a local college or school for a course in woodturning should do the trick.
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