Over the years we’ve heard some great things about GoodYear rubber air hoses. They’re flexible, oil and abrasion-resistant, and can handle a maximum working pressure of 300 PSI.
These made-in-USA rubber air hoses are a huge step above cheap generic-branded PVC air hoses, but they won’t hurt your wallet.
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fred
Some of your readers might like a buyer’s guide for air hoses, The different makes (who assembles what from what materials) is astounding – and then there are choices to be made for materials – PVC (OK for short overhead snake coils in the shop) – Urethane – more flexible but not as sturdy – HD rubber – heavy but can take lots of abuse – plus there are lots of multi-ply hoses that take advantage of different properties. Then there is the question of both ID and OD. (1/4, 3/8, 1/2 and 3/4 for jackhammers) We have some air hoses made from a Gates product called Adapta-Flex that have performed very well – and Gates 18MB braided hoses have been put on our excavator as replacements – outlasting the Daewoo OEM hoses. I’m guessing that Goodyear has equivalent products.
Colin
Hmmmm… http://www.harborfreight.com/25-ft-x-3-8-eighth-inch-heavy-duty-black-rubber-air-hose-2363.html
Anthony V
thats obviously not the same quality hose….i wouldnt expect the best of anything at harbor fright
Stuart
I wouldn’t buy any pneumatic anything at Harbor Freight. I’ve heard too many stories about their fittings leaking and parts failing and nearly bursting.
fred
Lee Valley is offering the well rate Flexilla hose for what they say is a discounted price
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?cat=1,43456,43465&p=69369
Fred
The difference between this one and the one HF & Northern sell is simple. The stiffening/supporting layer between the inner & outer rubber on this one is tougher, so it is a more flexible hose than the black rubber ones. There is nothing wrong with the Goodyear hoses from HF & Northern; they’re both made in USA, they are name brand Goodyear hoses just like what Sears used to carry. The only difference is the texture/build of the outer rubber layer, and the weave/middle layer. The one from HF is good, the one in your picture is better. Neither are bad.
I own several hundred feet of air hose, all my 3/8 hoses are Goodyear. Most are the HF ones but I do have a short one of the kind you pictured. They are both very good; the HF ones have a lower burst pressure at 300PSI but they are stiffer. Again, they’re just two different levels of quality that Goodyear makes.
Blair
I also have several hundred feet of air hose, almost all of it Goodyear branded, including at least 200′ of the older(I think) blue hose that was purchased back in the early 90’s specifically for a roof job (yes it was a big one). I don’t recall the name of the place I got it from, but it proceeded Harbor Freight coming to my area.
I have several grades of stiffness, some are more pliable than others, and some I reserve for use indoors, while the others are for “rough work” or mechanical tool use.
I am interested in some of the poly mix hoses for interior trim work, the smaller diameter, and non coiling both could be a benefit when in a occupied dwelling.
Colin
Weird. I’ve been using that goodyear hose from HF for nearly 2 years now, it’s made in the USA and is excellent quality for the price.
Do you think that the minute a US made goodyear hose hits the air inside a HF store, that it magically becomes garbage?
Stuart
I can’t speak for anyone else, but I completely missed that that HF hose is Goodyear branded as well. The two hoses do have different PSI ratings, so they’re not directly comparable.
I would still not buy HF or “Central Pneumatic” branded air fittings or hoses.