300X, Sounds like a plan! I used the silly putty on the last bbl. nut I did. Kind of time consuming. I see where guys are using thin tape on the bbl. nuts now. I'm thinking about using tape on the next bed. The stretchy kind that would make for a tight fit around the nut. Sounds like you're trying to get a more "monolithic" flow of mud ? Not sayin' thats wrong, just feelin' around for ideas.