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Silicone ProductsSilicone Hose Tips and Tricks
Tips and Tricks for Cutting Silicone Hose
CLEANING:
Silicone hose is very easy to clean using hot soapy water or rubbing alcohol and a clean cloth. Simply dampen the cloth and wipe down the hose to restore its appearance.
CUTTING:
Silicone hose can be cut to almost any desired length using an appropriately sized liner clamp (We use a Torca EasySeal clamp with the ends cut off to make perfect 3" couplers every time, see below for instructions to make one), a utility or "Snap Off" knife, and a tape measure or ruler. A brand new sharp blade is very important for having a clean cut. Remember to wear protective gloves when cutting hose and always cut with the blade away from yourself, never towards yourself. A little bit of soapy water on the cutting blade will make cutting easier and will keep your blade sharper longer. Be careful though, the hose will be more slippery, be sure you don't cut yourself!
For cutting smaller diameter hoses it is even easier. With just a pair of Fragola Hose Cutters you can make a clean cut on silicone hose up to 1-3/4" ID. |
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Follow these simple steps for a safe, clean and straight cut:
CLAMPING:
Standard worm gear clamps, serrated clamps, and wire clamps should never be used on silicone hose. Silicone has poor cut growth resistance and can extrude into the gear slots of the clamp as it is being tightened, causing the hose to tear before it has ever been in service.
- Heater & Coolant Service:
We recommend the use of Stainless Steel Liner Clamps for Heater Hose and Coolant Hose. Liner clamps provide a true concentric seal for reliable service. The term "liner" comes from the flat stainless band that extends under the worm-gear slots to protect the silicone.
- Initial Clamp Torque: 40 inch pounds
- Re-Torque (if needed): 20 inch pounds
- Bead Specification: MS-33660 or SAE J962
- Forced Induction & Intake Service:
We recommend the use of Stainless Steel T-Bolt Clamps for larger diameter silicone couplers, humps, elbows and charged air cooler hose. T-Bolt clamps offer higher strength, durability and corrosion resistance than traditional worm-gear and liner clamps while featuring a 3/4" bandwidth for added security. This makes them the ideal choice for the medium and heavy-duty applications often found in turbocharged setups.
- Clamp Torque: 75 inch pounds
- Constant torque T-bolt clamps will help to retain clamp load and eliminate the need for re-torquing.
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