What is the best tool for removing the
Flax from the Stuffing Box?
TOOLS for REMOVING THE FLAX:
Subj: Re: Stuffing box, Flax Pullers
Bob,
FUNNY you should ask! THIS is what these "lists" SHOULD be
all about: May I respectfully recommend Boat/US's (and I suppose
other) marine supply shops SELL these goofy looking "flax picks
and pullers" for JUST this problem!
Flax Pick: Item 282111, Boat/US $6.95
Flax Puller: Item 393080, Boat/US $10.95
Good Luck, Sam Collins, C-27 #2117, "Blue Dolphin",
sandbarsam@homemail.com
Subj: Re: Stuffing box, Flax Pullers
I've always been successful getting it out with a very small
flat-bladed screwdriver, holding the tool nearly parallel with the
shaft, and scraping the stuff out as if the screwdriver were a
chisel. It always came out in nearly one piece... just pulled it out
and scraped a bit more to make sure the box was empty before
re-stuffing it.
Norm Bernstein, 'Amoreena', C400 #105, msys@marisystems.com (Marisystems
Inc.)
Subj: Re: Stuffing box, Flax Pullers
I use an awl, bent at the end to hook the stuff out. Cheaper
than the tool at West Marine, and easier to use since the spirals on
the extractor are nearly too big to fit down the side of the
stuffing cap on my C30. Also I used the "green stuff"
dripless packing last year from WM and it worked great.
bwheeler@clark.net (Brian Wheeler)
Subj: Re: Stuffing box, Flax Pullers
Get the largest fish hook you can find (preferably stainless
steel, size 5/0) and straighten it out in a vice (some break, some
don't. Please wear eye protection). Poke & pull as required to
remove the old flax.
Charlie Pearsall, cpearsall@smcplus.com
Subj: Re: Stuffing box, Flax Pullers
Norm, Bob,
It depends on how old and badly deteriorated the flax is. Mine, like
Norm's, came out no problem with a skinny long shafted electrician's
screwdriver. BUT we had a guy in our yard that had several LAYERS of
old flax PACKED rock solid real deep in the fitting that was
"shiny" and almost IMPOSSIBLE to get a hold of. THAT'S
when we went ahead and bought the $6.95 pic I mentioned in the other
post with the sharp point and a curved end. Charlie Pearsall's
fishhook will probably work the same way too.
SLCollins, sandbarsam@homemail.com
Subj: Re: Stuffing box, Flax Pullers
Hi all, I tried using a wine opener with great success, very
easy and you probably have one already.
Adam, a-ellis@email.msn.com (a-ellis)
Subj: Re: Stuffing box, Flax Pullers
I picked up a bunch of different size and shaped dental picks at
a local flea market - they cost a buck a piece, are made out of
stainless steal don't rust, pretty strong and designed to work in
small places - you can even put an edge on the scalers and they'll
cut through the flax -
Dave, Second Wind, dpbcc@galaxy.net
Subj: Re: Stuffing box, Flax Pullers
I had the same problem last year with VERY HARD PACKED flax.
Tried everything, including: the flax extractor (it snapped off from
the strain), ...an awl with a bent tip (it only pulled up little
threads of flax but couldn't get the main strip), ...a dental pick
borrowed from a dentist friend (it broke), ...a small flat-blade
screwdriver (couldn't get it under the flax), ...
Finally used needle-nosed pliers, the kind with the tips bent at
about a 70-degree angle. I was able to drive the tips into the flax
and rip it out. This tool also gets the flax out without scoring the
shaft!
Hope this helps.
Victor, C27 "Prudence", Wickford, RI, vwm@gis.net
Subj: Re: Stuffing box, Flax Pullers
FYI, I tried one of the West flax pullers - I can't recall which
one – and it bent like aluminum foil. I ended up using a 3"
drywall screw, which worked well.
Jim Overend, C36 #769 "Carrie B", jimo1999@yahoo.com
Subj: Re: Stuffing box, Flax Pullers
Last fall, when we hauled, I decided to repack the stuffing box
just for the hell of it (never did that before). After trying to get
the old flax out several different ways, I finally gave up. In the
spring I'm going to try a small dry wall screw and see if that
works. If that fails, then I guess I'll break down and get one of
those flax extractors that are is the catalogues. I'm sure that
someone out there has a neat little trick for extracting old flax.
Bob, G.V.Black C36 MKII #1720, ctaylor@george.lhi.net,
Rogers City,MI
Subj: Re: Stuffing box, Flax Pullers
As far as Packing Removal Tools? Most are too large to fit or
not strong enough. I made my own out of a coat hanger. Just a
thought.
Ron, APACHE #788, ronphylhill@erols.com
Important: The opinions expressed here are
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