Flexible pressure bearing tubing

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

Can anyone tell me please whether or not it is possible to obtain flexible tubing that can withstand say 4 Bar pressure……something along the lines of braided flexible tap connectors but much finer….about 1/8" to 3/16". I would like to incorporate it into an air testing rig for small locos. I usually make do with 1/8" copper but it kinks easily and lacks flexibility when the loco has to be moved for adjustments etc. I have also tried rubber tubing but this suffers from ballooning or is otherwise too thick to give much flexibility.

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

[maurice bennieParticipant @mauricebennie99556]

Hi Mick Have you tried flexible car brake pipe used on most kit cars.

Maurice.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

I'm sure you could find something here:

**LINK**

The clear vinyl tube is rated to 2.7 bar and goes down to 1/8 inch. I cant find braided-reinforced nylon tube less than 1/4 on that site, but I know In have seen it in very small sizes.

Neil

Edited By Neil Wyatt on 12/05/2014 19:02:50

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

The plastic pnumatic tube will take 10bar plus and you can get easy to use push fit connectors, something like this unless you have a specific need for braided

Edited By JasonB on 12/05/2014 19:01:53

[Nick HughesParticipant @nickhughes97026]

Hi Mick,

Try Goodrich hoses as listed here:- **LINK**

The 600-02 has a 2mm bore and a 5mm dia over the outer braid.

This does tend to be expensive, but is probably the best and I've used Goodrich on my motorcycles for years.

Nick.

[WALLACEParticipant @wallace]

It’s a bugger to cut !

I’ve found a thin metal cutting disc in the angle grinder best – but will need flushing out to remove any cutting debris

W.

[Bob Brown 1Participant @bobbrown1]

Stainless steel braided Teflon hose (brake hose) is certainly an option, pressure is not a problem as it is good for +250 bar working pressure and should be OK for the temperatures just over 250 degree C. It is normally sized by dash number which is in 1/16" increments so -3 is 3/16. You should also be able to get snap connectors to make connecting things up very easy.

I find it reasonable to cut if you wrap the cut in tape and use a fine toothed saw, done it quite a few times in my motor sport days (rally cars)

Bob

Edited By Bob Brown 1 on 12/05/2014 19:22:45

[nigel jones 5Participant @nigeljones5]

wrap it tightly with insulation tape then cut through the tape – stops it flaring.

[Oompa LumpaParticipant @oompalumpa34302]

Posted by Bob Brown 1 on 12/05/2014 19:20:36:

I find it reasonable to cut if you wrap the cut in tape and use a fine toothed saw, done it quite a few times in my motor sport days (rally cars)

Bob

Edited By Bob Brown 1 on 12/05/2014 19:22:45

Showing your age there Bob. I use a very good quality pair of sidecutters and as Fizzy suggests, wrap it in tape where you want to cut. Like Bob, I cut (what seemed like) miles of this stuff back in the day and I must say, using Goodrich or Earl's fittings I never had a failure.

graham.

[Bob Brown 1Participant @bobbrown1]

Wot's age got to do with it I did a race car for a mate back end of last year with the stuff!

It certainly does not come off very easily unless you want to remove the fitting, I've had a wheel smashed off the car and half the suspension wrecked but the caliper was still attached to the car by the hose

[michael howarth 1Participant @michaelhowarth1]

Brilliant gents, thanks very much for all that. Now off to do a bit of homework on what you have flagged up.

Mick

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