I have a blow pipe that has a wee brass fitting at the end that fits into the bellows. I’ve use waxed string, thread, unwaxed string, unwaxed string that I waxed w. a block of bees wax, and still… I have not been able to solve the simple problem of the blow pipe coming out of the bellows! So, essentially…it’s whatever material I use which is sliding against the brass tube that is screwed into the bellows.
I’m not interested in in fixes like garden hose fixtures, etc. I’d like to make this work!
you have the the idea in mind and indeed Pat, that certainly sounds like a very sound option. i’ll look into that, as it’d certainly take care of the issue once and for all!
I’m not sure I understand the set-up. You have a brass fitting on the end of the blow pipe. Are you wrapping that brass with waxed/unwaxed hemp? What is this connecting to on the bellows? Is it just a hole in the bellows paddle or is there a “female” brass connection fitting on the bellows?
Also, does the blow pipe connect with the bellows at right angles or at an acute angle?
I used to have a similar problem. The blowpipe is a pvc pipe with a few inches of copper pipe (wrapped in waxed hemp) at the end. The bellows has a larger “female” brass connection on the bellows. Initially I was only putting about 1 inch of the copper pipe from the blowpipe into the brass connection on the bellows. This meant that the blow pipe would pop out frequently (particularly if I was playing the regulators). I withdrew the copper from the PVC by about an inch and now put about 2 inches of wrapped copper pipe into the bellows. This solved the problem for me.
[quote=“PJ”]I’m not sure I understand the set-up. You have a brass fitting on the end of the blow pipe. Are you wrapping that brass with waxed/unwaxed hemp? What is this connecting to on the bellows? Is it just a hole in the bellows paddle or is there a “female” brass connection fitting on the bellows?
Yes! Exactly. A male brass fitting going into a female brass fitting. So, the only material touching the inside of the female fitting is whatever king of thread/hemp/what-have-you. Indeed, the female fitting simply goes directly to the bellows. Originally, it (the male end) was wrapped in what appeared to be waxed thread, but that was always dodgy.
Purchase a short piece to brass tubing that will snugly fit inside the female fitting.
Cut a piece of the tubing so that it slides all the way into the fitting leaving an inch or so sticking out and super glue it into the fitting. Be careful and work fast. Once you apply the glue it will set in right away. Better yet, get the type of Super glue that takes one or two minutes to set, allowing time to get it just right.
all you have to do now is permanently tie the air hose onto the fitting.
To me the question is “what is pulling the fitting apart?” Not the air pressure, like it can on the inlet valve. I think you just need a longer hose so that your own body is not pulling the connection apart. My own bellows have a very similar arrangement and pull apart with a shorter hose. Have they always done this or has the distance around your midsection increased over time perhaps?
No. The hose has more than enough slack. Longer’d be too long. I too, would’ve come your same conclusion, but really, it’s just the slight movement of the bellows. At any rate, after all the handy suggestions (I’m still considering the tap and die), I just scored up the inside of the bellows side of the brass, and now my winding has more purchase. All is well…
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