It could appear easy to choose the appropriate air hose selection. After all, only a piece of equipment transports air from location A (the air compressor) to location B (the tool). Having used pneumatic tools for some time, you’ve undoubtedly discovered that there’s more to it than that. When you enter the building supply store to select a new one, you may even have a clear list of criteria in mind. We’ve defined the fundamentals below for people who are brand-new to air compressor hose.
Primary Features When Selecting an Air Hose
Here is a simple explanation of the elements you should consider when choosing the best air hose for your needs.
Hose Length
Always keep your application in mind when choosing an air hose, as well as the overall distance between the compressor system, the location where you’ll be utilizing the air tool, and how much movement you’ll require.
Never use a longer pipe than necessary to reduce the chance of a pressure decrease. For instance, a carpenter using a nail gun at a fixed bench all day will only need a short hose, but a tire fitter using an impact wrench and navigating around enormous trucks may need a longer hose.
We advise against adding an extension lead with an air compressor since the voltage loss from doing so might lead to the motor overheating and eventually causing it to burn out. Instead, use a longer air hose.
Internal Diameter
1/4- and 3/8-inch inner diameters are the most popular sizes. Because it is lighter than a 3/8-inch hose, many individuals choose the 14-inch hose. Rolling it up makes it simpler to transport and store. Of course, the fact that a 14-inch pipe is less expensive than a 3/8-inch hose doesn’t hurt.
However, having a larger interior diameter might also be advantageous. A bigger internal diameter will reduce frictional loss, much like shorter hose lengths.
Maximum Working Pressure
The maximum pressure applied to your air supply will determine this. The hose’s maximum operating pressure ought to be equal to or higher.
The burst or the highest pressure at the hose will break, which may also be listed in the specifications. Most hoses in the PCL series have a 3:1 Safety Factor, which implies that if the hose has a working pressure rating of 21 bar (300 PSI), the burst pressure will be 63 bar (900 PSI). The burst pressure is intended for production test reasons. It would help if you didn’t take it as a sign that the hose may be used over the maximum operating pressure.
Curly or straight?
A regular, straight hose or a curved recoil hose must be chosen when selecting the proper air hose. Standard hoses are flat and have no coils or bends, but they can develop kinks that decrease or stop airflow. On the other hand, they may be installed on a hose reel or collected into loops for storage because they are lightweight, give little resistance, and are simple to handle.
Curly or recoil hoses are like vintage telephone cables in that they include several tiny, regular coils that give the impression that they are much shorter than they are. Thanks to their memory-based architecture, these coils are very tensile and bounce right back into place after usage. When not in use, they are simple to store and keep out of the way, but they give resistance when stretched out, especially if they are long or have a high l/min.
Hose Material
PVC Hose: PVC hose is extremely resilient to abrasion. It is regarded as the most affordable choice. Although less adaptable than the others, it works well outside. It is also simple to drive around bends and barriers without getting stuck.
Polyurethane Air Hose: The term “all-around” is sometimes used to describe polyurethane air hose, also known as poly hose. You’ll enjoy that it weighs less than comparable hybrid and PVC solutions after dragging it around a job site all day. Additionally, it maintains its flexibility at virtually all work temperatures.
Hybrid Hose: Even in subfreezing conditions, the hybrid hose is incredibly flexible and strong because of the hybrid composition of polyurethane, PVC, and rubber. This option is ideal if you’ve ever been annoyed by an air hose that kinks and are generally challenging to untangle.
Top Air Compressor Hoses
These are the top 5 Air compressor Hoses below.
The Good Year 12674 Rubber Air Hose was the best air compressor hose we evaluated. It is reinforced with spiral synthetic yarn and sturdy brass fittings. It is reasonably priced and 50 feet long. Though the typical homeowner probably only needs one, buying the hoses in packs can help you save a little bit more money.
The most often utilized material is rubber, which is what it is composed of. 250 pounds per square inch is the highest operational pressure (PSI). Most users should have enough here. However, ensure this is high enough to execute if you have a certain job in mind.
The hose is a little heavier than 7 pounds. Once more, given the subject matter and length, this is about average. This air compressor hose’s resistance to kinking and ease of storing on reels were features we liked. This is the greatest hose available if you frequently travel because it won’t twist up in your trunk. Overall, we believe this is the greatest air compressor hose on the market.
2. Flexzilla Air Hose, 3/8 in. x 50 ft.
Any kinks or coils in an air hose should not be dangerous to the user. The Flexzilla air compressor hose has a hybrid construction that keeps it flexible even at 140 degrees Fahrenheit or -40 degrees Fahrenheit.
With a weight of about 5 pounds, this hose can easily move across a roof or raise a ladder. The hose is made of a hybrid polymer with zero memory, resists kinking, and easily coils even after being in storage for months. This hose, which has a maximum pressure of 300 PSI, is a product appropriate for demanding tasks.
3. Campbell Hausfeld PA117701AV Air Hose
Nobody has unlimited funds to spend on a hose. Fortunately, there are a few inexpensive solutions available that are still useful for most daily tasks. The Campbell Hausfeld PA117701AV Air Hose stands out as one of the top cheap hoses on the market. It is far less expensive than many competing products on the market. In our opinion, it’s one of the best air compressor hoses you can buy. Only 25 feet long, it is somewhat shorter. But for most homes, this is sufficient. A 50-foot-long pipe is not often necessary.
It is made to resist certain more demanding working circumstances. It is flexible and strong thanks to the PVC structure that reinforces it. It should be easy to use on the job site, where damage is nearly a given. It may be used with various pneumatic tools because of the reasonably high airflow volume. It is grease and abrasion resistant.
The maximum PSI is 200, according to the package. However, many individuals said it failed far lower than this number. Although this is a high-value choice, you generally get what you pay for.
The 1/4-inch hose from WYNNsky is a fantastic option when looking for a user-friendly, affordable hose. Up to 300 psi of pressure may be withstood while the polyurethane structure and bend restrictors at the ends prevent kinks.
WYNNsky assembles its products using brass fittings, which offer greater corrosion resistance than traditional aluminum fittings. Additionally, this lightweight hose is simple to control and weighs little over 1 pound. Its CFM is, however, lower than a bigger 3/8-inch hose because of its 14-inch diameter.
In a range of industrial, agricultural, and civil engineering applications, Sinopulse Fiber reinforcement air rubber hose is suitable for compressors and supplying water and water-based slurries.
Its inner tube is black SBR rubber and reinforced with braided high-tensile synthetic yarn. This air hose also has a wrapping surface made of NR/SBR rubber in black, yellow, red, and blue colors. Its temperature ranges from –20 to +100 °C, and its primary uses are for passage of water and air.
Conclusion
It is a simple reality that everybody who owns an air compressor requires an air compressor hose. What you want to accomplish with your air compressor will determine the air compressor hose you select.
You should now be able to identify the exact air hose that your compressor needs. It would help if you got a decent idea of what is currently available from our reviews.