Lightweight Oxy/Acetylene hoses?

Has anyone used the Ultra Light Weight Welding Hose from Tin Man Technologies? Where are the on the spectrum between heavy rubber hoses and Smith’s kevlar hoses? I got a kevlar set from Freddy Parr almost 20 years ago and they turned my Smiths AW1 into a magic wand. But the liner started cracking and leaking from age. Any other suggestions for a light and flexible hose?

I haven’t built a frame in 16 years but want to see if I can still make a couple, despite Essential Tremor in both hands.

Mark Stonich; BikeSmith Design & Fabrication
5349 Elliot Ave S. Minneapolis, Minnesota 55417 USA
Ph. (612) 710-9593 http://bikesmithdesign.com

1 Like

I’ve had a set for about 5 years. They’re great. I don’t think I’d ever go back.
I should probably pick up a second.

2 Likes

Ive had those hoses connected to the meco midget torch for over 5 years. They work great, show no signs of wear, and make the set up more functional. They could be longer!

2 Likes

Thanks for the replies, I just ordered a set. About the length, I have rubber hoses running up to my ceiling and attached my kevlar hoses to them. This way my kevlar hoses never touched the floor and didn’t get stepped on.

3 Likes

I use them and really like them. I waited for a long time to get them, and I wish I’d just done it from the outset.

-Jim G

1 Like

I use the MillerSmith kevlar hoses and I’ve liked them a lot. Got them after seeing the lightweight lines you had at your shop, Mark/BikesmithDesign! Can’t remember where I got them but they were this model- Miller Smith 14779-4-10 Kevlar Brazing Hose 10 Feet

This is a bit of a tangent, but I use a Gasfluxer and have seen some wildly corroded hoses in other folks’ shops when paired with Gasflux usage. I followed their manual to buy Grade T hose which has more resistance to oil than Grade R (standard O/A) hose. It is heavy and inflexible as sin though!

Do those of you who use the thinner hose use a Gasfluxer as well?

I suggest asking Tin ManTech about GasFluxers. Contact TM Technologies

I do not use a gasfluxer. Someday perhaps. But so far can’t speak to additional corrosion.

Hello.
Anyone know what happend to tim man tech ? Seem’s they doesn’t exist anymore.
Do you know about any other lightweight hoses available ? I only know miller kevlar ones.
If possible I’d like to find some with uk fittings 1/4 bsp to the torch.

Sadly the Tin Man has passed away. His family made some comments along the line of maybe trying to continue the business in some form, but I don’t think that’s happened yet.

Otto Frei is a seller of jeweler’s tools, and they list an interesting looking lightweigh hose set, but it is R grade, suitable for Acetylene but none of the ‘alt’ fuels like propane or natural gas. Frustrating that they don’t tell you that in the listing, but I asked via email and they confirmed, no propane.

Never tried Smith ultralight hoses myself, but enough people have reported liking them. They are delicate though, so try to suspend them from the ceiling so they come down to the torch and are never ever laying on the ground.

With Tinman or Smith or probably any lightweight hoses, you should use a tougher red/green set from the regulators, with the light hose just for the last little bit to the torch. Don’t walk on them, or drop molten flux on them.

You’ll also probably want to get a kit of splices and crimps so you can repair them when they get leaks, cutting out the part with the hole and splicing the hose back together. When I worked in a shop with many employees who didn’t own the equipment, they were a bit cavalier about it, so we were splicing the damn Tinman hoses all the time. When you own your own, you will probably be more careful, so they might last a good long time.

If you’re outside the US but buying hoses with American-style type A or B threaded fittings, you’ll need to get good at crimping on your own fittings to fit your national standards for torches, regulators, flashback arrestors etc. Can’t help you with that, I’m ignorant about UK or Euro gas-welding equipment. The crimping is easy with the proper tool though. Also, if you have a LWS (local welding store), they can probably crimp them for you. The one time I needed it, they did it properly, while I waited, no appointment necessary, YMMV. I’ve since bought the tool and a box of crimps and other fittings.

4 Likes

Thank you. Sad to hear about Tin man.

These hoses from Nozalls are as small as the kevlar ones (3mm bore), but a bit stiffer since they’re rubber.

All the best,
Dan Chambers

I’ll certainly go for this ! Thank’s ! Biggest improve for my 19-6 harris torch !

1 Like

Hey I’ll order those tomorrow. Then I’ll post my brazing setup when I get the new hoses.

By the way. What size of tiny hoses are you running ?
I personally have 5 meter of standard hoses (pretty good conditions). I was thinking about reducing those to 3 meter and to add 2.5 meter of the super flexible hoses at the end of the line. What do you think about that ?

Thanks !

Sorry, I don’t know what’s sold outside the UsA in terms of length ps hoses in meters. In the USA, I’ve seen standard hoses come in lengths of
12.5 ft
25 ft
50 ft
100 ft
etc.

Depending on how far away your tanks are from where you use the torch, I would say get the size that measures that distance you need plus maybe a few extra feet.

If you do you brazing very close to the tanks, I’ve seen framebuilders more commonly use either 12.5 ft maybe a tad more of less depending on if the manufacturer offers the length in 10 ft, 11ft, 12ft, or whatever. However, I’ve also seen some builders use a 25ft length. It all just depends. I’ve even seen builders use the standard hoses in 12.5ft or 25 ft and run that along the walls or up at the ceiling, and then use a couple to connect those hoses to another 12.5ft lightweight set of hoses.

Another trick if you do a lot of brazing and the weight of the hoses is heavy. Drape your hoses on some ceiling joists like Bulgie is saying, then as the hoses drop down to where you are brazing, it’s a lot lighter to hold the torch. I’ve also seen a guy on the internet use a music stand or some sort of microphone stand to drape his hoses on before it gets to the torch.

1 Like

Thanks for your advice.

@Dan_Chambers Did you use those with gasfluxer ?

Yes, they’re rated for gasflux.

I find that they fill and purge much faster than the fatter hoses, so the fluxed gas doesn’t sit around in them so much, too.

All the best,
Dan Chambers