Arrrggghh

General Composites Discussions Equipment Talk
#1

:mad:

I’m getting more than a little tired of all the screw thread types out there… NPI, NPT tapered or not tapered, O ring boss, JIC, ASE, and about 25 others I kid you not.

All I want is this thing plumbed and done. I made a vacuum manifold for my pump set up at work today, only took about 20 minutes, but the freakin’ threads are wrong. Tap said pipe thread 1/4-18 but my vacuum gauge is not the same thread, however the vacuum gage is 1/4 pipe thread… i just don’t know WHICH pipe thread type it is. This is beyond annoying. Sorry for the rant but i needed to vent. lol.

#2

Slow down there Fastrrrrrrrrr buddy! :wink:

Your vacuum guage is 1/4" NPT (national pipe thread) which is a half inch in diameter. Pipe threads are measured by their radius not diameter as are other threads. NPT threads are also tapered and require different taps. http://www.sizes.com/materls/pipeThrd.htm

When I was learning the marine equipment parts business I spent a few hours in the storerooms fondling the parts (don’t tell anybody ok?). It helps when you can fiddle and twist these things together. Eventually the logic in it all will come through. Lowe’s is a good place to fiddle, somebody else has already been there and opened all the packages! :smiley:

#3

yeah… just been a couple long days for me.

I’ll take another look at that cutting tap i used, maybe it’s not NPT, but some other type. I’ll be heading to Lowes on Friday. I’m also thinking of ditching this stiff polyethelene hose for some vinyl hose that is flexible. that way too i can just buy those barbed hose fittings and push the line over it.

#4

Fastrr, go to that surplus shop I told you about in your town! :rolleyes:

#5

Oh, I didn’t know they sold fittings. lol ok

#6

I didn’t use any t-fittings last time. It worked just fine sticking the end of the vinyl feed & vacuum lines right into the spiral wrap. A piece of masking tape held it in. Even at Lowe’s prices they’re still a couple more bucks to toss away after.

#7

my parts are so small, I don’t think i need any spiral wrap, just going to tape the line as is into the bag. I’ll use a little breather fabric to cushion the line from pressing into the lay up.

What i really need are the brass NPT fittings. I’ll hit up Lowes tomorrow. I also looked at the cutting tap i was using to make this manifold piece… i just didn’t tap down far enough… should have went another 3 full threads deeper than i did. That’s why the vacuum gauge wouldn’t thread into it. I’d hit up that store Werks told me about but it’s too far away from home since my transportation is broke down at the moment. No biggie everything will be fixed by Monday… vacuum set up and the bike.

#8

Ok fellas I got it all plumbed. The brass fitting seen on the vacuum pump inlet is not the correct thread, but if you want to know it’s a compression fitting and the threads matched close enough. I just had to use extra layers of teflon tape for a good vacuum seal. In a few weeks i’ll buy a paint pressure pot to serve as a resin/vacuum pot. :slight_smile:

Thanks for dealing with my frustration:D

#9

I think I’ll machine/make a small aluminum mounting plate for the ball valve/vacuum gauge, that way the vac gauge will be sitting upright like it should be.

#10

You can probably mount it on your vacuum pot when you get one. Or you could just use a couple of cable ties to the handle of your pump for now. Looks like it’ll do the job! :slight_smile: