nostalgia
Well-Known Member
I'm sure I'm not the first to think of this, but here's how I'm doing my MLT. I'm still waiting for my bulkhead fitting to show up, so for now you'll get pictures of the braid. And you'll like it!
Here's the cooler. Picked it up from Target. 50 quart. Notice there is no drain hole in it yet.
While I was trying to figure out how I'd run the braid, I had an idea to keep it from getting crushed - put a stainless steel spring inside! I've seen solutions with drilled copper or CPVC tubing inside, but this is simple, inexpensive, and I don't have to drill a zillion holes in anything.
And here are the parts from McMaster-Carr. 2' of 1/2" expandable mesh sleeving, all-stainless hose clamps, and 20" of stainless steel spring in 1/2" diameter. The copper tee I had in stock.
First order of business is bending the ends of the spring out of the way so they don't catch on the braid.
Then just slide the spring into the braid. Once you get it part of the way in you can inchworm the braid along it quite easily.
Then just put the braid over the ends of the tee and hose clamp them on. Super easy. All of 2 minutes' work, no cutting, no drilling, no crimping.
Price list so far:
Cooler from Target: $20
20" stainless steel spring, p/n 9663K27 $4.55
10-pack of all-stainless clamps, p/n 5321K17 $6.79
2 feet of 1/2" stainless steel expandable mesh sleeving, p/n 1478T3 $5.72
-Joe
Here's the cooler. Picked it up from Target. 50 quart. Notice there is no drain hole in it yet.
While I was trying to figure out how I'd run the braid, I had an idea to keep it from getting crushed - put a stainless steel spring inside! I've seen solutions with drilled copper or CPVC tubing inside, but this is simple, inexpensive, and I don't have to drill a zillion holes in anything.
And here are the parts from McMaster-Carr. 2' of 1/2" expandable mesh sleeving, all-stainless hose clamps, and 20" of stainless steel spring in 1/2" diameter. The copper tee I had in stock.
First order of business is bending the ends of the spring out of the way so they don't catch on the braid.
Then just slide the spring into the braid. Once you get it part of the way in you can inchworm the braid along it quite easily.
Then just put the braid over the ends of the tee and hose clamp them on. Super easy. All of 2 minutes' work, no cutting, no drilling, no crimping.
Price list so far:
Cooler from Target: $20
20" stainless steel spring, p/n 9663K27 $4.55
10-pack of all-stainless clamps, p/n 5321K17 $6.79
2 feet of 1/2" stainless steel expandable mesh sleeving, p/n 1478T3 $5.72
-Joe