WE get asked alot, 'how do I measure for hoses'? Well the simple answer is flare of one fitting to the flare of another, and allow for routing, bends, obstacles, etc. Thats the easy explanation. The more difficult explanation is how to do this. Well---in the absence of the actual hose ends and the actual hose being used, we have a tried an true inexpensive method.
We have found that this clear looking hose from a hardware store-Lowes plumbing section in my case--mimics the OD and bend radius of a firesleeved -6 and -8 hose. The pic shows 2 examples. The larger one is 5/8 OD, 3/8 ID with a 1/8 wall thickness. The smaller is 1/2 OD, 3/8 ID, with a 1/16 wall. So the idea is to put one end of the hose on one male fitting, and using some good routing, cut the hose so the other end is on the opposite fitting. Dont overbend, the clear hose isnt as stiff as a braided teflon hose, but you get the idea. (You can even install a hose end with some effort, depending on the type of stem to give you an even more accurate measurment.) Then take the hose and measure its cut length. That gets you very close to what the actual finished assembly length will be. Assembly length being the flare to flare dimension, no matter what hose ends are used. (Different manufacturers have different body to stem lengths for their own purposes, but those that meet Mil MS8005 for teflon have a min/max dimension. A certified teflon hose doesnt have to meet Mil MS8005 to be certified. For experimental use, the assemblies dont have to be certified, but should adhere to a similar spec.)
I bring all of this up because we do ALOT of custom assemblies. Sometimes we'll send the client a selection of hose ends and hose to do a mockup for accuracy, but most of the time we rely on the client to tell us what they want if its custom. In about 1/3 of the cases, we get a request to shorten the assembly to something else. Its time consuming for the builder---who wants to move to something else, or is held up waiting on the modification, and with shipping delays it becomes a headache. And if the assembly was short to begin with, then there needs to be a new assembly made that could have been done more correctly the first time. This is especially true for our international clients wanting custom creations. Imagine the delay and expense to either modify a hose, or make a new assembly and ship it overseas. Looked a UPS and FED EX rates lately?
So as a vendor, we try very hard to do things as precisely and quickly as possible. Because you the builder want to build and fly. Not mess around because of a hose issue. So with this little tibdit, we hopw to help you on your journey.
Tom
We have found that this clear looking hose from a hardware store-Lowes plumbing section in my case--mimics the OD and bend radius of a firesleeved -6 and -8 hose. The pic shows 2 examples. The larger one is 5/8 OD, 3/8 ID with a 1/8 wall thickness. The smaller is 1/2 OD, 3/8 ID, with a 1/16 wall. So the idea is to put one end of the hose on one male fitting, and using some good routing, cut the hose so the other end is on the opposite fitting. Dont overbend, the clear hose isnt as stiff as a braided teflon hose, but you get the idea. (You can even install a hose end with some effort, depending on the type of stem to give you an even more accurate measurment.) Then take the hose and measure its cut length. That gets you very close to what the actual finished assembly length will be. Assembly length being the flare to flare dimension, no matter what hose ends are used. (Different manufacturers have different body to stem lengths for their own purposes, but those that meet Mil MS8005 for teflon have a min/max dimension. A certified teflon hose doesnt have to meet Mil MS8005 to be certified. For experimental use, the assemblies dont have to be certified, but should adhere to a similar spec.)
I bring all of this up because we do ALOT of custom assemblies. Sometimes we'll send the client a selection of hose ends and hose to do a mockup for accuracy, but most of the time we rely on the client to tell us what they want if its custom. In about 1/3 of the cases, we get a request to shorten the assembly to something else. Its time consuming for the builder---who wants to move to something else, or is held up waiting on the modification, and with shipping delays it becomes a headache. And if the assembly was short to begin with, then there needs to be a new assembly made that could have been done more correctly the first time. This is especially true for our international clients wanting custom creations. Imagine the delay and expense to either modify a hose, or make a new assembly and ship it overseas. Looked a UPS and FED EX rates lately?
So as a vendor, we try very hard to do things as precisely and quickly as possible. Because you the builder want to build and fly. Not mess around because of a hose issue. So with this little tibdit, we hopw to help you on your journey.
Tom