Hello Everyone,
I was glueing up a bow today and did several dry runs previously...leaving the hose inflated for a prolonged period of time. WHen I went to do teh real thing, I did everything as planned, and put the press in the heat box. I inflated teh hose to about 65 PSI and came back about 45 minutes to an hour later and it had deflated to 20 PSI!!!! :confused: I went nuts! I took teh press out and tightened all teh nuts and bolts on the ends of teh hose and they were all tight as could be...I listened for leaking and nothing...
What puzzles me is that during my dry runs its always stayed at the same PSI...
What do you guys think is up? Any suggestions would be appreciated...Hopefully this bow will come out ok, but I am having my doubts :(
Bryan M. Lee
Did you try the dry runs including putting it in the heat box?
Give it a little blue pill for hose deflation. Sorry, couldn't resist. I'm about to make my first bow, but planning to try rubberband form. Hope your bow comes out okay!
You should dip both ends in a bucket of water & look for bubbles EVERY time....You probably had a vary small leak going, and when the heat expanded the hose it leaked faster.....can't beat the water test.....Kirk
Thanks for the replies guys...Yeah I am going to break the hose down after this bow and re seal it. As for now I am checking it every so often and making sure of the pressure. I am just not sure if I caught it fast enough the first time before the epoxy became too hard to press. Hopefully there wont be any gaps in the fades and more importantly teh limbs.
Bryan M. Lee
Bryan M. Lee
QuoteOriginally posted by BigRonHuntAlot:
Did you try the dry runs including putting it in the heat box?
No..That I didn't do this time. I have done it in the past several times, all with sucess. This is the first time...I guess I should've expected the worse and checked it reguardless :banghead:
Bryan M. Lee
QuoteOriginally posted by SOS:
Give it a little blue pill for hose deflation. Sorry, couldn't resist.
Better yet just leave the hose connected with a quick disconnect the entire time it's in the oven. Only takes a small slot in the lid to accomdate the hose. Been doing for several years now and it works for me.
QuoteOriginally posted by LC:
Better yet just leave the hose connected with a quick disconnect the entire time it's in the oven. Only takes a small slot in the lid to accomdate the hose. Been doing for several years now and it works for me.
Hey!!! That's a great insurance policy! If the presure drops, the compressor kicks in...RIGHT ON BRO!!!!
And double check that your bulbs don't come in contact with the hose. They can burn a little hole right through. I've seen that happen.
Thanks for all the replies guys...I like the quick-connect idea, I think I am gunna have to try that! Have a good night!
Bryan M. Lee
I had a hose deflate on me once on set of limbs I made, the nipple went bad and leaked. I went ahead and finished them out but after a few weeks it finally gave it up. If I had it to do over, I would have repaired the nipple and re-cooked the limbs without ever removing from the form. I think I would have had better luck.
Had that happen once and have been doing as LC says since. Works great and no worries about leaks. Good Luck
Ken
If it only went down to 20# in that amount of time, it'd be a very slow leak.
I've had two leak after several glue ups and both times it happen at the end of my bow form and not at the plugs. I had to soak the hose in soapy water just to find the leaks they were so slow. I keep a spare handy now.
Had a similar experience a few years back. I had just finished strapping the bow and hose down onto the form, and as I was lowering the whole mess into the oven I heard the dreaded "Hisssssss" a slow leak at the junction of the valve and the pipe fitting. I had a temporary minor meltdown and then had an idea. I went to get my emergency fix-a-flat and injected the whole can into the hose. I them took the form and moved it around in all directions to distribute the sealant. Not an easy task, seeing that my form is made of two pieces of 3/8" steel flat bar and a piece of 1 1/2" square tubing. HEAVY!
But, repair held and I was able to finish out the bow with no problems.