Making My Own Hydraulic Hoses

• Ditto Hydraulics

The other option is a hand pump hydraulic unit but I bet they would still be expenseive.

I'd probably try the manual ends like Rod(NH) suggested, they work ok you just have to be cautious when you put them on.

If you are talking standard SAE two-wire hydraulic hose, I use field-replaceable fittings. You don't need a crimping unit. Just a vise and a wrench. The fittings are more expensive than the crimp on style but you can make up your own exact lengths in the field from bulk hose without an expensive crimping unit. Unless you do an awfull lot, I would not think an electro-hydraulic crimper would be cost effective. Weatherhead and Aeroquip are the big manufacturers of such stuff. Weatherhead is available through NAPA.

The steel (for high pressure hydraulics) should be a standard 37 degree flare. Not the 45 deg flare you see on copper tubing or the double steel flare you see on brake lines. Flaring tools are also available from either the above manufacturers. Check with your local NAPA store about prices.

Rod

I don't know if you can get this stuff through NAPA or even if you can purchase it in relatively small quantities. You could try a mobile hydraulics supplier.

However, Al had a good suggestion to use steel pipe (threaded). Standard weight (schedule 40) steel pipe is readily available in small quantities and both 1/2" and 3/4" IPS sizes have safe working pressures in excess of 2000 psig. That's what I use on my '51 Oliver and I run 1500 psig hydraulics on it. I would not use cast iron pipe fittings that you buy in the hardware store though, even if they are rated for your pressure. They do not have the shock resistance that steel fittings do. Use steel pipe fittings intended for high pressure hydraulic systems - again, made by Weatherhead and available from NAPA.

Rod