<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:ns0="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 lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple> <div class=Section1> Hi Will,<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> What size are your end caps? Are you able to at least get the barbed diameter started on the hose, or is it more like trying to stretch a bicycle tire on the rim? If the latter, I doubt your success in making it work (at least not easily).<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I also use 1.5” fire hose (comes with some sort of rubberized inner sleeve), but trying to mate this hose with 1.5” end caps did not work at all. I found this out many years ago. The industry protocols of fire hose and related fittings do not necessarily match those of the plumbing industry. The end caps that worked for me are 1.25” stuff. I recently purchased more through Amazon (Genova #31814 1-1/4" White MPT Plug) at 0.92 cents each. <o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> My procedure is to butter up the barbs with gray plumbers putty (also acts as lube), then twist and hammer on the caps (dead blow) to the hoses. The use of large channel lock pliers also helped a great deal in “turning” them on. When they are pushed home and flush, the clamps are seriously tightened up. I recently did several of these without boiling water or special lubrication but with a bit of muscle. Fortunately I found that the use of colorful language and poetic flourishes was not required.<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> Ciao for now…<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> <div> Nick Gravagne, RPT<o:p></o:p> Piano Technicians Guild<o:p></o:p> Member Society Manufacturing Engineers<o:p></o:p> Voice Mail 928-476-4143<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> <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: Friday, October 03, 2008 6:12 PM To: '<st1:PersonName w:st="on">Pianotech List</st1:PersonName>' Subject: Fitting fire hose to barbs<o:p></o:p> </div> <o:p> </o:p> To the List:<o:p></o:p> <o:p> </o:p> I got my Nitrile rubber 1 ½” fire hose late this afternoon, and at the end of the day I cut my lengths and started playing with fitting the hose over the barbs of my end pieces.  The inner diameter is slightly smaller than the end of the barb.  Even with grease and wanging the barb around the inside of the end of the hose to stretch it a bit, it looks like it’s going to be a lot of work to get those suckers on – a lot of screaming, cursing, and gnashing of teeth.  I was hoping to secure a tool designed for this task at a hardware store, but there appears to be no such animal.  The suggestion of placing the hose end in very hot water was made to me, and I will try that tomorrow.  Does anyone who has experience doing this have any suggestions that I could use to make my life easier here?  <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>