Technical How To make perfect Radiator hose cuts (?)

Came across this thread yesterday after wondering how to cut snd trim some pieces of Gates 90 degree elbows for my speedster project. I actually came across the vid posted in this thread before finding this. Made me laugh. Of course all 5 of the elbows I purchased were different, and none of the ends were cut square. After reading some suggestions here, I tried cutting one with my Bosch mitre saw with a scrap piece of PVC stuck inside. Came out not too bad, but not perfect either in terms of being even or square, but good enough for 99% of regular stuff. However, for me with the never ending pursuit of the opposite of perfection is the enemy of good enough, I had to do better. So, again using some ideas I found here, I placed a scrap piece of SS tubing inside the elbow of the freshly made cut. It fit perfectly as opposed to the PVC pipe which was a little too big. I then used it as a guide to trim with an OLFA 1” blade. Now at least, it was almost perfect, but not quite. Next was sanding it on some 220 grit paper by hand, then I thought of using my 6” disc sander. The paper on the disc sander was pretty much done, so I didn’t care. All this was done with the SS tube still in place. Totally over the top with all this nonsense, but I wanted the elbows to match as best as possible on my flathead engine for aesthetic and for practical reasons.

 

And you didn't polish and seal the copper?
One thing I'll mention that I learned recently. You know how factory hoses stick on the fittings?
One guy figured that the factories used something to make it easy to slide on like soap, but would not allow it to slip back off. He ended up using iso alcohol. Just a bit on the ID and it slips on easy, then when dry sticks well.

 

Chopsaw......cuts the wire inside the rubber........just go slowly, don't just plunge.

 

I use a Craftsman cutting tool I’ve had for a long time. Uses a standard utility knife blade. I’ve cut everything with it hoses, rubber sheet, wire, wood, light aluminum sheet. For larger diameter hose I use a bandsaw and square up cut and smooth edges on a belt sander being very carful not letting it grab keeping fingers well out of the way.

 

I use the Craftsman tool shown above as well for smaller diameter hoses. The Iso Alcohol tip is a good one. I use the Isopar type from the Dodge dealer for fitting tight hoses and installing windshield/backglass rubber gaskets. Very slippery when still wet. Using PVC or even wood dowelling to stabilize, is a good tip as well.

What really makes heavy rubber easier to cut if using a saw is freezing it first. Stiffens it up good and prevents the saw from binding in the rubber. Old thread, but a good refresher. If you are like me, these days some things come under the category of "things I used to know".

 

Hadn't really thought about it before, but the next time I need to cut some rubber hose I think I'll try smearing a light coating of dielectric grease over the outside and inside of the hose. And maybe a little smear on the cutting blade too. The dielectric grease is "rubber friendly" and should also make the hose slip more easily onto a tube or fitting. And maybe even make things easier to disassemble at a later time.

 

I always use that dielectric grease on hoses (inside) and water necks, radiator necks etc. to ease assembly and help reduce the pitting of the necks. It works fine for me.

 

I would imagine that any rubber friendly lubricant would work.
Possibly a rubber grease would be ideal.
I think Gibbs Brand is also rubber friendly.
The problem that I have seen with using any type of lubricants is the rubber hoses become more slippery and don’t seem to hold as well with hose clamps so that’s why I stick to using water.

The great thing about most lubricants (including the dishwashing liquid in the first post) is that they stick to the knife blade as you cut the rubber.
The cutting tools shown, to some degree cut by a shearing or squashing action.

I also often use a grinder, almost any type of disc, to shape any rubber as needed.
I recently made some round rubber washers by using a leather punch for the hole and then placed the rubber between two steel washers and trimmed to the edge of the steel.

another little job, - repurposed milk line, grinder and 2 minutes of time……

 

I should have mentioned that I picked up this vintage WEN sharpening tool a month or two ago at Value Village for CAN$14. It was missing the foam wick, but I just cut some from an unused round foam paint brush I had lying around.
It sharpens knives, scissors, and used utility blades like no bodies business. I took a few used OLFA blades which were essentially useless, and brought them back to life. Being as expensive as they are now (OLFA blades), I would suggest tracking one of these units down for anyone looking to keep things razor sharp.

 

I guess I'm not after perfect. I just cut the hose a little long and trim it square with sheet metal shears.

Gary

 

Imagine if you will, Driving at a steady pace when all of a sudden the windshield is covered with water and antifreeze, I eased over to the shoulder of I-40 thinking I had a catastrophic engine failure.

Opened the hood and it was obvious the top radiator hose had split, fortunately I was traveling with several friends and my friend Gary had a hose that would work but would have to be shorter to fit.

My tool box had a hacksaw but the blade was as sharp as a butter knife so out comes a utility knife ,it worked but the cut was less than perfect, just as it was getting dark we got back on the road, the hose worked well until we got back home, not a thing of beauty but it worked even though it looked like I had cut the radiator hose with a hatchet! HRP