Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get 2,000+ tool plans, full site access, and more.

User Tag List

Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Swabbing out a tube with air brake tubing

  1. #1
    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Peacock TX
    Posts
    11,178
    Thanks
    1,974
    Thanked 8,766 Times in 4,195 Posts

    Frank S's Tools

    Swabbing out a tube with air brake tubing

    When it comes to cleaning out a long piece of hydraulic tubing, I find that using a length of smaller diameter air brake tubing by pushing an oiled cotton swab works better than most things as it can be pushed through bends as well as the straight sections and about the only way to insure there are no metal particles left in the line
    Swabbing out a tube with air brake tubing-img_20211203_142443sw.jpg
    Swabbing out a tube with air brake tubing-img_20211203_142615sw.jpg

    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook
    Never try to tell me it can't be done
    When I have to paint I use KBS products

  2. The Following User Says Thank You to Frank S For This Useful Post:

    mwmkravchenko (Dec 8, 2021)

  3. #2
    Content Editor
    Supporting Member
    DIYer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    3,056
    Thanks
    772
    Thanked 1,850 Times in 1,652 Posts


    Thanks Frank S! We've added your Tubing Swab to our Cleaning category,
    as well as to your builder page: Frank S's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:




    2000 Tool Plans

  4. #3
    piper184's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2016
    Posts
    212
    Thanks
    907
    Thanked 74 Times in 49 Posts

    piper184's Tools
    Clever idea. I usually have some different sizes of poly tubing laying around that would work for this. Hopefully I will remember this idea the next time I need it.

    The Caterpillar dealer I used to work for made hydraulic hoses. We used foam "projectiles" after the hose was cut to length and blew them through with compressed air. One from each direction. After the ends were crimped on we did it again. Never tried it on tubing. Really tight bends or restrictions might be a problem point.
    For refrigeration lines there was an air powered cleaning gun that blew solvent through the system to flush out the gunk

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to piper184 For This Useful Post:

    mwmkravchenko (Dec 8, 2021)

  6. #4
    Supporting Member Frank S's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2015
    Location
    Peacock TX
    Posts
    11,178
    Thanks
    1,974
    Thanked 8,766 Times in 4,195 Posts

    Frank S's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by piper184 View Post
    Clever idea. I usually have some different sizes of poly tubing laying around that would work for this. Hopefully I will remember this idea the next time I need it.

    The Caterpillar dealer I used to work for made hydraulic hoses. We used foam "projectiles" after the hose was cut to length and blew them through with compressed air. One from each direction. After the ends were crimped on we did it again. Never tried it on tubing. Really tight bends or restrictions might be a problem point.
    For refrigeration lines there was an air powered cleaning gun that blew solvent through the system to flush out the gunk
    I had a contaminated system where some internals had worn leaving very fine particles throughout every line and poppet valve. disassembling washing blowing wiping and, swabbing the bores of all hoses and lines seemed the only way to insure all of the fine particles were removed since there hadn't been a filtration unit on the system



    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook
    Never try to tell me it can't be done
    When I have to paint I use KBS products

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to Frank S For This Useful Post:

    mwmkravchenko (Dec 8, 2021)

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •