SOLVED: Help! Fire Hose for Bow Form

[tsriberio]

Got my limbs all glued up last night and in the form. Went to sleep and woke up to a deflated fire hose. I think my glue up is shot...

Please review the pics and tell me if I am doing something wrong! The hose plugs are Big Jims. Not saying that to ascribe fault, I just don't know if there are any tricks to using the plugs.

[Bowjunkie]

I'm not familiar with his plugs, so I can't tell if they're installed correctly, but just for future reference, test them in advance. You can submerge the ends in a bucket of water to look for leaks, and inflate it and leave it overnight to make sure it holds air. Next time maybe do the glue up earlier in the day so you can monitor it. I check on mine regularly for several hours, then shut the box off and go to bed, leaving it to cool until the next day.

Did you cure it with heat or was the glue up done at room temp? If you used heat and your hose held air for the first few hours, it might be fine.

[Crooked Stic]

X2 on bowjunkies post.

[Robertfishes]

if the plug is hourglass shaped then you need a clamp in center or smallest part of the plug. I think looking at you picture that the clamp furthest from end might not be in the thinnest part of the plug if the plug is hourglass shaped..Also water test each end for leaks. I always check pressure 30-40 minutes after putting form in oven, usually pressure goes up slightly from the hot air. 

[Robertfishes]

I had a schrader valve leak once in one of my hoses, i keep a tire kit in my shop so i had the tool to tighten it. In the picture I attached you can see the plugs slightly hourglass shape, one clamp goes in center of the plug in thinnest part..more for keeping plug from blowing out that to seal it I think.

[tsriberio]

Got it figured out. Didn't have the second hose clamp in the hourglass section. Also, needed some plumbers tape on the threads of the valve. Thanks for all of your help!

[BigJim]

We add a little contact cement to the plugs... seems to help a little, but haven't always done this. Also we bake ours in the oven for a few hours. It will help the rubber bond to the plug some.

Best suggestion for others...now that you have solved your problem is test, test, test!
BigJim

[Tim Finley]

Use a wrench to tighten not a screw driver.

[BigJim]

Yes Tim... that too. I tighten just short of breaking the hose clamp.
Bigjim