•   When should I choose a metal hose instead of a traditional rubber or PTFE hose?

    Choose a metal hose when your system faces extreme temperature, pressure, or chemical exposure. Stainless steel corrugated hoses outperform rubber or PTFE types when flexibility and durability under harsh conditions are critical.

    Metal hoses handle cryogenic temperatures below -250°C and heat above 600°C, making them ideal for steam, exhaust, or high-temperature gas lines. The stainless steel braid provides strength for high-pressure and vacuum applications while resisting wear and collapse.

    Rubber and PTFE hoses may offer smoother flow, but they can harden, crack, or fail under repeated temperature cycling. For long-term reliability in industrial, chemical, or marine environments, Ocelflex stainless steel braided hoses remain the most dependable choice—engineered to maintain integrity where polymer hoses simply cannot.

•   What common installation mistakes should I absolutely avoid to prevent early failure?

    Most premature metal hose failures come from incorrect installation. Three mistakes are especially damaging:

    Twisting: Never rotate or torque the hose body to align fittings. Always use two wrenches—one to hold the fitting and one to tighten.

    Overbending: Exceeding the Minimum Bend Radius (MBR) stresses corrugations and shortens fatigue life. Always allow proper hose length for movement.

    Out-of-plane bending: Flexing in multiple directions at once causes severe metal fatigue. The hose should only bend in one plane.

    Avoid routing hoses through inaccessible spaces—regular inspection for abrasion or leaks is essential. At Ocelflex, as a metal hose manufacturer, we recommend following these simple practices to ensure your stainless steel corrugated hose achieves its full design life and performs safely throughout service.

•   What is "Minimum Bend Radius," and why is bending too tightly a critical failure risk?

    The Minimum Bend Radius (MBR) defines how tightly a metal hose can be bent without damaging its corrugated structure. Bending beyond this limit forces the outer corrugations to stretch and the inner ones to compress, leading to cracks and premature fatigue.

    This is the most common cause of early failure in stainless steel corrugated hoses. Always leave a straight section—at least four times the hose’s diameter—between the fitting and the bend. If tight routing is unavoidable, use 45° or 90° elbow fittings instead of forcing the hose itself to bend.

    At Ocelflex, every stainless steel braided hose is rated for a specific MBR. Following this parameter ensures the assembly maintains flexibility, pressure integrity, and long cycle life in service.

•   What are the key technical differences between single-braid and double-braid hose assemblies?

    The difference between single- and double-braided hoses lies in pressure capacity and durability.

    A single-braided hose has one layer of wire braid, offering good flexibility and is ideal for low- to medium-pressure systems like fuel or hydraulic lines.

    A double-braided hose adds a second layer for higher pressure handling, abrasion protection, and mechanical strength—essential for steam, heavy-duty hydraulics, or high-vibration environments.

    While double-braided hoses are stiffer and heavier, they deliver longer service life in demanding conditions.

    As a metal hose manufacturer, Ocelflex engineers both types with precision to ensure the optimal balance between flexibility, strength, and performance for each industrial application.

•   How does high fluid velocity damage a corrugated metal hose, and how do engineers prevent this?

    High fluid velocity inside a corrugated hose can cause severe vibration known as flow-induced resonance. As liquid or gas passes through the corrugations, turbulence forms. If the vibration frequency matches the hose’s natural resonance, it rapidly fatigues and cracks the metal.

    To prevent this, flow velocity should stay below safe limits—around 75 ft/s for liquids and 150 ft/s for gases in straight runs. These limits drop when the hose is bent.

    Engineers often use interlocked liners to smooth the flow path and reduce turbulence. Alternatively, increasing the hose diameter can lower fluid velocity.

    Ocelflex designs stainless steel braided hoses with optional internal liners to eliminate resonance risks and ensure long-term performance in high-flow systems.