2w ago

What type of hose is used in cheap consumer products (like a clothing iron in this instance)?

It is more flexible in tight spaces without collapsing. The color and texture remind me of RTV gasket making silicone in automotive applications, but these (very old) tubes do not have any hint of the pungent oder of RTV gasket maker, or anything else for that matter.

I'm looking for a hose that is more flexible than typical rubber (like automotive) and PVC (gardening/aquariums) hose in a 1/4in or 6mm ID for ethylene glycol at pressures between 1 & 2 bar and at 30-100 C. I need to turn around a 50mm radius reliably with flexibility and without substantial (~15%+) constriction... If any experts are around – TIA

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pungent oder of RTV gasket maker
Just if you're interested: there are a tonne of different silicone chemistries.
Single part curing (no mixing needed, cure when exposed to air):
Acetoxy (emit acetic acid)
Alkoxy (emit methanol)
Acetone
Ketoxime (don't know if this one smells)
Two-part curing (you have to mix the two components, then it starts setting):
Condensation cure (tin catalyst) cheaper
Addition cure (platinum catalyst) basically better in every way but more expensive

I'm almost certain, what you are looking at, is actually silicone tubing. The odor of RTV sealant is from the acid, which is part of the curing mechanism, that makes it "room temperature vulcanising". Silicone tubing shouldn't really smell of anything significant.

I recommend pressure switch tubing for furnaces. Not sure if it'll take that bend radius though.

McMaster Carr sells a huge selection of tubings. Best part is you can browse their inventory, narrow down what you want and then shop local with the proper part description.
Here is one that’s close. Part description below. https://www.mcmaster.com/product/5236K201

Silicone is used for the insulation of the cables on clothing irons, I'm not really sure what if any tubing might be used internally
Silicone insulated cables do have a reputation for being much more flexible (and notably heat resistant) than other insulator materials
Another thought altogether- you might have the best luck with something you can like heat mold into place but putting a wire or something through it to help it keep its structure and prevent kinking, and then heating and bending slowly to create a tube that already has your desired radius bent. But no kink because you kept the inside expanded with something
In large tubes I've seen sand or salt used, but I'm not sure how that'd work here. With salt you can then just rinse any excess out but it might not be ideal for something this small 🤷‍♂️
Wire seem like a pain to remove afterwards but maybe if you used a number of fine wire strands like from a stranded cable. Fit as many in as you can, bend, and then you could pull them out individually and they'd each be more flexible coming out around that corner you've bent because they're really fine
Not sure whether pre-bending or something super flexible would be better, but good luck I hope you find your solution!

For the briefest of moments, I thought this post was someone opening one of those packages of ea-nasir's copper.

7 comments