Air Hose

[Jerry Bruette]

Well I've picked out which portable air compressor I'm getting, now I need some advice on air hose. I don't like the heavy rubber stuff like Goodyear Wingfoot. I was thinking Flexeel or Flexzilla. Anybody have good or bad advice/opinions on either hose?

Jerry

[Ken Deckelman]

Flexeel is top notch-I highly recommend it. The 1/4" is all you need for nailguns and such, if your painting/spraying get the 3/8".

[Larry Edgerton]

Ditto on the Flexeel. I use it hard on site and it holds up well. It takes a little bit of use to get it broke in, tangles a bit till it is used, but after that it is great. With 20 feet of hose hanging when you are working overhead you will really appreciate its light weight.

Larry

[Jerry Bruette]

Larry

Our local Menards has what looks like a generic type of Flexeel hose. It's a reinforced polyurethane, do you think it would be just as good?

Jerry

[Bruce Wrenn]

HD sells Amflo poly hose, in both 50' and 100' sections. There is very little difference in costs. The ends are reusable, which means you could make a custom length of hose. Enco (use-enco.com) almost always has the Coilhose Pneumatic Polyurethane self storing (slinky) sets on sale in their sales flyer. These are quality industrial hoses, not cheap stuff from China.

[Jim Becker]

Flexeel is my choice and has been for years. I'm very satisfied with their hoses.

[Glen Butler]

I have only owned one hose that wasn't flexeel and its the only one I don't have anymore.

[Josh Bowman]

A carpenter friend of mine has done a lot of work for me and noted he uses the below air hose for years. I bought one and really like it. Cheap, lite weight, no too bad to kink, lays flat. Something else I did, that is a use for your old heavy hoses, if you have your air system piped around the shop, is to cut them into 6 to 10 foot lengths and use them at varies air stations. I have 3 in constant service, the short length prevents the kinking and allows easy storage.
http://www.lowes.com/pd_4254-67702-19412QP_4294895795_4294933768_?productId=3033412&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity _sold|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Air%2BTool%2BHoses_4294895795_429 4933768_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_pro duct_quantity_sold|1&facetInfo=


(http://www.lowes.com/pd_4254-67702-19412QP_4294895795_4294933768_?productId=3033412&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity _sold|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Air%2BTool%2BHoses_4294895795_429 4933768_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_pro duct_quantity_sold|1&facetInfo=)

[joe milana]

How about quick disconnect fittings. Is there one that leaks less than others?

[Bruce Wrenn]

Disconnects are wear items. I used to buy expensive ones from Grainger, but for the last few years, I've been buying the 4/5 piece brass sets from HF. Catch them on sale for a couple bucks and stock up. Last time I was in HF, it seems that they have changed over to steel. Most likely due to costs of brass.

[Kent A Bathurst]

Well I've picked out which portable air compressor I'm getting.............

Wanna tell us the punch line?

[Larry Edgerton]

Jerry

I have had several people comment on the fact that they have a hose "Like" mine and how they do not like it. When questioned it is a copy from a box store. Buy the original. They developed it, and you will probably only buy it once. Why be annoyed by an imitation? Be a proud owner of the real McCoy!

Larry

[Jim Becker]

Be a proud owner of the real McCoy!



Wouldn't that be the "real Flexeel" in this case??? :D :D :D I don't think that McCoy makes hoses.... LOL

[Jim Neeley]

Either that or reeeeeeel, Jim...

I have three Coilhoses; one 1/2"x50', one 3/8"x30' and one 3/8"x20'. I got the first one to replace a cheap coiling hose that always used to kink and bind on itself. With the Coilhose, no problem. Flexeel has a great reputation also; I just haven't workjed with it.

With the coiled hoses be aware that what you are buying is the length of straight hose that gets coiled up and you should never pull it straight. A good rule of thumb is to limit yourself to 75-80% of the "length" to ensure it coils back neatly.

This makes my 50' really about 38 feet, my 30' really about 22 ft and my 20' really about 15 feet "max".

What I've learned in practice is that after about 50% it starts pulling back pretty good, so I consider 50% my own room layout limit when planning coiled hose "runs".

Jim

[Jim Neeley]

FWIW, take a look at the reviews of the hose on Lowes site.

Four liked it and two thought it was sucky. You might look at their comments to see if it applies to you.

I try to buy only once. Overall, the waste of my time and the sour taste in my mouth when I get a POS exceeds the sum of the pleasure I get in saving a few bucks going cheap on those things that work OK. YMMV.

[johnny means]

http://www.lowes.com/pd_336521-47120-SGY-AIR157_4294895795_4294933768_?productId=3303484&Ns=p_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_product_quantity _sold|1&pl=1&currentURL=%2Fpl_Air%2BTool%2BHoses_4294895795_429 4933768_%3FNs%3Dp_product_prd_lis_ord_nbr|0||p_pro duct_quantity_sold|1&facetInfo=

I really like these. Can't say if they are better than some of the "brand names", but I have a couple of them going on 6+ years of heavy use and they actually seem to be better than new. Super light weight and they never tangle or need to be coiled.

[Jerry Bruette]

Well I've read so many reviews that my eyes are crossed. Looks like it'll be the real thing for me. Blue Flexeel 1/4 inch by 100 feet. I considered the Flexzilla but it seems to be more rubbery and I think it might drag a little more.

I deal with those coiled air lines all day at work and hate them. Im looking for something that won't tie itself in knots.

Kent the punch line is........the one that Wood Magazine left out of their review of portable compressors. The IR P1IU-A9.

Jerry

[Jay Allen]

I use Senco 1/4" hoses. They are very flexable, lightweight, and since they use "push-on" ends, they are easy to modify to specific lengths. Mine are in use 50+ hours a week in a commercial cabinet shop for years, so they hold-up well.