Is an old fire blanket safe?
A bushing usually is a piece that's threaded on both inside and outside, and goes into a larger pipe coupling so a small pipe can fit up to it, say at the junction of a Tee joint. If you have the open threaded end of a pipe to connect to, and need a larger pipe leading up to it, then you use an adapter, which is shaped like a bell, with the smaller end going on the small pipe and the other end being threaded for whatever size pipe you're going to use there. The same scenario apply for sweated copper and glued PVC.
The best thing to do is to contact the local fire marshal, as he will have the most accurate information on local code requirements. You can look in the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard 10 Standard for Portable Fire Extinguishers, online version (see link below). As with almost every employer, OSHA has to put their two cents in on the matter as well.
Myself, I hate an EVA foam handle and will choose cork every time, all else being equal. But I also find IM6 to be lighter-weight and more sensitive than fiberglass, so for me it's a no-brainer. If you find yourself breaking a lot of rods, best get the U.S. Otherwise, berkley is a good choice. In fact, I think the $20 berkley cherrywood is the best value for the $$$ on the market; I have several.
Buy another one and join the two together with a hose pipe coupling, this should solve your problem. If your hose pipe has gone a bit stiff, try soaking it in hot water to soften it up a bit and make it more flexible.
