Printable View
I'm hooking up a second air compressor to my compressed air piping and was thinking of using a braided hot water heater hose as a flexible connection. I wouldn't ordinarily consider it except this connection is 3/4" and that is a size hose I'm not able to find locally for compressed air. Seems like it would work considering the hose is probably rated for 125 psi water. Good or bad idea?
I don't think that's a good idea. The pressure rating is right at the max for most air compressors and some, like mine, put out 150 PSI. Secondly, water hoses generally have compression fittings which is not the best connection for your semi-permanent connection. I recently added a filter/water separator to my unit and bought a couple of air hoses in the short lengths I needed. Since air hoses for home typically have 1/4" NPT ends I had to buy some brass adapters to connect everything. You can buy all sizes of air hose on line (Amazon for mine) and I purchased the brass fittings at a local plumbing supply house but the orange and blue stores have them too. If you really wanted to get your hose locally I'm sure you could find a place that makes up hydraulic hose in any length you want.
I don't like the idea either, we used to use hydraulic hose at work. You can pick the hose size and have whatever type fitting you need on each end.
I have wondered about the corrugated copper lines. Seem like better cooling with those.
Bill D
I'll second Jerry, hydraulic hose works well.
I'll agree with the hydraulic hose...hit up your local tractor dealer(s) for a hunk of it in the size you want.
Pressure rating for water may not be safe for air. If it lets go pressured up with water, things get wet. If it lets go full of air, things can explode.
Doesn't look to be a good idea. I'll look for some hydraulic hose or a better alternative.
You can order custom lengths and fitting combinations from McMaster. That's what I did for mine. Maybe not the cheapest way to go, but zero hassle.
Check with local hydraulic hose shops too. I got a left over length, terminated, pretty cheaply when I was building an onboard air system on a vehicle once.
How about a 3/4 X 1/2 bushing adapter?
I knew a guy who had a knee messed up for life when a 1" air hose burst and hit him.Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank Pratt
Stories about guys running airlines with PCV scare the crap out of me.Quote:
Originally Posted by Andrew Seemann
There are hoses similar that are made for high pressures of compressed air. You can find them on ebay. I used some to hook up a refrigerated dryer, and compressor to tank. No leaks in several years since I plumbed that.
edited to add: copy and paste this in the search box on ebay: 24" 3/4 NPT Anti Vibration Isolator Air Compressor Hookup Hose, Stainless Steel
They come in all sorts of lengths.
I really didn't need stainless steel braided hose so this was purchased instead on eBay ...Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom M King
Compressed Air Jumper Hose 3/4" NPT 200 P.S.I. 3' Hose
I use hydraulic hoses. Easily found at a farm store. Swivel end on many of them too. farmandfleet.com should have them .
I'll jump on the hydraulic hose bandwagon too, but with a caveat. Buy the hose and have the appropriate ends crimped onto it. Commercial auto parts store and industrial houses can make it for you.
Most hydraulic hose does not compress well with a typical hose clamp (although lower psi rated hydraulic return hoses are softer and will clamp). Hydraulic pressure hose is too stiff to move much, and if you try to clamp it to a hose barb eventually it will blow off of the fitting.
Don't ask me how I know this....
I agree with Scott...let the source for the hydraulic hose terminate them with their heavy duty crimps. You can use NPT fittings from there.
A Hydraulic hose was my first thought too. I did use a hydraulic hose when I put a good pump that was on a bad tank on a good tank with a bad pump 15 years ago. It has been working fine for 15 years. The hydraulic line goes between the pump and the tank so maximum vibration in my case.
I have been using air tools for 35 years, and I never thought of just using hydraulic hoses instead of air hoses. Air hoses seem to work OK, available at every auto parts store, and they are cheap. I have found that hooking an air hose to an air tool works OK.
Should I be switching to hydaulic hoses? I have brad nailers, small crown staplers, an air nozzle, and a tire pump hose end.
The use of hydraulic hoses is in reference to larger pneumatic lines. It's recommended since typical pneumatic hose has a smaller diameter.Quote:
Originally Posted by William Hodge
There's no advantage to switching to hydraulic hose for pneumatic tools. Most hydraulic hose is made for higher pressures and can be less flexible than pneumatic hose.
If you use hydraulic hose just get single braid. It's more flexible and less expensive. You don't need high working pressures like hydraulics typically use. If you want to deal with it you can get field "serviceable" ends. Not crimped but you assemble the end. You can also get teflon lined stainless air line and that also can use the no crimp ends. We used to get our hose making supplies from Air Hydraulics out of Duluth Mn. 3/4" or #12 is the actual inside diameter. Here is a link for a good supplier.
https://www.airhydraulicsystems.com/...se-centers-ahs
The context here is for the much larger in inside diameter hose from the physical compressor to the building air network. It's a best practice to not connect a hard pipe directly to the compressor. The OP specifically is looking for a 3/4" ID solution. Typical "air" hoses are 1/4" or 3/8" ID. The recommendation for hydraulic hoses is purely because of availability and their ability to support the required pressure with a good safety margin.Quote:
Originally Posted by William Hodge
Go to Lowes or Home Depot.
https://www.lowes.com/search?searchT...essors%20hoses
Spot on Jim. I wanted a 3/4" flexible hose to go from the compressor to the piping network. The largest compressed air hose I could find locally was 1/2. Hydraulic hose is a good solution if available but a bit overkill with the pressures involved with most compressed air systems. The compressed air hose I eventually purchased online was 1/3 the price of a hydraulic hose. It will safely do the job intended.Quote:
Originally Posted by Jim Becker
Steve, I plan on using this great idea for my new shop setup for sure as I want to make the initial portion of the air network more efficient and for that, the larger ID will make a whole bunch of sense.
Just saw this, I'm going against the majority here. When I put in my big compressor (60 gal
maybe 150 psi max) there as a fitting on the size for 3/4" pipe. I wanted about 18" of flex and found a 175 lb PSI stainless reinforced hose at my home supply. I soldered a 3/4" fitting on the end of the copper lines and used that flex hose to join them. I do have a shutoff valve on the compressor ahead of the flex hose and I turn the line off when not in use, but I've had it this way for maybe 10+ years now and it's performed flawlessly for me. Keep the run short and I would have not reservations on using this setup.
There's no reason you can't use the over-braided hose for pneumatics. It's just that hydraulic hose is readily available and typically is made up by the store so you can get the end fitting configuration you need for the larger sizes not typically available as pneumatic hose.
The over-braided hose internal material is rubber hose for the lower pressure ranges and corrugated stainless for the higher pressure offerings.