Zam hose

Hey everybody,

My mom took me with her to the hardware store today. Little did she know how excited that made me...

I looked all around the store for Zam stuff, and the only thing I found was the hoses. First (and best) were the hoses that are used for gas grills (outdoor, I *think*). The diameter was a little small (1/2in. was the biggest I saw) but they look GREAT and are only about $10 and 2ft. long. These are stiff and can be put in the exact position you want, unlike vacuum hoses that droop. almost perfect!

The second item I found that might work is aluminum conduit pipe. It's only about .35/ft., depending on the diameter you want. Just paint it black and I think it would look pretty good. Unfortunately, this stuff cannot be bent very far...

just a couple ideas

-sky

Ok, hosers, how did anyone find the end connectors and attach them to the vest? I don't have a vest yet, but I need to know how much is going to have to be cut up. Any Ideas? (Yea!, a friend got me a brownish hose, good diameter, not quite the right ribbing, but it works!)

Well the hose I am useing is pretty close to the same size as Sink pipes. so I plan to use on of the plastic sink pipes threades areas and the connector on it for how my hose connects to the vest. But I am planning to do a little changeing to it and make a molded piece because I want all four prongs not the 2 sink pipes get.

Anyone else got better?

I asked kimncris what diameter was good enough so that it would fit into Paul's hose connector...

kimncris wrote:we used the snake light by itself. The black rubber hose that wraps around the snake part is the part that shows on Kims costume. If we ever found a better hose, we were going to wrap it around as you said, but for now- it's just the snake light.

1 1/2 seems a bit big to me, but when Dallas gets back from OZ he may have a better idea of the size. The snake light is about 1" to 1 1/4" I'd say but probably closer to 1"

-cris

Just quoting what they said...cause I thought it was informative.

I can't put up a pic right now but I found a hose at a plumbing supply store. It's a drain hose used for washing machines. It's about 1 1/4" dia. and the ribbing is very close. It's gray however. The name on it is "PROPLUS" : Corrugated Universal Fit-All Drain Hose.
Just FYI


Cal

Hi all,
I have the excellent hose connector Paul made and I'm just wondering what the prevailing wisdom is on attaching the hoses to the connector. Drill a hole into the resin? (ack) attach with glue?
Looking for the best way...any suggestions?
Thanks all,
Scripie

since we used the snakelight, it has the plastic "snake" inside the hose. We attached a screw to the snake with glue, then drilled a hole in the connector to fit the screwpost. Then I gobbed a ton of hotglue inside the hose, quickly attatched it to the birdie shaped thing, and tipped it upright so that the hotglue would rund down around the inside of the hose and glue to the screw and resin all at once.

cheesy maybe, but it has never come loose in all of the times that Kim has worn it.

-cris

So has anyone found a better hose than th snake lite yet? I am still looking but I am pretty sure it is a silcone hose for food industry now, just not sure what one or who makes it yet.

well kids.... i'm back and guess what... i FOUND the black hose connectors BUT.... i could only bring back 4 of them (2 pairs)... it's late friday night right now and all my fun new info and discoveries is on the laptop.... i'll have to extract it tomorrow and put it all up... big stuff - stay tuned!

oh, and the hose... i think it's either metal or at the very least, it has metal (copper) on the outer edges (like one of them hoses where it has a coil of metal embedded in the hose)...

ok.. here it is: http://www.hardwareshop.com.au/detai...&cat=16&path=2,128,16

don't say i never found you guys anything

Thanks Dallas. I am going to see if I can get one of these state side now.

Just stopped by Ace hardwear and no luck...

the company that makes it has their power equipment sold here in the US, but not stuff liek this. I am going to keep trying.

Bottom hose connectors- my husband found that are sold in the states. http://209.134.136.184/acb/showdetl...._ID=94&CATID=7
What ya'll think? Do these bottom hose connectors look like they could be the same as the ones dcb has that match the ones on zam?

hard to tell by that small pic - but my guess is NO - that won't work unless you heavliy alter it. Again - it's too hard to tell if it even has the 4 nubs and 9 smaller ribs between each nub.

With the one i found - there is a separating piece on the actual item (it's used to reduce the hole size from a 1" to 3/4" hose) that would go behind the vest.

the one you show does not have this, but rather has a huge pipe thing that would have to be cut off or you would have a big ole pipe in yer vest (ouch). I dunno... find a better picture and we'll see

Perhaps that part unscrews to get to the O-rings etc. inside. Just a thought. Also, it is difficult to tell about the ridges on that pic.

I saw a brown hose on a BBC Changing Rooms episode that was for pumping water that looked almost exactly like Zam's. Also, gasoline pumps have a similar hose shape, so I'd wager that it is some sort of pressure type hose.

-cris

tghe hose on zam is actually painted brown (and other colors as well). i htink it's a milky white. still looking

[watto]painted...what da ya know...[/watto]


oh BTW we went with Snakelight because it was hanging on the wall and we were leaving town in about 5 days. Not because it was accurate, but because it was easy!

-cris

Well I am pretty sure I have identifyed the hose used. It is a medcial hose used for lung machines and smoke ventalation things. The hose is a clear hose made of vinyl with a hard plastic ciol that refinforces the hose it self. Now that I am sure of the hose I am looking for different manafuctors of it. But if anyone else has a good lead let me know. Once I find my source I will see if I can order enough for a group so we all save some money.

I will ask my cousin, she's a nurse., I am surprised they went to a medical hoses to make this out fit. I would think vacuum hoses would be the first thing that they would go for.

i heard that LFL bought a medical supply place out when they did Ep1... so, that makes sense.

Keep up the search

Welll I am still attemptng to get a better match. What I have found so far is missing the vinal seam between each coil. I am not giving up here.

Dallas: It seems the only place to get the hose ends you found is Oz is from a Oz hardware store. There is no US supplyer I have found of this itemand none of the US hose timers are even close.

grr... i'll contact my friend in Oz - maybe he'll buy a bunch and send em to me...

I am glad that you made contacts down there...I thought you didn't have anyone down there that you knew. I will be crossing my fingers.

i just PM'd him to see if he could pick up a dozen of them. Like i said- i bought all at the store i went to - but perhaps they have more in the back room. We'll see what he says.

YOU ARE THE COOLEST! Does he live there? He could just go to the site and order. Then, they could ship it to his house, and then ship it to you or someone to distribute.

Ok a little update on my search for the percect Zam hose. I am positive that it is not Medical hose now as I once thought. I have spoke with a friend and she is damned sure it is a Vaccume hose. I am going to run down that road a little while I also was watching some Auto Raceing on Speed Channel and took notice of a air hose hooked up to a drivers helmet that was very similar so I will go look into that as well. Well just thought I would pass along my ideas and the air hose from raceing would be about 1 inch diameter.

i have determined without any doubt that the O.D. of said hose must be 1". I finally took apart my gardenmate. The hole inside that piece is exactly 1 inch. I also held the garden mate up to the life sized cardboard stand up and that matches up - and the hose on that is also 1 inch. The stand-up is exactly 5'6" and my sources tell me that that is the height of Leeanna. So there you go

Later today (after i get some more ink for my printer) I'm going to print out some of my full body shots from MOM and other sources at actual size

oh, and i ALMOST found the hose last night at my favorite thrift store. It was white, had metal coil, and has the seams between each ring. Only problem - it was about 1.5" OD... drats.... This was on some sort of ladies beauty product. Like a hair dryer or something.. not sure what it was. The search continues...

I know I said I was going to take pics of this hose in October
I took some today. This is a hose I found last fall at a plumbing supply store. It is pretty close. I'm not saying it's "the right stuff" but close It's labeled as 1" hose on the package but it measures 1 1/8" O.D. of the ribs and approx. 1" in between the ribs. It's very flexible. enjoy:

WOW! you got your stand up pretty fast too YOU've been holding out on us with that hose, ya hoser!!! Heheh. Man that hose is pretty darn close. Do you think it will fit the 1" connectors? that 1/8" inch rib... i hope that it does..

i think it should fit the connectors fine... IIRC - the hose is 1" - but that wasn't going the full diameter of the ribs... more like 1" in between the ribs...

Also... i THINK that the hose on the back of her helmet is the same stuff that she has on her belly... i haven't confirmed this yet - but I'm still looking! It's hard to tell the true size of the helmet hose - because the under brim is alway hanging over half of it in the pix i have.

I will be makeing a run past a plumbing supply stroe to try and find this hose and test fit to the connertor I have nearly ready.

zam i am wrote:
WOW! you got your stand up pretty fast too YOU've been holding out on us with that hose, ya hoser!!! Heheh. Man that hose is pretty darn close. Do you think it will fit the 1" connectors? that 1/8" inch rib... i hope that it does..

That standup did come extra fast. After you got yours, I found one online and ordered it. No idea why I hadn't ordered one before. Amazingly though, when I made my own blown up zam last fall, it is almost exactly the same size, within 1/8"

hoser huh? I know...I'm sorry! I totally forgot to take pics of it until I happened to glance down at it today.

I haven't scaled it to figure out how long I need but I bet it's long enough for two zam outfits.
Since it's 1" in between the ribs and very flexible, I'm pretty sure it'll work but I wish I had a connector to make absolutely sure it fits

If you guys want me to, I can probably pick up a couple more. I don't remember but I think they're like $8.00.
EDIT:
I looked through my register and I paid $6.70 in Sept. After scaling the pic, I think 20" is approx. what we need and half of one hose would give us about 26"
cal

so all together its, 52"? 26" divided by two, you approximating about 13" per side? Oh, and don't forget, if the helmet needs a hose, then... well you know...
By the way the ribs look good, but do you think they put duct tape over it or something to make it less of a curve per rib?

Edit** after looking really closely, the helmut hose is totally a different hose. Black and totally like a regular black ribbed vacuum hose. But it does look like a older hose tho'. Mebbe it's just the lighting.

It looks like about 10" per side will be plenty. I scaled this from the bottom of the hose connector to the end of the hose cover thingy where it meets the abdomen piece.

As for a different type of hose on the helmet, I'm not sure. It could be the same hose. If it scales the same, it might be. Although it almost looks like something that should be pretty soft against the back of the neck...more rubbery?

Dallas might have more of an idea on both of these issues.

Actually, it does look like a type of car hose I've seen before. BTW, what do you think of my duct tape idea?

zam i am wrote:
Actually, it does look like a type of car hose I've seen before. BTW, what do you think of my duct tape idea?

duct tape would show texture and edges and would not hold paint well- i'm pretty sure this is not duct taped

Dustin Crops Boy wrote:
This was on some sort of ladies beauty product. Like a hair dryer or something.. not sure what it was. The search continues...

My mom is a beautician and I think I know what hose you are talking about. She has an old hair dryer and if I recall correctly, it had a ribbed hose attachement. I'll take a picture of it tonight and measure the diameter.

Dustin Crops Boy wrote:

zam i am wrote:
Actually, it does look like a type of car hose I've seen before. BTW, what do you think of my duct tape idea?

duct tape would show texture and edges and would not hold paint well- i'm pretty sure this is not duct taped

OOOps big mistake, I meant black electrical tape... duh. I hate it when I can visualize something but can't get the right words for it...

I jsut used some rubber dip stuff on a saber and it turned out really good. Maybe you could rubber dip the white hose?

-cris

which hose? rubber dip for the helm hose or rubber dip the stomach hoses?

either- just a little more flexible than paint.

-cris

This is the hose off of my little vaccuum cleaner. The "shark" vaccuums, the ones you see at like sams club or costco and tv... But it gets costly. I thought mebbe this might work for a helm hose, but not the belly hose. It doesn't have the rubber look though.

Well just arrived today the hose for Zam on the chest armor.

<img src=http://zam-wesell.com/misc/ragresenhose.jpg>

i altered your pic - let's try to keep future pix reasonably sized - dcb

I just recieved the same hose that Moncal got for me.
Tell me what you think sizewize etc...

compare it to this...

size is nice.. but those ribs are not so good - i don't like thethickness and roundess of 'em I've seen better ones all the time at thrift stores on portable mini spas.... (not perfect - but better)...

I have a feeling it's supposed to be more accordian like--
can you take a pic of those mini spa hoses?

zam i am wrote:
I have a feeling it's supposed to be more accordian like--
can you take a pic of those mini spa hoses?

exactly.. like it would compress.

I'll buy one next time i see one (they seem to be a thrift store staple)

You guys are right, it does appear to be more like a bendy straw.
Sorry! I never intended to mislead anyone on it, only figured it would be a close substitute and if the correct one wasn't found it'd work just fine.

cal

Hey man, no problem, yours is pretty darn close. It will help me to finish sculpting my hose connectors anyway. No misleading done
Edit**Oh, before you pic up one Dallas, a quick measurement with my trusty new calipers. Measurement between the ribs on the cardboard cut out is 1/2" so the inner "creases" are 1/4" from ea. rib. Just wanna clarify for everyone still out there helping us to find the perfect HOSE for the stomach area...

found a hose at a thrift tonight... still not perfect - but the best so far...



it's 1" diameter and has a the "embedded spring" like Zam.... but no ridge between the grooves...

This is still the BEST i've found so far - and if i only find this one - i will be satisfied w/ it until the real stuff is found (not 100% happy - but satisfied).

oh - the bad news - there is only just enough to make one (and i really have to be careful... as it's just enough - after i cut off the ends to expose the little bit that is inside them)

MaulMaus wrote:

Zam I Am wrote:
Dont forget the purchasing suspenders, the buttons, painting the hoses, There's a LOT more than just the suit and vest. Chestplating, etc.

*slaps forehead* Oh man....

BTW did we ever figure out what kind of hoses those are? Should I cannibalize my vaccuum cleaner? What kind of paint would even stick to that stuff?

I don't even want to think about the chestplating! I'm still trying to get the lacing to be longer than 24" *but hey... at least I'm doing better than the 2" scrap lace I was cutting before! *

DO NOT cannabalize your vaccuum hose. The inner diameter must be 1" or things won't work out. IE, it won't connect to the lower front armour I used MonCal's hoses. My guess is as good as anyone elses on the paint. Mine is peeling slightly.

Thanks! *vaccuum cleaner breathes a sigh of relief!*

Okay MonCal... fess up! Where'd you get the hoses?

ZIA - what kind of paint did you use? Has it held up pretty well until now?

I'm going to take a wild gues at that hose being clear with purple-ish rings painted from the inside?

Strike one?

STRIKE ONE!


BTW, make Zam I Ain't fess up! He's the painter in the family...

Hmm.... I really don't remember seeing those pics before... could be old age setting in.. or all that glue I've been using recently...

When I had my washer repaired... I thought that the hose might be useful..

Thanks for the offer MonCal! But since I now know what I'm looking for - being a visual person - I can pick that up locally and save you a trip to the store and the post office. Still on the lookout for a closer match though....