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Friction on sliding hoses

Hi,

We need to have one flexible outer house slide on an inner flexible hose. The hoses need to be snug, but do not have to be tight.

We have built several prototypes using grease and oil between the two hoses and with vinyl and rubber hoses, but the friction was much more than we expected.

How can we reduce the friction? Use a different lubricant? Use a dry lubricant? Use different hose material?

Thank you,

Steve Baba
- Wheaton Maryland
2000

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I doubt if you will ever succeed with vinyl or rubber hose. If you are in the tubing category, you can use UHMW PE for both tubes, if one were Teflon it would be even better. for a lubricant you could use a spray silicon or Teflon or a similar mold release.

There may be other possibilities, but with the limited amount of information given on constraints and use, it is impossible for most to give an intelligent reply.

James Watts
- Navarre, Florida
2000

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September 7, 2009

It depends on what you are trying to achieve. What is the reasoning for your method. We designed a few different hose-inside-of-hose applications using bulkhead fittings, welding and so on. When application do you need this on and what material is being conveyed. Also need temperature.
We also have installed a Gortite track system inside a 6" military hose.
Just let us know and we will let you know what can be done.

Mike O'Neill
- Downingtown, Pennsylvania