Brass garden hose nozzles and brass on/off switches (and missing o-rings)

[Stormin Mormon]

BTW, do you know a good source for BRASS on/off switches?

All mine are plastic - but almost all break within the first year:

[Stormin Mormon]

That's a WONDERFUL idea!

I had not thought of using standard pipe-threaded valves, which should be sturdier than these things, which always break on me:

Is this sort of what you envision?

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[Stormin Mormon]

Dollar Tree has pistol grip style nozzles, seem to work OK for me. I used one yesterday, the roof of two trailers to clean out the AC condensors.

This is the only type garden hose nozzle I own, since I need it for use in my service work. I must have something that doesn't break. ^_^

hose+nozzel

TDD

[Stormin Mormon]

I should have mentioned that the version I have is all stainless steel. It's not the brand on Amazon but it's just like it and I've had it for

10 trouble free years. ^_^

E7YYDS/ref=pd_sbs_auto_2

TDD

[Stormin Mormon]

Perhaps you mean shut off valve?

I only get about a year from all the plastic ones; either the sun destroys them outright, or the dropping onto hard services breaks the handles and bodies, or they simply crud up from the inside out:

I've got yellow switches, black switches, and green switches; the green seem to last the longest for some reason (maybe two years at most):

[Danny D.]

Ah. Thanks. I'll call it a valve moving forward. Much appreciated!

[Danny D.]

Yup. I had them years ago, and that's what I remember too. The plastic ones, for some reason, move more freely (dunny why). But, of course, the plastic ones rot in the sun also.

[Danny D.]

I'm not sure what makes a solid brass nozzle go bad.

I suspect about the only thing that *can* go bad are the 2 o-rings.

I guess crud buildup also - but that can be cleaned out with vinegar.

[The Daring Dufas]

If you really want to build your own bullet proof, corrosion proof hose end valve and nozzle, you can start of with a stainless 3/4" ball valve and a 6" nipple on each end so you have something to hold onto and adapt to anything you want. I've had to do similar things in the past and cobble together things that don't break. All it takes is a little money, a little ingenuity and however much time you wish to put into your project. I've built things I could purchase but I enjoy building things and adding my own touches. ^_^

TDD

[Stormin Mormon]

They need love, discipline, and a strong man to teach them right and wrong.

Bring them in by 9 PM or so, and no violent video games.

I'm not sure what makes a solid brass nozzle go bad.

I suspect about the only thing that *can* go bad are the 2 o-rings.

I guess crud buildup also - but that can be cleaned out with vinegar.

[Stormin Mormon]

The 3/4 will have much better full flow. The plastic slip on the handle will decompose in the sunlight.

I like the idea of using a nipple on either end. Danny can, if he wishes, make a drip leg like a furnace gas line, and make a "pistol grip" for more comfortable operation. That pistol grip will probably make it regulated by Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms, and subject to the various regulations. Combine that with a flash hider, folding stock, and a high capacity garden hose with high pressure. Then, he's got an assault garden hose, not legal in CA or NY.

If you really want to build your own bullet proof, corrosion proof hose end valve and nozzle, you can start of with a stainless 3/4" ball valve and a 6" nipple on each end so you have something to hold onto and adapt to anything you want. I've had to do similar things in the past and cobble together things that don't break. All it takes is a little money,

a little ingenuity and however much time you wish to put into your project. I've built things I could purchase but I enjoy building things and adding my own touches. ^_^

TDD

[Danny D.]

With 80psi, I'm well on my way to assault-hose status!

[Danny D.]

Thanks. I snapped it this morning, just for you guys, aimed at the sun, in the cloudy sky, for the effect of an explosion on the end of the stream of water (in response to Stormin's comments about the assault hose).

In the process, I found this wiki'd leak:

I wonder what causes these strange leaks, all at one 2-foot long spot, and all at the lettering on the sidewall of the Costco garden hose?

Do you think the NSA could be tapping my garden hoses?

[Danny D.]

I think the leaks in the hose, which are *exactly* similar to the leaks in the pool panels, are due to water collecting and then expanding in the winter.

Somehow, they expand, just enough, to cause a stress crack where the writing is.

Of course, that tells me two things: a) Don't buy hoses with writing b) Don't let the water collect in the hoses & solar panels

In the case of solar, it's difficult because they are fifteen or more feet below the level of the pool, so they'd have to be disconnected, but there is no convenient disconnect (just shut-off valves, which may be leaking for all I know).

[The Daring Dufas]

A customer of mine owned a gas station/convenience store and he was having a problem with washers in the kitchen sinks and other sinks being blown out. The Sloan flush valves on the restroom fixtures were malfunctioning and leaking. I checked the water pressure and it was averaging 90psi with pressure spikes of 130psi. I searched around the building and found a 1" water pressure regulator in a wall in the kitchen. It wasn't working of course so I replaced it and all the plumbing fixtures lived happily ever after at 50psi. The fun part was the fact that the outdoor spigot wasn't controlled by the water pressure regulator, in fact it was tied into the water line before it entered the building. An average of 90psi from the outdoor hose spigot required a heavy duty hose and nozzle that would allow the cleanup man to blast debris right off the parking lot and you could shoot a stream of water across the wide city street and almost blow a window out of a car or give a bath to an urban camper 50 feet away. ^_^

TDD

[gregz]

I forget where I bought my dual valve on off. It's ball valve. Second year at the trailer. I didn't want plastic. Been using my brass nozzle for many years, no problem. I might have bought the valve at sears, kmart, walmart, online. Don't go cheap. My nozzle is not plated.

Greg

[gregz]

In old house we had a full pressure outlet off garage. It came in handy. In this house, I never tried it, but you can switch valves so water comes from hot water tank. I would be afraid to try it.

Greg

[Stormin Mormon]

I could get used to a 90 PSI water hose. Great for washing salt off the underside of vehicles. Glad you were able to save all the faucets and water valves. . Christopher A. Young Learn more about Jesus

. . "The Daring Dufas" wrote in message news:kq7u6t$t92$ [e-mail]...

A customer of mine owned a gas station/convenience store and he was having a problem with washers in the kitchen sinks and other sinks being blown out. The Sloan flush valves on the restroom fixtures were malfunctioning and leaking. I checked the water pressure and it was averaging 90psi with pressure spikes of 130psi. I searched around the building and found a 1" water pressure regulator in a wall in the kitchen. It wasn't working of course so I replaced it and all the plumbing fixtures lived happily ever after at 50psi. The fun part was the fact that the outdoor spigot wasn't controlled by the water pressure regulator, in fact it was tied into the water line before it entered the building. An average of 90psi from the outdoor hose spigot required a heavy duty hose and nozzle that would allow the cleanup man to blast debris right off the parking lot and you could shoot a stream of water across the wide city street and almost blow a window out of a car or give a bath to an urban camper 50 feet away. ^_^

TDD

[Danny D.]

Hi Oren,

The pool plumbing is wholly separate from the water supply so the pressure at the solar panels would be whatever the pumps generate (plus whatever "head" is generated by the fact the pumps are 8 feet below the pool while the panels are 15 feet below the pool).

I don't think it's UV weathering only because of my 13 garden hoses, at least 4 are the Costco Flexon gray "commercial grade" 100' 5/8" hoses, and the rest are holding up well (although not as well as the red and black rubber hoses - but much better than the green hoses).

I guess, since it's Costco, I 'could' return it for the warranty; but I think I'll just buy brass male:female hose ends and cut out the leaking part.

I went to Home Depot this morning, but unfortunately, they only had the crummy $3.50 brass + male:female hose clamp assemblies (for a total of $7 for just the crappy fittings), which are horrid on the hands (with that hose-clamp screw sticking out).

The only other male:female hose repair ends they had were the $2.00 cheap all-plastic ones (which wouldn't last a year). So, I'll have to hit up Ace Hardware instead.

[Danny D.]

UPDATE: Picked up some mostly-brass ball valves at Home Depot this morning.

The plumbing ones were *super hard* to turn!

So I went back to the lawn & garden department.

All they had there, other than pure plastic, was this $6 plastic & brass ball valve:

I bought a couple to test out on the rubber assault hose:

PS: Under California law, am I required to engrave the assault hose serial number #0000001 on the nozzle or on the valve?