How Do I Cut a Silicone Hose?

Cutting silicone hosesThere are situations where you may want to cut a silicone hose to make it smaller. It is essential that you do this in the right way to give a good finish and you do not compromise the efficiency of the hose.

There are right and wrong ways to cut silicone hoses, the correct way will depend on the hose size that you are working with. There are many questions we often get asked which we have answered below:

How do I cut small diameter unreinforced hoses or tubing?

For unreinforced silicone tubing up to around 8mm you can simply cut the tube with wire cutters, pliers or scissors.

How do I cut small diameter reinforced silicone hoses?

Small diameter reinforced silicone hoses can be cut with a parcel knife or Stanley blade. You should always ensure you use a brand new blade and please watch your fingers. This method with work on up to 25mm diameter hoses. When cutting do not roll the hose as you risk cutting you fingers

Can I use a hacksaw to cut silicone hoses?

Never use a hacksaw for any diameter hose this will create frayed material and debris inside hoses.

Can I use a vice to hold my hose whilst cutting?

If you have a vice this will make securing small hoses easier and therefore can be used for small projects. We do not advise using a vice for larger hoses as the hose will deform and move, the result will be a ruined hose.

How do I cut large diameter silicone hoses?

We will take you through the step by step process of successfully cutting large diameter silicone hoses with good results.
You will need: T bolt hose clamp to suit the size of hose, A spanner for the clamp and a Stanley knife with a brand new blade.
1. Mark the hose to cut with a permanent marker
2. Line up the clamp, tighten and secure.
3. Keep your fingers away. Now slowly use the edge of the clamp as a cutting guide. Cut along until you reach the bridge of the clamp.
4. When you reach the bridge of the clamp, you will loose that line. Rotate and readjust the clamp to get that straight line
5. Cut some more until the entire diameter is cut
6. Remove the clamp and admire your job.

Please note that our silicone hoses are perfectly cut in the factory and therefore it is impossible to get these same results at home. The tips above will give you a good result but this may take some practice. For more help please watch our how to video on youtube:

Our 180 degree aluminium pipe bends

Our aluminium pipes are polished and roll beaded and of the finest grade 6063 alloy for easy welding. Our 180 degree hose joiner have roll beaded ends for best hose retention. Hose Joiners are ideal for joining hoses for Intercoolers, Radiators, Air induction, Superchargers, intercooler systems or for making any D.I.Y system. Our mandrel bends have the tightest bend radius on the market.

Some features of our aluminium Hose Joiners:

– Mandrel bent,
– Mirror polished
– Roll beaded ends for best hose retention,
– Seamless tubing,
– Wall thickness 1.6 to 2.0mm,
– Tightest bend radius on market
– Clean finish ready to use,

For more information on our aluminium pipe bends, please visit our website. 

What comes in our Vacuum Tubing Kits?

Our vacuum tubing is now available in Extra Value convenient kit packs. These packs include 3,4,5 and 8mm ID tubing perfect for a variety of applications. We include cable ties and nylon tube connectors in the packs

Applications:
• Vacuum lines
• Brake servo
• Breathers
• Boost controllers
• Dump valves
• Windscreen wipers

Buy yours here

Why we produce 4 meter hoses

As well as our silicone elbows and 1-2 meter long hoses we also offer a 4 meter long straight lengths. Offering 4 meter lengths eradicates the need to buy four separate lengths and join and clamp them together. Any join creates a potential area for leaks and therefore one single piece will provide you with a quality leak free connection.

These continuous 4 meter lengths are available in selected sizes from 8mm up to 32mm diameter (please visit the website to check sizes available).

They are ideal for water, breathers, air connections without making a join. The length also makes them ideal for non automotive applications.

Available from 3 to 5 ply with a reinforced construction these straight hoses offer excellent build quality with an inner liner. Thanks to our quality material, and fabrics, our small diameter lengths are very flexible and achieve a very good bend radius.

To find out more and buy your 4 meter hose click here.

SuperFlexi Silicone Hoses

superflexi hoses

When carrying out work on your vehicle, it can sometimes be difficult to achieve the desired result when you’re restricted to rigid angled hoses. This is why we offer super flexible silicone hoses. These are particularly useful for coolant and bottom radiator connections, which can be tricky to access.

These hoses can bend to almost any shape, giving you ultimate flexibility. In addition to their flexibility, these hoses can also withstand higher pressures thanks to the steel wire spiral that is embedded into the reinforcement piles.

Available in blue, red an black, these hoses can give a striking appearance. We recommend using T Bolt clamps with our hoses, which you can also purchase from ourselves.

For more information on our SuperFlexi silicone hoses, please visit our website.

 

Flexible Cuffed Coolant Hoses

cuffed hoses

In some applications, a pre-moulded elbow hoses cannot give the necessary angles needed for a tidy and efficient engine bay. This is why Viper Performance offers flexible cuffed coolant hoses, which give an excellent bend radius, thanks to the wire helix embedded into the wall of the hose. These work fantastically to connect your coolant or water hoses.

The hoses are specifically designed with a 50mm non-wired section at either end of the hose so that they are easy to connect and clamp. The hoses do not remember their shape, so they may need to be supported in some situations.

For more information on our flexible cuffed hoses, please click here. Alternatively, please give us a call and we will be happy to talk through your requirements with you to make the best recommendation.

Turbo Loader Hump Hose

bellow hose

The last thing you want to happen to your engine bay is for a hose to crack. However, this can happen if the correct hose is not specified. For areas of heavy vibration or where engine movement may be severe, you need a heavy duty hose that can handle the extra pressure.

We offer a turbo loader hump hose which has two convolutions, specifically designed to not stress or split under heavy engine vibration. The twin humps work a mini bellow. This gives the hose vibration absorption once fitted.

We particularly recommend these hose for areas such as connecting charge coolers/intercoolers where vibration and movement can be particularly high. They are specially manufactured with NOMEX, making them extremely resistant to high temperatures.

For more information about our turbo loader hump hose, please visit our website.

The difference between PTFE and Nitrile Rubber Hoses

nitrile vs ptfe

 

When upgrading your engine bay or fuel system, it can be difficult to know exactly what type of hose you need. With so many hoses on the market, you may run into problems selecting the correct material hose for your desired application. This piece is designed to help you understand the difference between PTFE and Nitrile rubber hoses, so that you can choose the correct one for you.

As with everything, PTFE and Nitrile rubber hoses both have their advantages and disadvantages. Understanding them is important, as it could make a big difference to your fuel system.

Nitrile rubber braided hoses offer great resistance to oil and fuel. The flexible rubber means that nitrile rubber hoses offer an excellent bend radius. This means that you can create the desired system without the need for extra fittings and angles. The hoses can be bent and fixed as needed, resulting in a sleek and tidy fuel system.

However, nitrile rubber hoses should never be run inside the cabin as fuel fumes can permeate through the wall of the hose. They should only be run in areas such as underneath the car, or under the hood.

For hoses that need to be run inside the cabin, PTFE hoses are ideal, as fuel fumes will not permeate the hose walls. However, as PTFE hoses have a significantly reduced bend radius, more angle and end fittings may be required, which increases the chance of a leak occurring in the system. While PTFE hoses are generally cheaper, the savings are often spent on the extra fittings that are required. An additional benefit however is that PTFE hoses are lightweight, so if weight is a concern, PTFE hoses might be the ideal solution for your fuel line.

For more information about our PTFE or nitrile hoses, you can visit our main website. Alternatively, you can get in touch and we would be happy to talk through your requirements with you.

Elbow Aluminium Hose Joiners available!

elbow hose
Designed to perfectly fit with any universal silicone hose, our aluminum hose joiners are perfect for a wide range of applications. We recommend this high quality product for intercoolers, radiators, air induction systems, superchargers, and intercooler systems or for creating a D.I.Y system. As they are mirror polished, these joiners will look perfect in your engine bay. Offering the tightest bend radius on the market, you will have the flexibility to create the perfect system for you.

We currently have large amounts of stock available for our 45o and 90o elbow hose joiners. These joiners are roll beaded, ready for use. If you cut the pipes, we can re-bead them for just £2.50.

elbow hoseFor more information about our aluminium hose joiners, please visit our product page.

Viperflex Neoprene Air Ducting

flexible air ductingOur lightweight and super flexible neoprene ducting hoses are ideal for multiple applications. We recommend this products for air intake, induction, and cone air filters, as well as hot and cold air extraction, exhaust gas, dust extraction and heater hoses.

We have a range of neopreneair ducting available, depending on the temperature that the ducting needs to withstand. All of our ducting has a bronze plated steel wire spiral, which gives the ducting a tight bend radius and flexibility.

AVAILABLE PRODUCTS

  • Black Neoprene Ducting – for temperatures up to 150oC
  • Brown High Temperature Glass Ducting – For temperatures up to 330oC
  • Specialist Ducting with cuffs and silicone lining.
  • Exhaust Ducting
  • Layflat Ducting
  • Aviation Ducting
  • Teflon and Kevlar reinforced ducting.

For more information about our different neoprene air ducting, please visit or website.