Any good ideas for capping air tool inlet when not in use? Looking for something cheap and light to cap my nailers when they’re hanging out, preferably permanently attached to the guns.
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story
From plumbing failures to environmental near disasters, OHJ staffers dish on our worst and best moments.
Featured Video
Highlights
"I have learned so much thanks to the searchable articles on the FHB website. I can confidently say that I expect to be a life-long subscriber." - M.K.
Replies
I have a PC finish nailer that came with a rubber cap that stayed attached to the male fitting. However it didn't last long and broke off never to be seen again.
Check with PC and see if this is something you can order.
Go to the nearest auto parts store, and look for rubber or vinyl vacuum caps.
You can get the vinyl ones in bright colors, so they won't be so easily lost.
Take a tool with you, so you can pick out the right size for a snug fit.
Quittin' Time
I use the little caps that protect the threads on crankout windows.
Use the same little rubber cap thingee that you get for capping caulking tubes.
Phill Giles
The Unionville Woodwright
Unionville, Ontario
not cheap. not light. not permanently attached.
but I use a female coupler with a plug in the hose end. Of course I only have a couple guns for PEX tubing.
P ...I use golf tees works great
I got thinking about how I would handle this situation.
First. I think somewhere there is a supplier of the plastic caps that come with the guns from the factory. If you could find them you might get them to ship some to you. Though I would make at least one change. I think I would cut off the normal plastic strap used to attach the cap and instead use a short length, just long enough to reach, of Kevlar fishing line run through the cap and tied off to a small, stiff button of some type. This line is tough but very flexible so it just hangs out of the way but is unlikely to get cut easily like the normal strap.
If you can't find a supplier for the cap it, I imagine, wouldn't be too hard to manufacture a few of your own. An afternoon project for a Saturday. In no time all of your guns will have tiny little condoms of their very own. Carpenters, for miles around, will envy your tiny condoms. Or not.
This is how I would do it: I would get some of that plastic dipping compound in a shade I like and a male inlet fitting matching the one on the gun needing protection, or three as they are only about $1 each. I would plug the inlet end with toothpicks or duct seal and cut the filler flush with the end of the fitting.
Once I had it sealed I would experiment to find a release coating for the dipping compound. Wax and silicone spray come to mind. Maybe none is necessary. Then it is just a matter of dipping the tip/s in the compound repeatedly until the coating dries thick enough. I'm thinking that the compound should just cover the wide spot on the fitting where the balls grab to lock the female fitting on. Here again experimenting with different dip depths will give you the desired results.
Once I had developed a technique I would think that making caps would go quickly. Especially if you have half a dozen fittings plugged for molds. You could gang dip one set and while they dry dip the second set. Two to four dips should get you enough material thickness to make a decent cap. Dip dry. Dip dry. Dip dry. Cut off any over dip while it is on the mold and peel the cap/s off.
On second thought I wouldn't attach the cap to the gun at all. Less to get in the way during use and get lost. Better to just make a few dozen in a bright color and keep them in the guns case or where you store the nail guns. When your not using the gun you slap on a cap to keep the roaches out.
I bought a package of them from Woodworkers Supply (I think).
Their just the same as the Manufacturers.
Jeff
"Intacap". Has an O-ring that fits over the base of the fitting, and the cap is attached by a plastic wire. Fits 1/4" male air fitting. Available at Woodworker's Supply. My catalog shows them at a 5 pack for $9.99; item number 119-786. They're at (800) 645-9292 or woodworker.com.View ImageIf everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something.
y'all are ruining my fun. Here I was all set to mold my own and all of you come up with commercial sources. That's no fun. Where's the challenge, the opportunity for self expression, the joy of creation?
OK. If they give quantity discounts put me down for a dozen on the collective order.
Here's a quick and cheap cap idea if you have the right stuff laying around. Latex or tygon tubing tied in a knot and attached to the tool or tied to it makes a good cap and is always right there. We use the tubing alot so its handy but it may not be that popular in the construction biz as it is in the plant.
Lefty - Lurker without an attitude or a clue
The caps used on beer and soft drink lines in bars fit perfectly and its fun going to the bar to get them!