Thread: Press fit hose barbs - where to buy?

I'm looking at using some press-fit hose barbs instead of threaded ones in a couple applications but I can't find a supplier. These are going to be pressed into 6061 aluminum and range from 1/4" to 1/2" ID hose. Does anyone have a good source? I searched Google, Mcmaster, etc, and came up with nothing of value.

Probably because they don't work in the real-world?

I can't speak on the galvanic reaction between brass and aluminum, but you could turn off the NPT threads and proceed from there.

You are resisting the use of NPT barbs because..........?

Ya know, you guys that insist on designing a product that doesn't look like it was pieced together out of catalogs, eventually understand that unless you manufacture the bits yourself, whatever you do find, will look like you bought it from a catalog

Because you bought it from a catalog.

If you insist, go to the local library, to the Reference Section, and ask to be directed to the Thomas Register volumes.

Or, perhaps, buy an online subscription.

http://www.hi-standard.net/

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Located in Racine, Wisconsin, Hi-Standard Machine thrives from our large population of machinists who take their work very seriously. Established in 1946, we specialize in Browne & Sharpe and Swiss CNC screw machine parts. We have steadily grown our customer base from word-of-mouth, the best type of business there is. Because of our continual progress and expansion in our manufacturing practices and capabilities, we are now able to serve even more customers.

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▪ Screws ▪ Valve Guides ▪ Threaded Plugs ▪ Shafts
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▪ Flanges ▪ Gear Blanks ▪ Bearings ▪ Collars
▪ Dowels ▪ Insulators ▪ Adapters ▪ Dies
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Originally Posted by S_W_Bausch

Probably because they don't work in the real-world?

I can't speak on the galvanic reaction between brass and aluminum, but you could turn off the NPT threads and proceed from there.

You are resisting the use of NPT barbs because..........?

Ya know, you guys that insist on designing a product that doesn't look like it was pieced together out of catalogs, eventually understand that unless you manufacture the bits yourself, whatever you do find, will look like you bought it from a catalog

Because you bought it from a catalog.

If you insist, go to the local library, to the Reference Section, and ask to be directed to the Thomas Register volumes.

Or, perhaps, buy an online subscription.

Seriously? What crawled up your ass? They don't work? Turn down the threads on a brass fitting? Thomas Register? Thanks for the advice.

You want to press a hose barb into an aluminum body, because you saw it somewhere???

Or the finished assembly would look like it wasn't pieced together from a hardware store??

Just asking.

Not that hard to cut female NPT threads, and then you can use a more usual and customary product.

If you could set aside your perception of my 'tude, you could contact that company, find out their set up charge, and have them make exactly what you want. Chances are, you are essentially asking them to block out the CNC code that cuts the threads. Shouldn't be such a difficult request, shouldn't be such an expensive setup charge.

Just tell them "in the future, I will need millions of these, but right now...."

Or, you may find they make those as standards, or perhaps special, and the original customer wouldn't mind you buying from the vendor.

Or buy them with NPT threads, and turn off the threads.

What is the PSI involved? I ask because anything over 1000 PSI or so may make your vendor nervous, especially if gas is involved, not fluid.

If you promise to weld them in place, maybe.

I thought the benefits of a pressed in barb would be obvious but I guess I have to spell it out for some people. In theory I can save time and money by not producing the NPTF threads. I also would think the threadless barbs would cost less than threaded ones. They also take up less room so I can put other features on the parts closer together, which is an issue I run into all the time. The barbs could be brass, aluminum, steel, screw-machined, turned, stamped, whatever.

It is possible to find references to interference-fit hose barbs, but the conversation involves them getting loose and leaky, and sealing them with JB Weld.

Or the result is a page describing making your own, such as:

The next step is to take the double ended hose barb and make it into a single press-in barb. Measure the ID of the hole in the end of the valve and take the double ended barb and turn the middle portion down in a lathe. If a lathe is not used, you can VERY carefully grind it down to size using a Demel tool or equivalent. The goal is to make it the correct size to be a light press fit into the valve hole and also try to make it as round as possible for better sealing

They were used on carburetors, perhaps you could find them on late-model engine intake manifolds, but what is the chance they were cast-in?

You could try contacting Edelbrock Manifolds, OEM parts counters, etc. and see if pressed-in barbs are available. They may tell you "cast-in".

Of course, if you are building intake manifolds, Edelbrock might give you a frosty response.

Various types of hobbyists (installing a boost gauge for turbo-charged engines, "overclockers" seeking to cool their computers, etc.) devise various work-arounds for the lack of what you seek.

If you've got a screw machine that isn't doing anything, or you want to commision some variety of them, you may have found an untapped market. You could create some ebay "vaporware" listings with photo-shopped images, see what the demand is.

Wow...I'd really want to swage it in place. As in, countersink from the back side, then hammer or press a punch tool into it to roll some metal into the countersink such that it won't pull out. Could be roll-burnished with a custom tool. My guess is the wall of the barb has to be significantly thicker so it doesn't simply yield via geometry from the stronger housing...as that's definitely going to be the weakest link. Also you are going to have to hold tenths on both bore and fitting to make it work right reliably. Not saying it can't be done. But an NPT fitting doesn't require nearly that care, drills and taps are easy money comparatively...its tapered after all so it will just wedge to a tight seal.

As above, for a coolant system in a vehicle (have seen this technology i believe on my GMC Yukon 5.3L V8), max pressure is around 60psi and that's wide open throttle with a closed 'stat. Carb systems likely in the single digit psi.

My free advice is more than about 60psi you are going to be asking for more trouble than its worth and its definitely going to be a premium (read: costly to manufacture) feature.

Any info on what pressure and fluid or gas is involved?
Mike

Originally Posted by realsquash

I'm looking at using some press-fit hose barbs instead of threaded ones in a couple applications but I can't find a supplier. These are going to be pressed into 6061 aluminum and range from 1/4" to 1/2" ID hose. Does anyone have a good source? I searched Google, Mcmaster, etc, and came up with nothing of value.

Myself, I'd be turning some aluminum barbs on the lathe, and welding rather than pressing.


Rex

The Lee Company Presents

is a press in (and subsequent swage) end plug, but the concept could be used
with a fitting.

It may already be available, but not from the lee company (what I can find on the website)

Carburetor vacuum fittings come to mind. Just a piece of tube with [or without ] a bulb on the end .---Trevor

Originally Posted by t.jones

Carburetor vacuum fittings come to mind. Just a piece of tube with [or without ] a bulb on the end .---Trevor

I suspect they were cast-in-place.

not sure you called out a size, but how about a brass tube that gets pressed in and upset like an eyelet? assuming this has some volume to justify the investment. I could see where a tube cut to length with the barbs cut in then inserted into the hole and pressed while the back side and front are upset locking it in place.

Originally Posted by realsquash

I'm looking at using some press-fit hose barbs instead of threaded ones in a couple applications but I can't find a supplier. These are going to be pressed into 6061 aluminum and range from 1/4" to 1/2" ID hose. Does anyone have a good source? I searched Google, Mcmaster, etc, and came up with nothing of value.

I've taken the wrong path myself, get off it before you go too far.