Thread: Firehose Strops Project

When they make that stuff they use sonething like a tshirt press to iron it flat. If you knew anyone that had one that might be worth a shot straitening it.

Any recommendations for better cleaners?
With repeated washing the Oxyclean had a bit of a bleaching effect. I doubt it was originally that white. Maybe it was. I want it to look as original as possible.

Advice for preserving any text printed on the fabric?

We use hose and gear cleaner. It is green and smells like simple green. As far as color, it is white as snow when we get it new. It is also stiff but flat when unrolled. Alot of guys put downy in the water when we clean it to make it a little more plyable. If you are worried about fibers breaking remember if its used its been drug on the ground and through who knows what. I doubt you will hurt it any more than it already is. The bends you show is where it was packed on the truck and left getting wet snd dry and holding shape. What i think you are refering to as breaking at the bend is the inner rubber liner. That is why you hear people say not to put sharp bends in the hose. Doesnt affect the outer cloth jacket you are using. The hole you showed was probrably a leak and hole before you just found it by leaning it good and it enlarged.

Originally Posted by Afoshie

We use hose and gear cleaner. It is green and smells like simple green. As far as color, it is white as snow when we get it new. It is also stiff but flat when unrolled. Alot of guys put downy in the water when we clean it to make it a little more plyable. If you are worried about fibers breaking remember if its used its been drug on the ground and through who knows what. I doubt you will hurt it any more than it already is. The bends you show is where it was packed on the truck and left getting wet snd dry and holding shape. What i think you are refering to as breaking at the bend is the inner rubber liner. That is why you hear people say not to put sharp bends in the hose. Doesnt affect the outer cloth jacket you are using. The hole you showed was probrably a leak and hole before you just found it by leaning it good and it enlarged.

These old hoses didn't have liners. They relied on the swelling of the linen fibers to seal the hose. That swelling will leads to tearing and holes if you are too rough with it. A single layer of linen fiber isn't as sturdy as the double and triple layered hoses made now with synthetic fibers.

I think most of these hoses were from old buildings back when they used to have fire hoses instead of fire extinguishers and sprinkler systems.

As you mentioned the creases are definitely from the way they were stored on those racks.

I wonder what all is in modern hose cleaners like y'all use. Wonder if it has something to help neutralize some of the nastier stuff you might encounter.

Here is some damage that happened during the cleaning and/or working the fabric to loosen it up.

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It has been a learning experience!

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QUOTE=JP5;1867737]Here is some damage that happened during the cleaning and/or working the fabric to loosen it up.

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It has been a learning experience![/QUOTE]

If it is single jacket, it is the same a forestry hose. They still use it because of the weight. May google that or contact your forestry service and see if they use something special if they are close they may let you have a little cleaner.

Originally Posted by Afoshie

If it is single jacket, it is the same a forestry hose. They still use it because of the weight. May google that or contact your forestry service and see if they use something special if they are close they may let you have a little cleaner.

Cool! Thanks for the tip.

Still going to put ends on one of these. But I think the hose I have on the way will be a bit cleaner and less work to prepare.

Are you getting the hose from the Bay, or do you have a local source for it?