<html xmlns:v="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:vml" xmlns:o="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" xmlns:w="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:word" xmlns:st1="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/TR/REC-html40" xmlns:ns1="http://schemas.microsoft.com/office/2004/12/omml"> <head> <meta http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name=Generator content="Microsoft Word 11 (filtered medium)"> <o:SmartTagType namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="PersonName"/>  <style>  </style>  </head> <body bgcolor=white lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Maybe not a bull’s eye but be sure to stay out of the line of fire. <grin> I think we only went up to 100psi on leak tests (not that we use near that much for pressing.) We also used a rubber gasket between the fire hose and the end caps to give more grip (they really wanted to slide out of the synthetic fire hose!) You’ve definitely embarked on an adventure! Making the curved cauls and the backing braces proved interesting too. It’s quite a bit of pressure over the distance of a long rub.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Allan<o:p></o:p> Allan L. Gilreath, RPT<o:p></o:p> </div> <div> <div class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'> <hr size=2 width="100%" align=center tabindex=-1> </div> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Will Truitt Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2008 3:18 PM To: '<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName>' Subject: RE: hose for belly press<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Thanks to Ron, Dale, and Allan here for sharing their experiences and materials regarding belly press hose.  I will see if I can find a reasonably local supplier for fire hose – I hadn’t considered that aspect.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Ouch!!  Oomph!  Urnhh!   That’s the sound of me kicking myself in the butt for buying cheap crap from Home Depot for $30.  I took the hoses apart today, and the rubber hose had already permanently expanded to a larger diameter after only a couple of inflations to 40 PSI, and clearly the markings of the hose clamps meant it wouldn’t last long anyway.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I can give myself a little pat on the back though.  None of the end caps at any of the fittings leaked – only the hose itself.  I did spend good money and didn’t chintz on those items, and put them together very carefully with the Teflon tape and severe tightening.  So, with the right hose, I think I’ll be in good shape.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Allan – should I set up a bulls-eye across the room and get in a  little target practice?  None of mine shot across the room when I was testing.  Now I’m disappointed.  <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Will Truitt<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> <div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'> From: pianotech-bounces@ptg.org [mailto:pianotech-bounces@ptg.org] On Behalf Of Allan Gilreath, RPT Sent: Saturday, September 27, 2008 12:06 PM To: <st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName> Subject: Re: hose for belly press<o:p></o:p> </div> </div> <o:p> </o:p> Good afternoon Will, As you've seen, firehose seems to work best for most of us. I've pressed quite a few boards with mine now and, although I keep changing other aspects of the design, the firehose works great. I use pvc end caps with multiple hose clamps around them. On the end that connects to the air supply we use a pvc end cap with a Legris bulkhead fitting. This allows for a self-sealing attachment to a 4mm supply line with tee junctions. This way we can spread up glue and clamp one rib at a time. The 4mm hose allows for a relatively slow fill and release the pressure. Another nice thing about it is that you can even use a hemostat to clamp off a section. I leave mine pressed overnight and connected to the compressor just in case there are any leaks. In coming up with system to seal off the ends of the hose, we actually shot a couple of the end caps across the shop so be cautious with the setup. We got the hose as the cut-offs from a local fire equipment supplier since the lengths that we need are so short. Hopefully this will help get you started. Allan Allan Gilreath, RPT Will Truitt wrote: <o:p></o:p> To the bellymen on Pianotech Forum:<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I have built a set of cauls for gluing ribs to the panel using air pressure.  I discovered yesterday that the 1 �” rubber hose that I bought from Home Depot is most decidedly not ready for prime time – no matter how much I tighten the hose clamps on the hose at the ends, air still bleeds out at an alarming rate (easy to see when you inflate the hose and stick the end into a pail of water).  After discussion by phone yesterday with Jude Reveley, I am confident that the material is inadequate.  Pressure ratings aside, it simply is not substantial enough to resist the air pressure.  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Jude has recommended a ribbed nitrile/PVC hose, which is what he is using in his setup with good success.  I am looking for a source for such that I can quickly order it online, hopefully in smaller quantities.  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> I would also consider other hose materials that our bellymen are using with good success and reliability.  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Thanks in advance for anything you share<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> Will Truitt<o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p>  <o:p></o:p> </div> </body> </html>