Guide · Microtubing and connectors
Drip hole punches and goof plugs: sizes and when a plug is not enough
Use the punch your connector's maker pairs with it, plug a wrong hole with the right end of a goof plug, and cut and couple the section if it still leaks.
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Short answer
Use the punch your connector's maker pairs with it. Plug a wrong hole with the small end of a goof plug, use the large end if the hole is torn, and cut out the section and fit a coupling if it still leaks.
Punches: matched to the barb
University of Maine Extension says to always use a punch made for drip tubing and matched to the barb, never a nail or other improvised tool. It notes that a barb needs an exact-size hole to seal, and a dull punch tears the tube.[1]
DIG lists 2 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm punch assemblies for making holes in polyethylene tubing for drippers and micro sprinklers.[2] Because there are separate sizes, one punch does not cover every takeoff or emitter barb.[2]
DIG's page does not say which fitting each punch size is for, and we found no other maker document that maps punch sizes to barbs. Use the punch your connector's maker names. If it names none, ask the maker.
Goof plugs: the sizes makers list
| Plug | Ends or size | Pack | Listed use | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DIG G79B | .200 in OD small end, .400 in OD large end | Strip of 10 | Holes in drip and micro tubing, end of 1/4 in tubing | DIG[3] |
| DIG 16-022 | Not stated | Strip of 10 | Holes in mainline, end of 1/4 in tubing | DIG[4] |
| Raindrip 646050B | Not stated | 50-pack | Holes in 1/2 in, 5/8 in and 0.710 in supply tubing | Raindrip[5] |
| Rain Bird 1/4 in tubing plug | Not stated | Not stated | End plug for flushing and draining 1/4 in tubing; seals unwanted holes | Rain Bird[6] |
DIG says the G79B can seal a hole, stop a small leak, or close the end of 1/4 in microtubing, soaker hose or dripline.[3] It does not describe the plug as a repair for split tubing. Raindrip's listing covers unwanted holes and openings where a fitting was removed, and does not mention 1/4 in tubing.[5]
Which end, and in what order
UMaine Extension's sequence:[1]
- Seal the old hole with the small end of a goof plug.
- If the hole is ripped, use the larger end.
- If it still leaks, cut out the section and install a coupling.
When a plug is not enough
Drip Depot, a specialist retailer, says leaks at 1/4 in connections can come from irregularly shaped holes or barbed fittings that are not seated properly.[7] Its suggested fixes match UMaine's: reseat the barb, plug the hole and punch a new one nearby, or cut out the section and join it with a barb coupler.[7]
Do not wrap a leaking plug in tape or glue it. If the hole is torn past what the large end seals, cut and couple.
Picks that fit4 products
To cut out a damaged 1/2 in section: Orbit 67466 (listed for .620-.710 in OD) or Smart Loc S5600UB (listed for .520 x .620, .600 x .700 and .620 x .710 in), two per splice.
More on choosing
To rejoin 1/4 in tubing: Rain Bird BC25/10PS or BC25-30PS, a bag of 10 or 30 barbed couplings.
Choose the Orbit 67466 for the widest stated OD range
Orbit 67466 1/2 in universal drip coupling (0.620‑0.710 in OD)
Choose the Raindrip Smart Loc S5600UB when you know your ID x OD pair
Raindrip Smart Loc S5600UB universal coupling (0.620, 0.700 and 0.710 in OD)
1/4 in barbed coupling
1/4 in barbed coupling, bag of 30
On Amazon, check that "Ships from / Sold by" is Amazon.com or the brand before you buy.[8]
Orbit lists the 67466 for .620-.710 in OD,[9] and Raindrip lists the Smart Loc S5600UB for .520 x .620, .600 x .700 and .620 x .710 in.[10] Neither goof plugs nor punches are in our approved catalog yet.
Next
Questions
What is a goof plug?
A small double-ended barbed plug for closing an unwanted hole in drip tubing. DIG's G79B has a .200 in OD end and a .400 in OD end and comes as a strip of 10.[3]
Which end of a goof plug do I use?
University of Maine Extension advises starting with the small end, and using the larger end only if the hole is ripped.[1]
Why is my goof plug still leaking?
The hole may be torn or irregular. UMaine Extension says to cut out the section and install a coupling if it still leaks after the larger end, and Drip Depot names irregularly shaped holes as a cause of leaks at 1/4 in connections.[1][7]
Do I need a special tool to punch drip tubing?
Yes. UMaine Extension says to always use a punch made for drip tubing and matched to the barb, never a nail or other improvised tool.[1]
Can I use Raindrip goof plugs on 1/4 inch tubing?
Raindrip lists its 646050B goof plugs for 1/2 in, 5/8 in and 0.710 in supply tubing; the listing does not mention 1/4 in tubing.[5]