Eureka! Cutting braided SS hose made easy(er)

[Howard2x4x4]

I've been working on braided SS hydroboost lines and AN fittings without much success. I was going to post a question here asking for guidance and how-to and the question popped up, "is this already being discussed?'. I read the listed threads and saw a suggestion to go slow. I nixed the new thread and decided to try going even slower than my usual snail pace. And I made a HUGE addition to the suggested steps. I added a small hose clamp at the cut mark. MUCH easier, much better!

 

[bax]

Winner!

 

[MarsChariot]

A far easier method is the stainless cutter tool that you can pick up from Summit. Clean cuts, no fuss, no muss.

BTW, you did use PTFE hose on that right? I made the mistake of using rubber lined stainless and ended up replacing all the hoses a few years later.

 

[Howard2x4x4]

A far easier method is the stainless cutter tool that you can pick up from Summit. Clean cuts, no fuss, no muss.

BTW, you did use PTFE hose on that right? I made the mistake of using rubber lined stainless and ended up replacing all the hoses a few years later.

I did the Math - cutter, $80+/-, hose clamp <$2. Multiply by 1 because in all likelihood, I'll never do this again and the answer was easy for this Hollander living in beautiful West Michigan. Big yuppers on the PTFE. Thanks for chiming in!

 

[Howard2x4x4]

Winner!

Thanks Bax! I'm sure you've 'been there, done that'. I am really glad (and humbled) that I can learn and evolve thanks to CBF.

 

[bmc69]

I have fiberglass reinforced tape that is only 1/2" wide that I use to wrap and secure the cut zone. Works the charm.

 

[DJT]

zip ties are an even cheaper option...

 

[Rustytruck]

I use duct tape wrapped at the cut zone then cut through the duct tape not next to it. that way the duct tape supports both sides of the cut. I use the cutting disc in my 4.5" angle grinder.

 

[toddz69]

A far easier method is the stainless cutter tool that you can pick up from Summit. Clean cuts, no fuss, no muss.

BTW, you did use PTFE hose on that right? I made the mistake of using rubber lined stainless and ended up replacing all the hoses a few years later.

Mars:

Did you have trouble with the rubber-lined stainless with power steering fluid? I know that you want PTFE for fuel lines but I haven't ever had a problem with rubber lines for power steering/hydroboost.

Todd Z.

 

[lars]

Mars:

Did you have trouble with the rubber-lined stainless with power steering fluid? I know that you want PTFE for fuel lines but I haven't ever had a problem with rubber lines for power steering/hydroboost.

Todd Z.

In the aviation world, rubber lines have a 5 year life. That may be a bit conservative, but the aircraft I just finished rebuilding had rubber lines with date tags showing that they were about 12 years old. Both fuel and oil. When we removed them and tried bending them, all of them cracked. We cut through the stainless braid to inspect a couple of them, they were ugly- brittle, rock hard chunks. It was amazing that none had leaked. On the other hand, PTFE hoses in the aviation world are considered to have an unlimited life, regardless of fluid. Just sayin'...

 

[lars]

And to the OP, nice job. I use a die grinder, also with a smaller diameter abrasive cutoff wheel. I just use a couple of wraps of fiberglass reinforced tape. Main thing is not melting the liner too badly while cutting, which creates boogers that are difficult to scrape out of the cut. Which requires delicate scraping with an X-Acto knife. Not that I would know anything about that...

 

[toddz69]

In the aviation world, rubber lines have a 5 year life. That may be a bit conservative, but the aircraft I just finished rebuilding had rubber lines with date tags showing that they were about 12 years old. Both fuel and oil. When we removed them and tried bending them, all of them cracked. We cut through the stainless braid to inspect a couple of them, they were ugly- brittle, rock hard chunks. It was amazing that none had leaked. On the other hand, PTFE hoses in the aviation world are considered to have an unlimited life, regardless of fluid. Just sayin'...

Yeah, I should probably put PTFE lines on for steering as well so that we're not trying to do a field fix 50 miles from Nowheresville, NV, on one of the trips.

Todd Z.