When you’re working with hydraulic systems, especially in high-stakes sectors like construction, aerospace, mining, or oil and gas, the components you choose aren’t just parts. They’re performance-critical decisions. And one of the most important components in that mix? Hydraulic cylinder tubes.
Let’s get straight to the point: not all tubes are created equal. Understanding the different types used in hydraulic cylinder manufacturing is essential if you want to maximise durability, improve performance, and minimise downtime.
Why the Tube Matters in Hydraulic Cylinder Manufacturing
Hydraulic cylinders operate under intense pressure and harsh conditions. The tube is the backbone—literally. It houses the piston and retains fluid under high pressure. If your tube isn’t up to spec, the whole system suffers.
That’s why engineers and procurement specialists need to understand the types of tubes available, what they’re best suited for, and how they’re treated.
Types of Hydraulic Cylinder Tubes
Hydraulic tubes are generally divided into two major categories based on how they’re manufactured: welded and seamless. From there, they can be processed further, honed, skived, or roller burnished to meet performance needs.
Let’s break it down.
1. Welded Tubes
Manufacturing Process: Welded tubes are made by rolling and welding a strip of steel into a tube. The weld seam is then heat-treated and often cold-worked for better properties.
Pros:
- Lower cost than seamless
- Readily available in a variety of sizes
Cons:
- Slightly less uniform strength due to the weld seam
- Not ideal for extremely high-pressure systems
Best For:
Standard hydraulic applications where extreme strength isn’t critical but cost-efficiency is.
2. Seamless Tubes
These tubes are drawn from solid billets and contain no weld seam. That alone gives them a mechanical advantage.
Subtypes Include:
- DOM (Drawn Over Mandrel): Technically, a type of welded tube that’s cold-drawn over a mandrel to improve dimensional accuracy and strength. Often mistaken for seamless, but still contains a weld.
- Cold Drawn Seamless (CDS): True seamless tubes cold-drawn to improve tolerances and finish.
Pros:
- Superior strength and uniformity
- Excellent for high-pressure applications
- Better surface finish than as-welded tubes
Cons:
- Higher cost
- More intensive manufacturing process
Best For:
Heavy-duty applications like aerospace, offshore rigs, and high-performance mobile hydraulics.
3. Honed Tubes
This isn’t a category of its own, but rather a finishing process applied to welded or seamless tubes.
Honing removes material from the inner surface to achieve tight dimensional tolerances and a mirror-smooth surface. This improves seal performance and reduces friction.
Honed tubes are generally preferred for precision hydraulic cylinders because they don’t leave ridges on the inner surface. Skiving and roller burnishing, on the other hand, can leave a fine ridge that might damage seals over time. Honed finishes extend cylinder life and boost reliability.
Quick Comparison Table
Tube Type | Seamless? | Finish Option | Strength | Pressure Rating | Ideal Use Case |
Welded | No | Honed, Skived | Medium | Moderate | Standard hydraulic systems |
DOM | No (but close) | Honed | High | High | General industrial hydraulics |
Cold Drawn Seamless | Yes | Honed | Very High | Very High | Aerospace, oil & gas |
Honed Tube (Finish) | Varies | Honed | Boosted by the finish | Improves reliability | Precision cylinders |
Choosing the Right Hydraulic Cylinder Tube
If your job involves specifying components for new equipment or troubleshooting failing cylinders, selecting the right hydraulic cylinder tube can prevent catastrophic wear and tear.
- For tight tolerances and long cylinder life? Go honed, preferably on cold-drawn seamless tubes.
- For budget-sensitive projects? Welded tubes may be sufficient—just know your pressure requirements.
- For extreme environments? Don’t compromise. Cold-drawn seamless, honed tubes are your best bet.
And don’t forget: always confirm compatibility with your seals, especially if you’re considering skived or roller burnished finishes.
Ready to Find the Right Tube?
At Honingcraft, we specialise in supplying and finishing top-grade hydraulic cylinder tubes for all major industries. Whether you need DOM, cold-drawn seamless, or expertly honed tubes, we’ve got the stock, the tech, and the experience to help you build it right the first time.
Let’s talk specs
Explore our hydraulic tubing solutions and request a quote or contact our technical team today to get the best tube for your next project.
