Hydraulic hose crimper

[Wesley B]

I need to make a few lines for a project and figured it would also be useful to have a tool to make lines in the future. Does anyone have a good way of making them without buying the $1500+ machine? I could do the reusable ends, but not really a fan of how large they are. Mainly going to make 1/2" and 3/4" lines.

 

[zkling]

Yes.
Step 1, grab car keys.
Step 2, drive down to local Parker store or other hydraulics store.

 

[Wesley B]

Yes.
Step 1, grab car keys.
Step 2, drive down to local Parker store or other hydraulics store.

Instructions unclear, leg stuck in ceiling fan.

 

[zkling]

I was serious with that comment. Unless you either plan on doing a number of these in the future or come across a setup super cheap and have the space to keep it. I find it more effective to just have the Parker store do the crimping for me. The have a top machine with all the proper dies.

 

[Bondo]

I was serious with that comment. Unless you either plan on doing a number of these in the future or come across a setup super cheap and have the space to keep it. I find it more effective to just have the Parker store do the crimping for me. The have a top machine with all the proper dies.

Ayuh,.... Buyin' the machine is expensive, the inventory of fittin's required is staggerin',....

I've got several Great Shops locally,....

 

[srmofo]

I think mastercool makes a setup that is more affordable

Found it

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GBKF9O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Most NAPA stores can make hydraulic hoses on the spot.

 

[bobcatdan]

If your not going into the hydraulic business, go to a hydraulic shop. Crimpers are expensive, dies are expensive. 50' rolls of hose are expensive. A useful range of fittings is expensive. Personally, if I ramped up my side work more fixing farm/construction equipment, I could almost justify it. The killer would be the amount of stock I would have to carry to make it worth wild. That is the freedom of making almost any hose at 3 pm on a Sunday to get a farmer up and going that night. If it doesn't pay for me, it doesn't pay for most to own one.

 

[Spudland_Dave]

Having a crimper is a dream of mine...its in my bucket list of "before I die, I'll own one" tools. BobcatDan is right...probably best & cheaper to go to a shop...I just want one cause I want one... I know a couple people who have scored Parkrimps and the Eaton Crimpers cheap...I'm not actively shopping, but if I ever run across one in my price zone...

Parker Store in town is excellent once you figure them out and even then, sometimes I wonder about the pricing over there...

If your not in a rush, I've heard great things about places like discounthydraulichose.com

 

[Ign]

My local Do It Best makes hoses.

I stumbled upon a crimping machine with a wall of fittings for $1000 around 2008. Even at that I couldn't bring myself to buy it; I've needed maybe 2 hoses since 2007.

I used to spend days building hoses at a former job, you really need a full "station" to do it right, particularly the specialty saw & blade with reels of hose on one side and the crimper on the other.

 

[scissorman]

I think mastercool makes a setup that is more affordable

Found it

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000GBKF9O/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Just in case you don't know, that crimper is for AC lines and will not work on hydraulic fittings.

 

[astroracer]

Making A/C and power steering lines for custom engines installations.
1). Buy fittings at Local Auto Parts Store.
2). Route hoses with cheap fuel line.
3). Measure fuel line and write it down.
3). Take fittings and measurements back to LAPS.
4). They cut hydraulic hose to length, crimp on fittings (using the appropriate crimper) and trade you the completed hoses for some cash.
5). Take hoses home and bolt on... Done

Mark

 

[gungatim]

or you could just buy pre-made hoses at the local farm store and be done with it. they cost a little more but it's quick and easy if you don't have a parker store (we don't, never heard of one, but there are other places that make hose, just not as convenient)

 

[Spudland_Dave]

I stumbled upon a crimping machine with a wall of fittings for $1000 around 2008. Even at that I couldn't bring myself to buy it; I've needed maybe 2 hoses since 2007.

Stories like that are what make grown men cry... Depending on the crimper & fittings in question, chances are 99-1 that I would have been coming home with a new to me crimper!

or you could just buy pre-made hoses at the local farm store and be done with it. they cost a little more but it's quick and easy if you don't have a parker store (we don't, never heard of one, but there are other places that make hose, just not as convenient)

Actually, they are usually cheaper...Biggest issue with pre-made is they are usually always too long, too short, and straight NPT fittings... Its fine if your building a wood splitter or something crude.

You start working on equipment and you'll need ORFS/ORB fittings, industry and hi-po automotive has standardized on JIC. (those are just 3 styles I encounter often...there are a bazillion styles out there) I used field attachable ends on my trans cooler lines...both ends JIC or what the automotive side calls A/N...

 

[cooljoe57]

Pretty much what everyone else is telling you, go to a local hydraulic shop and have them made. It'll save you tons in the long run.

That said you might get lucky and find a used machine on Craigslist or eBay. If you go that route be aware that you'll need to stick with that manufactures fittings to ensure they're crimped right. So you might want to make sure you can get the fittings (locally, or online) before you buy a used crimper. And you might be surprised how little you save by doing it yourself. Most shops only charge 5-10 bucks in actual labor to make a hose.

 

[cooljoe57]

By the way where are you located someone might be able to point you towards a good shop.

 

[superUnknown]

But if you have your own machine then you'll need make your own hoses. First one is fun, it goes south from there.