sanitary hose wrestling match best lube if any

[blackbeard10]

Refit of 76 Cal 2-29
Wrestling match with Raritan sanitary hose to get hose ends on fittings in very cramped space, no leverage. Primarily on Y valve. Can one use a lube to help twist the hose on fittings, Dawn detergent, vegetable oil, hot water.....what is best practice? Lube seems counter intuitive for fitting that you absolutely do not want any slippage. Peggy please chime in.

[cal40john]

Heat. Most times I see people recommend hot water. I didn't have the space for that so I used a hot air gun very carefully to only get it hot enough to slip on. Too much heat will damage the hose.

[Jammer]

Heat... For a really short piece of hose put it in a pot of simmering water for 10 minutes. Or in the oven. You've got maybe a minute to get it on after you take it out with tongs and handle it with gloves.


I don't usually try to lubricate hoses because the manufacturing oils (mold release or whatever, I don't know what they use) are ordinarily enough. Any lube you use will be clamped into the joint and maybe absorbed by the hose but it won't get flushed away by passing fluids. Maybe try antifreeze or k-y or something else that is free of oils.

[sailorboy1]

The best solution is also the long term solution. Use the better more expensive SantFlex hose.

[Tetepare]

Originally Posted by cal40john

Heat. Most times I see people recommend hot water. I didn't have the space for that so I used a hot air gun very carefully to only get it hot enough to slip on. Too much heat will damage the hose.

This.

It didn't occur to me to use a hot air gun, and others had recommended hot water. So we boiled water on the galley stove, lowered the small pan into the whole, then I'd hang in there, stick the hose in hot water (repeat about five times) then finally it was hot enough to get on.

So use the hot air gun, even a hair dryer.

[RaymondR]

I have boiled the end of the hose in a pot of water on the galley stove, then forced a piece of plastic water pipe into the end and let the hose cool and then remove the water pipe to work well. The hose stays expanded after it cools.

[coopec43]

I used my wife's discarded ($23) hair dryer to soften the end of the hose. There are many uses for the hair dryer such as speeding up the cure of resin or drying paint on a cold day (It is now part of my tool kit)

[Orion Jim]

I’ve used dielectric grease or a heat gun when necessary.

[skipperpete]

Same stuff as for big jabsco impellers. KY or dishwashing liquid.

[Kijit]

Yep, wife's hair dryer for me as well!

[dohenyboy]

I have used a heat gun with success but I was recently told of using pipe dope as a lubricant. Going to try it in a couple of weeks. With a heat gun sometimes the hose gets floppy if it gets too hot.
Defender has a great price on Saniflex.

[bil56]

heat + dishwashing liquid, it goes in on its own...

[RaymondR]

Originally Posted by bil56

heat + dishwashing liquid, it goes in on its own...

Soap is pretty harmless stuff with most plastics.

[Manateeman]

There actually is a tool for this job. There are two types. One is an internal pipe wrench which some plumbing suppliers carry. The second is used for expanding car exhaust pipe. You can make your own with the following manatee patent.
Find a section of aluminum pipe smaller than the hose and about 6 times the diameter of the hose I D you are expanding in length. Drill two 5/16 th holes. First one at the center of the pipe right through. The second, one diameter from the end. Saw the piece lengthwise. Use 1/4” all thread rod or long bolts and you can expand the split tube as needed. Kinda a reverse clamp.
Or you can boil the hose end and use dishwashing soap.
The manatee patent use fee can be paid in gift cards for any pizza shop.
So you not only have a cool tool, nobody will steal it because they won’t know what it for ! Pretty neat HUH.