Vacuum hoses

Does anyone have a source of standard 2" vacuum hoses, other than Halyard (Cerambond)? Or have they a monopoly?

 

Hi,

Do they have ro be new ones?

 

If they are fit for purpose and, being S/H, cheap, no.

 

I think you are stuck. Rediweld Cerambond, as it then was, acquired the vacuum hose business some 10 or more years ago from a company in Kent (Heinkie - though the spelling may be wrong). I was working in the industrial hose business at that time and always found Cerambond to be very helpful. One day I received an enquiry for vacuum brake hoses from someone working on a Black Five who had been in contact with this company in Kent and could get no help from them. The factories I dealt with did not build these hoses, Cerambond were interested in the work but at that time were not able to manufacture. I tried the Kent connection - what an absolute nightmare. Looking back I don't think they wanted the business any more. You couldn't get a quote, you couldn't buy from them, they didn't have a stockest/agent. Tried to get them to produce a worthwhile quantity. No joy. Maybe they didn't want the money.

I don't know what Cerambond's prices are, but at least you can buy the hoses. They won't be cheap but they are not exactly produced by the thousand.

I don't think Redfearn/Amiflex have ever done them. What about Railway Wheelset and Brake? I've heard of them, not dealt with them.

 

Steve PM me

 

I tried Railway Wheelset & Brake. Although they advertise, they can't supply. Unless you want 4-500 of them, which they'll source abroad! There are other 'suppliers' but they all seem to use Cerambond as the manufacturer.

 

Any possibility that the Heritage Railways Association could collate requirements and place large orders?

 

They are about 60
quid from Halyard. Good service though

 

They are about 60
quid from Halyard. Good service though

 

That's why I'm looking for alternative sources. That's very expensive piping when you compare it with (say) suction hose of equivalent diameter.

 

Fair price to my mind. Ordinary suction hose is built on mandrels 200'/60m long in bore sizes up to 4"/102mm (Unless you are IVG, then it is 400'). They are essentially machine built with a smooth, cloth wrap finish. Once you start wanting corrugations, wire free cuffs etc. it gets more expensive. Some of the 'ordinary' suction hose I used to sell would cost you £60 per metre because of the compounds it was made of - and you wouldn't believe the cost of hoses for hydrogen cyanide. To put a mandrel up for a build and not use all of it is not cost effective and so you have to cover a short mandrel surcharge.

So, get together with other users and buy a large batch. Which gets back in a way to what I was trying to achieve years ago.