Heli_av8tor
Well-known member
The vent fans in my coach have recessed knobs. With 7 foot ceilings it was all I could do to reach them. Forget it if I was barefooted.
I've seen a number of people have used PVC pipe to make a tool to reach and turn the knob. I didn't want to have to deal with another tool to stow some place.
Here's my solution.
I ordered four of these extensions from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CSN4LC
A single screw has to go through the knob, the extensions, and into the fan mechanism.
The thread is 8-32 which is common enough, but long screws are not. I decided to fabricate the screws. (cost $1.04 for the 12" all-thread rod.)
The original setup used about an 1-1/2" extension to get into the housing. I wanted to add two of the 2" extensions to lower the knob 4".
These pictures detail my process.
Picture 1: the original fan and knob
Picture 2: I used a cutoff tool in the lathe to liberate a phillips head from a screw from my junkbox. I left a 0.075" diameter nib, 1/8" long on the head to provide centering and more surface contact area for the silver brazing.
Picture 3: Drilling a 0.077" hole in the threaded rod for the head.
Picture 4: Silver brazing the head to the threaded rod.
Picture 5: The finished extension stack. The bolt was trimmed flush with the end of the extension (about 5-1/2" after trimming).
Picture 6: The knob mounted on the fan.
I've seen a number of people have used PVC pipe to make a tool to reach and turn the knob. I didn't want to have to deal with another tool to stow some place.
Here's my solution.
I ordered four of these extensions from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CSN4LC
A single screw has to go through the knob, the extensions, and into the fan mechanism.
The thread is 8-32 which is common enough, but long screws are not. I decided to fabricate the screws. (cost $1.04 for the 12" all-thread rod.)
The original setup used about an 1-1/2" extension to get into the housing. I wanted to add two of the 2" extensions to lower the knob 4".
These pictures detail my process.
Picture 1: the original fan and knob
Picture 2: I used a cutoff tool in the lathe to liberate a phillips head from a screw from my junkbox. I left a 0.075" diameter nib, 1/8" long on the head to provide centering and more surface contact area for the silver brazing.
Picture 3: Drilling a 0.077" hole in the threaded rod for the head.
Picture 4: Silver brazing the head to the threaded rod.
Picture 5: The finished extension stack. The bolt was trimmed flush with the end of the extension (about 5-1/2" after trimming).
Picture 6: The knob mounted on the fan.