Black Hose Clamps?

[oestek]

So.... anyone have any tricks or sources for black stainless hose clamps? Or how to blacken existing ones?

Thanks!

[fbody_mike]

black chrome plating?

How about just using those Gates shrint to fit bands. They are black and clean looking.

[novaderrik]

rough it up with sand paper and hit it with semi gloss black spray paint.

[Steve1968LS2]

black chrome plating?

How about just using those Gates shrint to fit bands. They are black and clean looking.

Yea, the Gates "thermocouple" deals work great and are dirt cheap.. and they look good!

[oestek]

I like the Gates clamps, but this is a new car build and I'm sure there are going to be times when the hoses need to come off and I don't want to invest in a pile of extra clamps. Perhaps once it's got some miles on it and it's sorted out we'll switch to the Gates clamps. In the mean time, we might just glass bead the stainless ones and spray 'em.

[oestek]

Here's the Gates clamp site:

http://www.gatesracing.com/hose.cfm

[oestek]

This is interesting, too...

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=1020&location_id=1177

[novaderrik]

This is interesting, too...

http://www.gates.com/brochure.cfm?brochure=1020&location_id=1177

that report wasn't biased at all...

worm gear clamps are proven to work- and they can be used over and over again several times. that's kind of important when you have to replace a hose on the side of the road and don't have a heat gun with you.
get the proper sized worm gear clamp and turn them so the screw part is on the side of the hose that isn't visible, and they look pretty damn clean. even leaving them in their bare stainless color can add a little bit of visual contrast against the black hose.

[oestek]

I agree, it's obvious who wrote that report. And that is my point with the screw clamps, that they are serviceable anywhere.

We scored a bulk load of 100 various sized new stainless clamps on eBay for $30 not too long ago. We turn 'em away where we can, but I think black and turned back would look best in this application. It's also what the owner wants.

[Steve1968LS2]

that report wasn't biased at all...

worm gear clamps are proven to work- and they can be used over and over again several times. that's kind of important when you have to replace a hose on the side of the road and don't have a heat gun with you.
get the proper sized worm gear clamp and turn them so the screw part is on the side of the hose that isn't visible, and they look pretty damn clean. even leaving them in their bare stainless color can add a little bit of visual contrast against the black hose.

And most of the worm gear clamps look like hell.. :shrug: well, at least to me. And really, how often do you have to pull a radiator hose on a rebuilt car?

The T-bar stuff looks much better better but the thermocouplers are OEM proven parts that have been used for years. Yea, the downside is that you need to cut them to get them off but my "roadside emerg bag" has a few worm gear clamps just in case. And the Gates stuff is dirt cheap.

I think they are a great option for those that want a very clean look and a very good functioning part.

[meenaggie]

Have you considered Eastwood Metal Blackening System? No personal experience with the product but another member has recommended it in a different thread. I don't think it will work on stainless though.

http://www.eastwood.com/metal-blackening-system-set.html

[thedugan]

i have been looking for black clamps too. cant find them
this eastwood kit looks like it could do the trick

[Bryce]

gun metal blueing! head over to your local walmart. It workds great on bare steel. Not sure about stainless.

[novaderrik]

And most of the worm gear clamps look like hell.. :shrug: well, at least to me. And really, how often do you have to pull a radiator hose on a rebuilt car?

The T-bar stuff looks much better better but the thermocouplers are OEM proven parts that have been used for years. Yea, the downside is that you need to cut them to get them off but my "roadside emerg bag" has a few worm gear clamps just in case. And the Gates stuff is dirt cheap.

I think they are a great option for those that want a very clean look and a very good functioning part.

get the "better" worm clamps that don't have the serrations all the way along the length of the clamp. properly sized, you can get away with about 3/4" of slots for the screw to bite into.. turn the clamp so the screw is invisible, tighten it down, and snip off the excess length with about 1/4" poking out from where the screw is and file off the sharp edges. it looks pretty damn clean if you get everything just right- it just looks like a stainless steel band that is wrapped around the hose.

[zbugger]

Kevin, I'd be happy to go at them with a sharpie. I work cheap.

[MarkM66]

I scuffed and spray painted a set once. It'll stay on unless you really bang or scratch it.

[Charley Lillard]

Kevin...Put black heat shrink tubing over the clamp. We did it on Jackass and it looks great.

[Zanie]

Kevin...Put black heat shrink tubing over the clamp. We did it on Jackass and it looks great.

That’s Excellent!
It looks good, and if you have problems on the road, slice off the black heat shrink cover and you still have a regular clamp to work with. That way you are not carrying extra clamps in your tool box.

I've always liked the look of the heat shrink clamps, but I worried about roadside repairs.

Awesome!
Thanks!

[Charley Lillard]

You don't even need to slice it off. You can still use the clamp but the bulk of the band is nice and black. I'm talking about sliding the heat shrink over a open clamp, threading it together and then heating it.

[oestek]

GREAT tip Charley! Thanks!

[ho428]

Dupli-color makes a black chrome finish paint that's self etching.
Might work on SS clamps.

[BonzoHansen]

i have been looking for black clamps too. cant find them
this eastwood kit looks like it could do the trick

i've used that stuff. I'm gonna say no, it won't work. and it is a dull black. if I have any still on the shelf I'll try it.