Bladder diameter

elkabomb7 · Post by **elkabomb7** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 8:39 pm

Hello ski builders,

I just picked up a fire hose long enough to go across the press twice. The bladder is only 4.5” in diameter without air. I have not inflated the fire hose yet not knowing its diameter with air. My press diameter is 15”. Will the bladder be large enough or would you suggest buying another hose concluding with three fire hoses going across the press?

Thanks guys!

MontuckyMadman · Post by **MontuckyMadman** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:04 pm

3 at least.

twizzstyle · Post by **twizzstyle** » Sat Jun 09, 2012 9:44 pm

Are you using a cattrack? If you only had two lengths of hose, with a cattrack, and lets say you left ~1" of space for the hose to fill, you're going to have something on the order of say ~8" of hose contact. Sounds like enough to me?

doughboyshredder · Post by **doughboyshredder** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 9:14 am

^^^^eh, it depends on what pressure you are going for.

Doesn't sound like nearly enough IMO.

elkabomb7 · Post by **elkabomb7** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:38 pm

I am planning on using a cat track. Are there any websites you would recommend where I could order a fire hose that is ~4.5" in diamater and approximately 7 feet long? I have been looking and it hard to find a website that sells be the foot.

elkabomb7 · Post by **elkabomb7** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 5:57 pm

Thinking of ordering from McMaster Carr

twizzstyle · Post by **twizzstyle** » Sun Jun 10, 2012 7:36 pm

Mcmaster Carr gets a good chunk of all of my paychecks... It's like a candy store for the DIY hobbyist.

elkabomb7 · Post by **elkabomb7** » Tue Jun 12, 2012 11:54 am

I mismeasured the fire hose diamater; both bladders are 4" in diamater deflated. I am going to order another fire hose that is 4" in diamater from McMaster Carr. So I am going to end up using 3 bladders that are 4" in diamater across a 16" diameter press frame. I'm hoping this will be good enough!!

Thanks

NinetyFour · Post by **NinetyFour** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:16 pm

Tell me how it works out for you elk. I was given some free, serviceable, extruded 3 inch diameter firehose. I could make a 15 inch bladder. Thinking about using it, but I think I would prefer two 5 inch diameter hoses.

doughboyshredder · Post by **doughboyshredder** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 1:27 pm

Even if you only have a 1" gap for the hoses to inflate in your contact patch is going to be tiny. Like 6" maybe, if you have 3 hoses. You'll be lucky to get 50% pressure at the laminate. Therefore, if you're inflated at 80 psi, you will be lucky to get 40 psi at the laminate. 40 is ok, but you better make sure your bladder and fittings will be able to handle 80.

MontuckyMadman · Post by **MontuckyMadman** » Sun Jun 17, 2012 8:29 pm

50 psi no gaps flat is what you want no gaps and flat

falls · Post by **falls** » Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:36 am

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Bladder diameter

Bladder diameter

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