Can anyone recommend some surefire ways to get a good cut on braided hoses? So far all I'm doing is wasting good hose.I've tried taping the cut mark really tight , using a hack saw , cutting wheels , and still getting frayed wire ends. Just ordered a set of braided hose cutters from Speedway. Has anyone tried these? Do they work? I'm really getting flustered. Also what type of lube can you use when tightening the fittings down. I just spent fifty bucks on A and N wrenches and they only fit one fitting and thats the cap on the end. I needed the wrench that pulls the fittngs together. Didn't know they where such a hassle. I guess it's part of the learning experience.

 

I made rubber coated steel braid hydraulic hose (2 & 4 braid) mostly pressed on ends. Cut the hose with a chop saw, stinks, but works. On reusable fittings the outer nut goes on backwards, left hand thread, the centre / fitting screws into the nut and the hose. Need a good vise to hold everything; if you have the shinny outer layer I thinks it makes it twice as hard.

 

I have a race truck and am very used to these braided lines. In fact, I had so much extra line and fittings kicking around, I recently did my '49 F1 in all 8AN braided.
I wrap the line in a layer or 2 of electrical tape, put it in a vise and use a air cutting wheel to cut it carefully (don't rush it). I then take it out of the vise and put the aluminum hose end into the vise horizontially (i usually line the vise with a clean rag so I don't mark up the aluminum fittings). After putting on a leather work glove (the cheap gray ones are good enough) I twist the freshly cut braided line into the aluminum hose end till it bottoms out on the other side (leave the little bit of tape on the end as it will keep it together while you twist it into the fitting). Then, flip it around the opposite direction in the vise and lube the male end of the aluminum fitting with any regular motor oil (a light film is all you need). I've also used vaseline in the past too. Then push the male end into the female end and twist until you catch a thread or two. Then just spin it on with a wrench until it bottoms out.

They can be a real hassle at times, depending on the size. The bigger the size, the easier it gets (the 4an stuff sucks!). Also, I suggest you get hose ends that swivel. There's nothing worse then busting your hump assembling them and then not have your ends line up. The Aeroquip hose ends are the best I've used and the only ones I buy.
Oh, and definitly wear a glove or you'll be bleeding all over the line from the multiple finger ****** you'll get from the line!

 

I've used shrink tubing.