Do you have an air line at your workbench?

[Ron_J]

I am putting an air coupler under my workbench to have easy access to compressed air. Only problem is that I don't know what type of hose I want. I really don't see the need to run anything that will require a lot of volume. Probably more just a blower and maybe a die grinder for short spurts.

I thought about the slinky looking coil hoses, but I had one and hated it. I wouldn't mind a retracting reel hose, but even 25' would be overkill. I'm considering just short 1/4" hose and hang it under the bench.

Anyone do anything different?

 

[TuxThePenguin]

I think coiled hoses are awesome when you hang them from the ceiling and terrible any other time.

nothing wrong with just using a regular hose that you just coil up manually under the bench when not in use. As long as the hose is nice and flexible like a rubber or maybe polyurethane hose. Probably be unpleasant to use a PVC hose in that situation as it's not as flexible and always seems to have "memory" and wants to curl back up and stuff.

I see reels as more useful if you want to use it throughout your garage/shop and perhaps in your driveway

 

[Metallitubby]

I think coiled hoses are awesome when you hang them from the ceiling and terrible any other time.

This.

Coiled hoses are perfect for "close-quarters" working just like the OP's scenario.

 

[niget2002]

I wonder if the braided air hose used on air-brushes would provide enough air/pressure for what you're wanting to do.

They're very pliable, easy to bend, and with the right adapters on each end could be used on just about anything.

I'm not sure what PSI they're rated for. I know my air brushes run < 30 PSI.

 

[Shiftless]

It seems to me that the airline coupler should be on the wall behind the workbench. Then just snap in a coiled hose and go to work. Unless you build a dedicated cubbyhole space for the connection and the hose, you’ll end up blocking access to that connector with the usual stuff that accumulates under a workbench.

 

[Ron_J]

It seems to me that the airline coupler should be on the wall behind the workbench. Then just snap in a coiled hose and go to work. Unless you build a dedicated cubbyhole space for the connection and the hose, you’ll end up blocking access to that connector with the usual stuff that accumulates under a workbench.

I thought about doing this, but figured the first time I pulled the hose across the top and knocked everything o n the floor, I'd regret putting it there.

 

[aka Larry]

I have short 6' whip right beside my bench. I use it mainly for blowing off the bench or occasionally running other tools near the vise.

I hate those coiled ones too.

 

[bri_man57]

I have a 50ft reel under my bench. That way I have a airline at the bench (only pull the reel out a few feet) and the option to pull it across the garage where ever I need.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

 

[matt_i]

I hung this Coilhose Pneumatic offering from one of my jib cranes. Primarily a blow-off tool. I also have a hose reel from the ceiling to reach most other places in the shop from s single point.





Then rebuilt an older setup with some "next size" quick connects from Foster Mfg "couplers.com" (now Zsi-Foster)



Main guiding principle though is every quick connect body is backed up by a full port ball valve. All of the QC's leak enough to make it worthwhile, in my opinion.

 

[Falcon67]

I have two ports next to benches. I used the coiled lines, bit of a PITA sometimes but not too bad.

 

[Robbie B]

I’ve just got a 25’ rubber hose hooked to my compressor that I drag out but it’s a small compressor. When I can afford a bigger compressor then I’ll put a couple hose drops either in the rafters or on the walls around my shop.

 

[Jagmandave]

I like the idea of a coil hose from the ceiling, I had one under my bench that worked well too.....but my bench was metal and open underneath so it didn't foul on anything.

There are stiff coils and pliable ones - they each have their purpose but I prefer the pliable ones for bench work.

 

[nadogail]

Gotta love those coil hoses. My coil hose gets most of the use in my workshop.

 

[driftpin]

I have several drops next-to my main workbench. One feeds a 50' 3/8" reel hose which is hung from the front of my loft, which is a bit above 7' off the floor, and which ends at the end of my workbench. Another drop is 3/8" for volume. A third drop I have for a coiled hose, the end is probably 6-1/2' above the floor. The water filter and pressure regulator are also at this point, everything is easy to reach or to set, or to use. I can reach the front of a vehicle sitting in the driveway with the hose reel, for filling tires.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have a drop at the end of the work bench and have a coiled hose plugged into it. Generally, I still walk over and pull the hose off the reel on the other side of the garage.


Never did I think I would want a reel until I bought a small one and started using it.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If you're only using it at the bench, a 6' section of straight hose should be plenty. You can always have a second longer hose if you need air elsewhere.

 

[Ron_J]

If you're only using it at the bench, a 6' section of straight hose should be plenty. You can always have a second longer hose if you need air elsewhere.

I have air ports throughout the garage, so it only needs to access the bench. I short compact retractable reel would be nice, but I haven't found anything yet. The bench is 14' long, so 10' hose would be nice.

 

[dfiler2]

Here is a 10' hose, those little coiled ones drive me crazy, you lay the the tool down and it scoots to the other end of the bench.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0897RJJ8G/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[bugnut]

I put the hose reel under the bench. It raised the bench a couple inches.

 

[Showkey]

I put the hose reel under the bench. It raised the bench a couple inches.

Same ^^^^^^^^^but witha 6’ coil at the end for the bench top and cycle lift needs. Then pull the hose for jobs across the shop.

 

[zmotorsports]

At my last shop I thought I had a great idea of running air lines along the back of the workbench with T's for a coupler every few feet. This ran parallel along with my power strips. I used them a lot but ultimately hated them. It never failed as I was tearing down a motorcycle or snowmobile engine and reached for the air gun the hose would catch on some parts I had laid out or a can of brake wash and things would tumble. I HATED it.

In my new shop I run the air lines to each end of the workbench to a dual manifold and have a coiled 3/8" coiled hose at each end that droops down and under the edge of the workbench. I keep an air blower on each one but when I'm working at the bench and need air it is nice and handy without knocking things over on the workbench as the hose drapes from the front edge of the workbench rather than extending to the back of the workbench.

 

[sberry]

I see some design things here I have found I dont care for or dont use. First, the workmanship is beautiful, nothing wrong with that but I got away from using every fitting they ever invented and can make it all the way to the tool with that being the only coupler. The worry about efficiency is endless and they we put couplers in series.
I screw a hose to it or a hose reel, never have to disconnect or more a section of hot hose. I dont have hose directly on bench, have a whip that reaches it. Also dont care for the coils.
Have drops to the hoist, they reach either side.
The one on the boom on the bench is really neat but hard to describe. Its 50 ft, it runs out on the boom and then back on a set of hooks can be reached, no coiling. So I can reach the end, take it off a couple hooks and it reaches the benches, if I take it off all the bottom hooks reaches out on to the shop floor and it always overhead out of the way. I really fussed with it and the hangers to get it to work this easy. I got most everything made from ready made sections, 25 or 50 and was made so replacement would be stock but due to how well it works and the fact none of it is on the floor it has never needed it. The only thing I have ever had to replace is to cut 6 inches off the user end from 2 rubber hoses, they are soft enough they want to flex there
I actually like harder blue as good or better and they wear longer. Being a little stiffer they dont flex so right near the connector, have another orange one like that and they are going on 25 yrs, none have ever needed a repair. Rubber yes, those none, not so much as any leak.

 

[sberry]

I started before the more modern connectors, got a box of H at a sale and went from there. They were ideal at the time as they worked on heavier tools with 1/2 lines too.
In a home or smaller garage could get by with 1 or 2 at the user end. Dont need lots of them, keeps the cost down. Some of these designs are pretty, they work well but often use half a dozen fittings where I use 2. Saw one a while back I counted 13 fittings from the t to get to a hydrant. To some this is irrelevant, some fitting is a hobby, some is art. When I started I tended to do this but have really got in the habit of using so much less.
This is one of my faves, only one minor improvement I could have made which is totally irrelevant.

 

[Stuart in MN]

I was looking around online and I think you'll have better luck searching for a "whip hose". Lots of short (3', 6', etc.) air lines show up. Here's one example, for a 6 foot Flexzilla: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003V5G4BA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[SweetD]

I have a 50ft reel under my bench. That way I have a airline at the bench (only pull the reel out a few feet) and the option to pull it across the garage where ever I need.

Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

Same here. Works well.