Thread: Ideas for coolant hoses

This morning I decided to clean out the coolant tank for the Hercus as the slime and mould in the tank looked like it might grown legs and turn into something really nasty.
While doing this I notice that the clear PVC hoses I use to move the fluid around have gone quite hard.
It's not that big of a deal except where the hose has to be flexible enough to move back and forth with the carriage.
I have the same problem wherever I use them to deliver oil/lube/coolant
Has anyone found a better/readily available alternative to clear PVC?

Cleaning the sludgy coolant tank has to be one of the workshops best jobs

You should call him Albert

I use the braided reinforced hose, but it goes the same way. I find the clear stuff kinks to easily. The cold here doesn't help either. I was thinking maybe a silicon hose, like your cars vacuum hose, maybe an option?

Ew

Steam hoses tend to stay flexible. Rubber is about the only material that does. We have water hoses at work that are so flexible even after many years that you find it difficult to kink them because the kink wants to run away from you. Hot water hose such as are used for washdown in dairies etc.

Dean

G'day Bob,
I'm not sure what diameter hose you need but does it need to be transparent?
If not perhaps normal automotive fuel line or coolant hose might do the job?
Cheers,
Greg

Clothes washing machine hose????.

Phil

No it doesn't need to be transparent but it does need to be able to flex. e.g. the coolant spout sits on a mag base attached to the lathe carriage and this rides back and forth many times a hour while I'm turning

It's the plasticisers in PVC that get leached out by the oil or fuel that causes the hoses to loose flexibility.
I'd guess most materials except natural rubber or PVC would be OK. Neoprene or silicone?

I think fuel line hoses these days are oil/fuel resistant on the inside, but seem to have an outer layer made of natural rubber? Anyway, they often go soft from leaking at the ends - curses!

Jordan

Fuel hose sounds like it could be worth a try but is it flexible enough?

Originally Posted by BobL

Fuel hose sounds like it could be worth a try but is it flexible enough?

No mention of size yet. I was thinking grinder for some resaon. Fuel hose should be good enough. It is flexible. PVC goes hard unless there are opaque versions. Silicon with thick walls would be ideal. I had a couple of lengths stuck in me some years ago. When they were removed I was somewhat discomfited to see over a foot of hose about 1/2inch diam pulled out of me. There would have been plenty for your lathe Bob. I was not in a state to ask for souvenirs.

Dean

Make sure you get a nitrile fuel hose both inner and outer some have nitrile inner and edpm outer do not use this stuff the if the outer is nitrile it can be submerged in a tank

Bruce

Tis all good, I found some short lengths of surgical grade Silicone tubing amongst my stash

I use the black, drip feed hose from Bunnings' reticulation aisle. It never goes hard and it's super flexible and super cheap. I use it on both my lathe and bandsaw pumps I got through aliexpress. May be too small for your setup through - somewhere around 5-6mm ID.

Originally Posted by Ueee

You should call him Albert

If you mean the coolant tank, I've often thought of a politician or two, except the idea of sticking my hand into the tank and scraping out the slime and mould is not too thrilling.

Thanks for the reminder of the small black irrigation tubing. I do use this stuff on my bandsaw where I have a pair of these tubes washing the blade at each end of the cut but they are fixed in place and not flexing all that much. Still worth a go next time I have to replace what I currently have.

Originally Posted by BobL

If you mean the coolant tank, I've often thought of a politician or two, except the idea of sticking my hand into the tank and scraping out the slime and mould is not too thrilling.

Surely someone gets the reference?

I can't find a clip of the scene, try this from 1:30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK8_...h9elstWtUShDrB

Ew