Air hose recommendations

[BlackdogGS]

I had to replace the air hose on my overhead reel so I installed this new high tech Flexzilla hose. It lasted exactly 1 week before it started leaking. Have any of you used it before? Not sure if I should try it again or get something else. Thanks

 

[N_Jay]

Where is it leaking from?

 

[BlackdogGS]

Where is it leaking from?

From under the black protective cover.

 

[finn]

From under the black protective cover.

Probably a bad crimp.

Don’t they have a warranty? I have a couple of their hoses, including a couple of garden hoses, a pressure washer hose, and an air hose. They seem as good or better than most other brands, and I have had no issues.

 

[dct55]

I've had one of these on my garage reel for about 7 years with no problem.

 

[rlitman]

Ditto on the bad crimp. I think you got a dud.

I've got a cheap no-name hybrid air hose on my garage's outdoor reel, and it's held up well over the past 18 months/. These hybrid hoses are great. They stay flexible in the cold, and they don't have terrible memories, so they reel up easily.

 

[larry4406]

Wow!

I’m on probably year 5/6 on flexilla’s!

 

[tarmy]

I have used Goodyear hoses in my reels with great results.

 

[Wamsutta]

I always recommend the best. It's up to you to come up with the money.

Thermoid

 

[Walkers]

I believe that flexilla hose has a reusable hose end, so perhaps it did not get assembled properly. Just pull the black cover away and see what it is.

 

[Wrench97]

It works great on a hose reel, I've had one for about 6 years here at home and 3 years at work.
They do make a hose end kit for them if you do not want to return it. > https://www.amazon.com/dp/B007QV1F6E/?tag=atomicindus08-20

If you are not already make and use or buy leader hoses for your air tools it makes the shop hose last a lot longer.

 

[The Cobbler]

I agree, sounds like a bad connection on the fitting. an agree on the reusable crimp. otherwise return it & grab another one

 

[LiketoFix]

I have used Goodyear hoses in my reels with great results.

I've also got the Red Goodyear hoses for years now and no problems!
LTF

 

[WWheeler]

I'm partial to BlueBird 'next-gen' rubber hoses. I've been using them for 10 years or so now ever since they posted about their product launch here on GJ. I've been though a couple in that time. They also seem to be a bit more affordable than many other options out there.

 

[Steve_P]

Goodyear pliovic. PVC type hose, wipes off easily. A zillion times better than black rubber hoses,

 

[BlackdogGS]

Ok, since some of you are having good results I returned it and got a new one. I’ll give it another chance.

 

[Sumboodie]

The flexizilla is **** to keep clean too. The silicone or whatever that green stuff is ***** in oil, grease, etc.

I bought a hose, 100fter about 15 years ago and still going great.

It's a clearish blue, was $$. Firget the brand, but it's an awesome hose.

 

[MovingAlong]

Might consider fixing the hose... Factory parts and video, Flexzilla Amazon store.

 

[kaymccampbell]

I've got the HF Cheapzilla hose on my reels. It's been leak free for at least 6 years of daily use. It does look kinda grotty. But looks never made something work better.

 

[Lucid Moments]

The flexizilla is **** to keep clean too. The silicone or whatever that green stuff is ***** in oil, grease, etc.

I bought a hose, 100fter about 15 years ago and still going great.

It's a clearish blue, was $$. Firget the brand, but it's an awesome hose.

Well that is terribly useful.

 

[Sumboodie]

Well that is terribly useful.

Agreed, no idea why people rave about them.

First one in the shop lasted only 2 months before blowing apart.

 

[vwpieces]

I believe that flexilla hose has a reusable hose end, so perhaps it did not get assembled properly. Just pull the black cover away and see what it is.

That one has a crimped ferrule.
Pro versions with spiral end are the reusable.

I suggest cutting off the end and replacing with a reusable end in the hose size.

 

[InjectorService]

Flexilla are ok. I have a few, they are light which is nice. Get super dirty, but maybe that's just because they show dirt more. My favorite hoses are red, made from Continental air hose sourced from my local hydraulic shop. I think Goodyear offers the same. It's relatively heavy, but bullet proof. Depends how you are using it. Flexzilla is nice for light use.

 

[larry4406]

The flexizilla is **** to keep clean too. The silicone or whatever that green stuff is ***** in oil, grease, etc.

I keep a rag near each hose reel. I wrap the rag around the hose and hold it while the flexilla hose slips thru my hand as I guide the hose on to the reel as it recoils. Keeps the hose clean.

 

[Sumboodie]

I keep a rag near each hose reel. I wrap the rag around the hose and hold it while the flexilla hose slips thru my hand as I guide the hose on to the reel as it recoils. Keeps the hose clean.

Yeah, but oil soaks in and it doesn't clean anywhere near that easy.

Annoying to get coal miner hands everytime grabbing the hose. It's definitely not designed for use in a truck shop. Maybe wood working or something grease free.

 

[mixerfixer]

I have a Flexzilla going on 4 years old. Use it everyday in a Cat Dealer heavy equipment shop. It does get dirty but all hoses do if you use them. I wipe it off when it gets real nasty. I have no complaints.

The Flexzilla is 50 foot long. Just last week I picked up a 25 foot Diablo hose from Harbor Freight for a little more reach. Believe it or not the noticed weight difference at the air tool between the two hoses is significant. When I set a tool down on top of a machine, the weight of the Diablo hose wants to pull my smaller tools, Nano impacts, die grinders and blow nozzles, off the machine. The Flexzilla doesn't do that. I put the Diablo on the wall end of the hose because of this.

The Diablo hose was on sale, but personally I will spend the money for Flexzilla when I need to replace it. Don't waste your time with a PVC hose either.

 

[Rinspeed]

Last one I bought for home was a Tekton, I needed one that day and Runnings had them in stock for a good price. I was surprised it was made in the USA and the quality is pretty good. At the shop I only buy Goodyear in bulk and add the fittings. Quality is always great and consistent.

 

[Ilikeike]

I re-spooled mine with Goodyear rubber, when the tractor supply China hose started to crack.

You could just cut the ends off and use crimp band clamps then cover with some shrink sleeve,
I've done that, it looks clean, and you still gets some miles out of your existing hose.

 

[InjectorService]

I re-spooled mine with Goodyear rubber, when the tractor supply China hose started to crack.

You could just cut the ends off and use crimp band clamps then cover with some shrink sleeve,
I've done that, it looks clean, and you still gets some miles out of your existing hose.

What kind of crimps did you use there? Have a link?

 

[whateg01]

I've got the HF Cheapzilla hose on my reels. It's been leak free for at least 6 years of daily use. It does look kinda grotty. But looks never made something work better.

I have a couple of hf hose reels. The red hoses that come on them were ok until I had a job that took a few days and I left the hose out in the summer sun. Almost overnight they were cracked and faded. Less than a week later one of them burst in an area that had cracked. I cut off the bad section and put a new end on it but I took it off the reel and it's just a spare hose in case I need more distance.

 

[oldmachinenut]

The flexizilla is **** to keep clean too. The silicone or whatever that green stuff is ***** in oil, grease, etc.

I bought a hose, 100fter about 15 years ago and still going great.

It's a clearish blue, was $$. Firget the brand, but it's an awesome hose.

Probably Coil hose Pneumatics FlexeelI, I have it on 3 of my reels.

 

[Sumboodie]

Probably Coil hose Pneumatics FlexeelI, I have it on 3 of my reels.

I'd have to check, but won't be home until around Thanksgiving.

 

[Rinspeed]

What kind of crimps did you use there? Have a link?

McMaster-Carr has a bunch of them in different styles. I've never had any problems at all with this style and I've used hundreds of them. I always just used an old pair of dykes to crimp them. Great idea Ike has there with the heat shrink, I will use that.

 

[anndel]

Formerly Goodyear, now Continental air hose. My Goodyear lasted 10 years and still going strong.

 

[Walkers]

That one has a crimped ferrule.
Pro versions with spiral end are the reusable.

I suggest cutting off the end and replacing with a reusable end in the hose size.

Good to know. The flexzilla replacement ends are available on amazon.

 

[Ilikeike]

McMaster-Carr has a bunch of them in different styles. I've never had any problems at all with this style and I've used hundreds of them. I always just used an old pair of dykes to crimp them. Great idea Ike has there with the heat shrink, I will use that.

What kind of crimps did you use there? Have a link?

Exactly..

I use the glue lined shrink.

 

[djbmw]

I only run 100% rubber hoses as the hybrid and pvc junk get kinked/cracked and harden in the -40 winters we get (despite the claims that they can withstand it).

 

[roc_on_the_rocks]

Yeah, but oil soaks in and it doesn't clean anywhere near that easy.

Annoying to get coal miner hands everytime grabbing the hose. It's definitely not designed for use in a truck shop. Maybe wood working or something grease free.

I agree. The material on Flexzilla hoses is a magnet to dirt. When left outdoors, it becomes very grimy.

 

[American Locomotive]

I've had really good luck with the Flexzilla hoses. Always seem to work well - even when cold. They do get dirty though.

I did notice on the shelf at the store, they had both "Made in the USA" and "Made in China (or Taiwan, can't remember)" 50 foot packs of Flexzilla hose. I really couldn't ascertain what the difference was, or why they needed to different SKUs. There was a visible difference in the construction of the hose as well. The texture of webbing/weave was different between them.

 

[Sumboodie]

I only run 100% rubber hoses as the hybrid and pvc junk get kinked/cracked and harden in the -40 winters we get (despite the claims that they can withstand it).

The rubber ones do that too. I snapped a fairly new Goodyear one last winter like it was an old dry branch.