Making hose clips?

[Mr Plumb]

Hey guys, got myself a Tamiya 300ZX in the post yesterday and I'm dying to get started with it.

I'm having problems finding something to use as hose clips. I'd rather stay clear of BMF simply due to price wise at the minute however all the adhesive "foil" tape I can find seems to be like duct tape!

I can use a very small piece of rod sprayed chrome for the screw part, its just the clip itself im struggling with. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

I've seen a tutorial where it showed how to make them with an intercooler but I can't find it

[Serioga]

I used a can tin:

[MPWR]

In my experience, BMF is really the best option. Everything else is oversized and out of scale.

I don't even bother with replicating the screw clamp. I find visually it's unnecessary and doesn't add anything. A tiny piece of 0.030" solder is about the right size (no larger!), but when I've used them they don't seem to improve the overall appearance. It's easy to assume that the screw is on the far side of the hose and is invisible. Also with recent crimp style clamps, the screw assembly isn't there anyway.

A thin band of foil usually looks correct and fantastic. Anything more than that tends to draw too much attention to what is really otherwise an unimportant detail. I think it's a case of less is more.

[Mr Plumb]

Awesome stuff thanks guys. Might have to just grab some BMF. I did think after I posted that a sheet will go a long way for me as I don't tend to like chrome trims on 1:1 cars so will rarely use it on builds.

Again thank you its much appreciated

[Some_Kid]

Originally Posted by Serioga

I used a can tin:

I've heard of this method before. But I don't understand how you make them? Just cut thin strips from the middle of a can? How do you bend it to shape?


Typically I just use bmf and then take some flat clear paint to attach thin piece of rod to act as the screw.

[CrateCruncher]

I'll second what MPWR said. Swipe some aluminum foil from the kitchen and use a bit of watered down white glue (or flat clear would work well too) on the back to keep it in place. If you want to get fancy you can use the tip of your hobby knife to emboss little grooves into the strip before locating it on the hose. If you do add the screw make sure it is in line with the clamp rather than perpendicular. Best to take a quick look at some pic's of screw clamps if you aren't sure. I've seen a lot of them (and made them myself) with the screw in the wrong orientation.

Edit: I think Serioga made those band clamps with aluminum from soda cans. You can cut it into thin strips with a sharp hobby knife. I prefer Fiskars brand heavy duty scissors when I cut up soda cans. Drill a hole in each end of each strip for the bolt. Then bend it around a mandrel like the aluminum tube he has pictured. It's pretty springy so you may have to use the handle of a paintbrush or something to get the radius small enough. Then use flat pliers to bend the ears back and you've got a band clamp.

Let us know how it turns out.

[Serioga]

Originally Posted by CrateCruncher

Edit: I think Serioga made those band clamps with aluminum from soda cans. You can cut it into thin strips with a sharp hobby knife. I prefer Fiskars brand heavy duty scissors when I cut up soda cans. Drill a hole in each end of each strip for the bolt. Then bend it around a mandrel like the aluminum tube he has pictured. It's pretty springy so you may have to use the handle of a paintbrush or something to get the radius small enough. Then use flat pliers to bend the ears back and you've got a band clamp.

Let us know how it turns out.

Yes, Mike is right except one. I use Sprite can. And I prefer scissors for cans cuts too.

[Mr Plumb]

Lots of options thanks guys! Dying to do the 300ZX, its my first kit I'm doing with an engine and I'd like to do a semi shaved bay with some nice details in it

[JeremyJon]

A local RC shop, most hobby shops carry some RC inventory now, you can find sheets of self adhesive body vinyl, most any colour, silver, black, chrome too, it's super thin, cuts easily and in very narrow strips with a sharp blade & the self adhesive makes using easy
I've even painted over it before, styrene can be glued to it with CA
Mostly I use it for mirrors & trim, but it'll adhere to painted surfaces easily enough, and could be used to make good hose clamp bands

[Mr Plumb]

Originally Posted by JeremyJon

A local RC shop, most hobby shops carry some RC inventory now, you can find sheets of self adhesive body vinyl, most any colour, silver, black, chrome too, it's super thin, cuts easily and in very narrow strips with a sharp blade & the self adhesive makes using easy
I've even painted over it before, styrene can be glued to it with CA
Mostly I use it for mirrors & trim, but it'll adhere to painted surfaces easily enough, and could be used to make good hose clamp bands

Argh why did I note think of that! Thank you so much sir, off out I go later on the hunt!

[luiggiallo]

For me, the fastest and cheapest way:

[Mr Plumb]

I almost asked if that was Christmas decoration then realised its a scourer (sp?) pad. Many thanks I'll go take a look if there is one in the kitchen!

[andybmw7272]

Holy cow, that kitchen pad cleaner scrubber thing looks like it yields an awesome look!

I am going to be looking for one of those at the store ASAP!
Andy

[HondaSan72]

Great tips guys!! So awesome.

[RonCla]

I was looking at the picture thinking it was just swarf