Scott's List: Top 10 Tools For Hose Engineers

If you think mobile hose engineering is simply about showing up with a crimper and a smile, think again. It’s a dynamic field that requires skill, expertise, and the right tools to tackle any challenge on the road.

Meet Scott Tasker, one of our road-ready hose heroes. Scott spends his days fixing breakdowns, rescuing fleets, and ensuring businesses keep moving smoothly. With a wealth of experience under his belt, he knows exactly what it takes to get the job done right.

Top 10 Tools For Hose Engineers. View the video or scroll down to read the detailed blog:

In this blog post, Scott reveals the Top 10 tools he ALWAYS has on his van. These essential pieces of equipment transform a stressful callout into a seamless and efficient operation. Whether you're in the industry or simply curious about mobile hose engineering, you won’t want to miss this insider look at the tools of the trade.

1. Socket Set

Socket sets are essential for accessing panels, removing guards, and working on flanges and hose assemblies where spanners simply won’t do the job efficiently. From routine maintenance to breakdown response, they save time and reduce the risk of rounding fasteners.

One common mistake is relying only on a small or mid-sized socket set. While these are useful for general access and lighter-duty work, hose engineers frequently encounter larger fasteners, especially on agricultural, construction, and industrial equipment.

That’s why it’s strongly recommended to carry a secondary, larger socket set alongside your standard kit.

Having both allows you to:

• Handle a wider range of flange sizes and bolt patterns

• Work confidently on heavy-duty machinery

• Avoid job delays caused by missing tooling

• Reduce the temptation to “make do” with incorrect sizes

2. Crowbar

A crowbar is a simple tool, but in hose engineering it plays a critical role in both diagnostics and safety.

When inspecting damaged or failing hoses, a crowbar allows engineers to separate hoses, lines, and assemblies safely to clearly identify where wear, abrasion, or failure has occurred. This is especially useful in tightly packed hose routing where visual inspection is otherwise impossible.

More importantly, a crow bar acts as a key safety tool. Using it to create distance between hands and pressurised components significantly reduces the risk of fluid injection injuries — one of the most serious and often underestimated hazards in hydraulic work.

Key benefits include:

• Safe separation of hoses for inspection

• Improved visibility of damage points

• Reduced hand exposure near pressurised lines

• Safer working practice during fault finding

3. Spanners

Spanners are primarily used for tightening and loosening hose fittings, adaptors, and connections during installation, maintenance, and breakdown repairs. A well-fitted spanner ensures proper torque application, helping prevent leaks, damaged threads, or premature hose failure.

For hose work, open-ended and combination spanners are often preferred, as they allow quick access in confined spaces where sockets or adjustable tools may not fit. Engineers should also ensure they carry multiple sizes, as hydraulic fittings vary widely across machines and industries.

Best practice tips:

• Use the correct spanner size to avoid rounding fittings

• Avoid adjustable spanners for final tightening wherever possible

• Keep spanners clean and free from oil to maintain grip

• Carry duplicates of commonly used sizes for speed and efficiency

4. Allen Keys

Allen Keys, also known as Hex Keys, are commonly used on manifold blocks, clamps, guards, brackets, and certain hose fittings where hex socket fasteners are specified. In many OEM applications, especially on agricultural and industrial machinery, Allen bolts are chosen for their compact design and ability to handle high clamping forces.

For hose engineers, having a complete Allen key set — both metric and imperial — is essential. Missing just one size can quickly bring a job to a halt.

Best practice considerations:

• Carry both long-arm and short-arm Allen keys for access and leverage

• Ball-end keys are useful for angled access, but should not be used for final tightening

• Ensure keys are in good condition to avoid rounding socket heads

• Keep sets organised so sizes are quick to identify

5. Cable Cutters / Snips

Cable cutters, also known as snips, are primarily used for cutting cable ties, protective sleeving, spiral wrap, and packaging materials during hose installation and replacement. Clean, controlled cuts help keep hose routing tidy and prevent sharp edges or loose materials that could lead to abrasion or premature wear.

Using proper cable cutters — rather than knives or improvised tools — also improves safety and efficiency, especially when working in confined or awkward positions.

Why dedicated cable cutters matter:

• Deliver clean cuts without fraying

• Reduce the risk of slips and hand injuries

• Improve finish and professionalism of installations

• Speed up repetitive tasks during hose routing

For best results, engineers should keep snips sharp, well-maintained, and reserved for their intended use. Blunt cutters slow the job down and increase the temptation to use unsafe alternatives.

6. Adjustable Wrench

An adjustable wrench is particularly handy for initial loosening, temporary tightening, or situations where the exact spanner size isn’t immediately available. In breakdown or on-site work, that flexibility can save valuable time.

However, adjustable wrenches should not be relied on for final tightening of hydraulic fittings. Because they don’t grip as precisely as fixed-size spanners, there’s a higher risk of rounding fittings, slipping under load, or damaging components.

Best practice for hose engineers:

• Use adjustable wrenches for access or holding counter-pressure

• Avoid them for final torque-critical connections

• Keep jaws tight and in good condition to prevent slippage

• Choose quality tools with minimal jaw play

7. Swager

A swager is used to crimp hose fittings securely onto hydraulic hoses, ensuring the assembly can safely withstand operating pressures. A correctly set and calibrated swager is essential for producing consistent, leak-free, and compliant hose assemblies.

Whether mobile or workshop-based, the swager directly affects:

• Hose performance and safety

• Compliance with manufacturer specifications

• Reliability of the hydraulic system

• Risk of premature failure or blow-off

Key considerations for hose engineers:

• Always use the correct die set for the hose and fitting

• Follow manufacturer crimp specifications precisely

• Regularly calibrate and maintain the swager

• Never “guess” crimp dimensions — measure and verify

8. Vernier

A vernier calliper goes hand in hand with the swager and is an essential tool for producing safe, accurate hydraulic hose assemblies.

After crimping a hose, the vernier is used to measure the finished crimp diameter and confirm it meets the manufacturer’s specified tolerances. This step is critical — even a small deviation can affect hose performance, sealing capability, and long-term safety.

For hose engineers, the vernier ensures that crimping is not based on assumption, but on measurable accuracy.

Why a vernier is essential:

• Verifies correct crimp diameter after swaging

• Ensures consistency across multiple hose assemblies

• Helps prevent leaks, blow-offs, and premature failures

• Supports compliance with manufacturer specifications

Best practice is simple: every swage should be measured. A swager applies the force, but the vernier confirms the result.

9. Cutting Saw

A cutting machine or hose saw is a critical tool for preparing hydraulic hoses correctly before assembly.

Clean, square cuts are essential to ensure proper fitting insertion and reliable crimping. A dedicated hose cutting machine delivers consistent, straight cuts without crushing or fraying the hose — something that hand tools or improvised methods simply can’t guarantee.

Poor cuts can lead to:

• Damaged inner tube or reinforcement

• Contamination entering the hose

• Improper fitting engagement

• Reduced hose life or premature failure

Best practice for hose engineers:

• Always cut hoses square to the required length

• Keep blades sharp and well-maintained

• Clean hoses after cutting to remove debris

• Use guarding and PPE to ensure operator safety

The quality of a hose assembly starts long before crimping. A proper cutting machine ensures every hose begins with a clean, accurate foundation — setting the standard for everything that follows.

10. Skive Tool

A skive tool is essential when working with hoses that require the outer or inner cover to be removed before crimping.

Skiving ensures the fitting makes direct, controlled contact with the hose reinforcement, which is critical for achieving a secure crimp and reliable pressure performance. When done correctly, it improves both mechanical grip and sealing integrity.

Improper skiving — or skipping the step entirely — can lead to:

• Inconsistent crimps

• Reduced pressure capability

• Hose blow-off or premature failure

  
  

Best practice for hose engineers:.

• Skive only to the manufacturer’s specified depth

• Avoid damaging the reinforcement layers

• Use sharp, well-maintained skive blades

• Keep the skive clean to prevent contamination

Not every hose requires skiving, but when it does, precision is non-negotiable. The skive tool ensures hoses are prepared correctly, helping deliver safe, compliant, and long-lasting hose assemblies.

Together, these Top 10 Tools For Hose Engineers enabling safer working practices, consistent assembly quality, and reliable hydraulic performance in the field.

If your list is any different to ours let us know in the comments.