Cheap Chinese air hose rant!

[HoosierBuddy]

So...

My compressor has been cycling the last week or so. I figured my black piping must have developed a leak so I soaped everything and couldn't find a problem.

Then I took a look at my retractable air reel. It's 3 years old and the nicest one they sold at Menards. I'm not sure of the brand, but the reel wasn't the real problem. All of the 3/8 air hose was stamped "Made in China 300 PSI Max" every foot. There was a leak about every foot too. Not huge leaks, but I was getting bubbles all over the hose. The red hose was so cracked it looked like it had been in the desert for 20 years. Yet it hasn't been. It's been inside in my garage for 3 years, and has deteriorated to pieces.

Hmmm. I replaced the 50 foot main hose with yellow Goodyear Made in USA hose. We'll see how that holds up.

I replaced the 3-foot whip that connects the reel to my hard piping (which was also cheap chinese hose and leaking) with 2500 PSI hydraulic line. Yeah is was $31, but I had it made up with a swivel and it was SO MUCH EASIER to install than hose would have been.

So...my take on it is this: Chinese Air Hose = Bad.

Phil

 

[djjsr]

When I put in my air system, I used a couple of those 3 ft whips from HF. The hoses cracked and leaked within 6 months.

There's something strange about Chinese rubber. My trailer came with Chinese tires. They got replaced when I couldn't stand the smell (trailer is kept in my shop) and I read about Chinese tires failing (what a surprise!).

 

[mad57]

same here after about 1 year maybe 2 my hoses are all cracking but i paid $29 bucks for the hose real with the hose when they went on sale .no worries

 

[djjsr]

Public service announcement ..............

Don't buy Chinese condoms.

 

[chrommagman]

Public service announcement ..............

Don't buy Chinese condoms.

I hope those don't fail!!!!

 

[ToolJunkie]

It's amazing everyone knows this chinese **** really stinks but people keeps buying it. BTW if I find the same stuff made in the US I usually buy it. My limit is usually around 50% more. Maybe that's why I don't have too much stuff.

 

[VWandDodge]

It's amazing everyone knows this chinese **** really stinks but people keeps buying it. BTW if I find the same stuff made in the US I usually buy it. My limit is usually around 50% more. Maybe that's why I don't have too much stuff.

Harbor Freight is like crack to some of these guys. They keep going back for more, although sometimes people wise up. I know I did.

 

[SuperSocket]

When I put in my air system, I used a couple of those 3 ft whips from HF. The hoses cracked and leaked within 6 months.

There's something strange about Chinese rubber. My trailer came with Chinese tires. They got replaced when I couldn't stand the smell (trailer is kept in my shop) and I read about Chinese tires failing (what a surprise!).

Yeah, same with garden hoses made in china. Had one inside a building powering a water pump for overnight... imagine my surprise when it failed, oops.

They crack and get all this swelling.


One thing that is interesting to note is two things I found from China... they do not use Copper (check all your Chinese light fixtures, all tin wires)... and their plastics/rubbers stink bad and tend to discolor, brittle, and swell for some reason.

 

[scott37300]

I buy some cheap things when I don't plan to use them much or when I don't have the money to buy the good stuff right away. But I don't complain WHEN they fail, I know going into it that they are a inferior product and will fail at some point. At that time I either just replace with another cheap one or buy the good stuff if it is something I use a lot and know will fail over and over and end up costing more money. A good hose reel is 150-300 bucks depending on things, but it will last a longtime. When I worked at a mill we used expensive hose reels and they lasted in an industrial environment with people abusing them all day long. It's a high initial investment but in the long run it pays off not having to replace them.

 

[ishiboo]

Harbor Freight is like crack to some of these guys. They keep going back for more, although sometimes people wise up. I know I did.

Why not? They sell the Goodyear Made in USA air hose, too.

 

[Cougar]

I had a coil air hose like this one, made in China. Blew up in a million pieces in my face.
Now I only buy Made in USA air hose. It's worth a few more bucks.

 

[Carl B]

One thing that is interesting to note is two things I found from China... they do not use Copper (check all your Chinese light fixtures, all tin wires)... and their plastics/rubbers stink bad and tend to discolor, brittle, and swell for some reason.

I can guess that you don't own any products produced by Apple Computer then.

So far the Apple products I have purchased over the past 15 years - have been of the highest quality in all regards.

Cheaply made products are - cheaply made products. Doesn't matter if they are made in the USA or in China by US based Corporations.

High quality products are - high quality products. Doesn't matter if they are made in the USA or in China by US based Corporations.

IMHO - Somehow - a few people have let "perception" replace facts or reality.
FWIW,
Carl B.

 

[chrommagman]

Harbor Freight is like crack to some of these guys. They keep going back for more, although sometimes people wise up. I know I did.

I would be one of those guys. but I am just building my tools up. I don't have a job. the only way I get money is mowing lawns. so for me it's ether HF or a paw shop.

 

[mad57]

Remember i bought the whole thing for $29 bucks on clearance from lowes 50 ft of hose and the reel itself yes it ***** the hose cracked but still $29 bucks cant be beat import or not gotta chose you deals wisely, and of course dont pitch a ***** if it fails.

 

[scott37300]

I would be one of those guys. but I am just building my tools up. I don't have a job. the only way I get money is mowing lawns. so for me it's ether HF or a paw shop.

There's nothing wrong with HF, especially if you need to build up a decent set on a tight budget. I make a trip into there about once a month for a few things, usually sale items or things that I won't use much or just for disposable tools. But I keep in mind what I am buying, I try not to buy things like abrasive disc that are cheap and come flying apart and get lodged everywhere. Don't buy things that take a lot of engineering to make or things that need tight tolerances. I also realise there is a very good chance that something I buy from HF will break.

I buy from HF and a lot of there stuff is OK to good quality and some is absolute junk, but I also keep in mind what I am paying and that sometimes the quality is inline with the prices.

 

[Virgil Cain]

Public service announcement ..............

Don't buy Chinese condoms.

If Chinese condoms smell the same way Chinese tires smell you'll never have to worry about them failing.

 

[VWandDodge]

Why not? They sell the Goodyear Made in USA air hose, too.

I'd rather go someplace where I know I can always buy quality items rather than having to dig through piles of **** to find it.

I would be one of those guys. but I am just building my tools up. I don't have a job. the only way I get money is mowing lawns. so for me it's ether HF or a paw shop.

You're fooling yourself. Pay once, cry once. Buy quality tools while you're young and they'll last you a lifetime. It's much better than the **** tool failing right when you need it most. Believe me, that does happen.

 

[scott37300]

You're fooling yourself. Pay once, cry once. Buy quality tools while you're young and they'll last you a lifetime. It's much better than the **** tool failing right when you need it most. Believe me, that does happen.

I agree with you and I have had that belief since I was in high school and I'm not trying to turn this thread into a HF vs. thread. But you have to consider what he said, he only gets a few dollars for cutting grass. So he has 2 choices. First one, buy a snap on 1/2" ratchet for 175 bucks and not be able to afford sockets to use with it and can't even change a tire. Or, spent 30-40 bucks at harbor freight and get a ratchet and set of sockets and probably a few other things and be able to change tires until a socket breaks, then just take it back and warranty it. Sometimes it's better to have a set of cheap tools that will get the job done most of the time instead of a few quality tools that will really limit the amount of work you can do.

A good example of this would be 12 years ago when I was 18 I bought a craftsman floor jack, jack stand, and creeper for 100 bucks give or take. I needed it to fix something and it's all I could afford at the time. It was a cheap chinese jack but got the job done. The jack still works but I recently bought an older blackhawk to use. Now my other option would have been to buy a quality jack for 200 bucks and up, which I didn't have and also wouldn't have been able to buy any other tools to fix anything else since I was just starting out. So I would have been able to jack my car up but wouldn't have had stand, creeper, various hand tools I might have needed, etc. So I bought the best I could afford at the time and used it till I could afford something better.

I totally agree with your "buy once" theory but sometimes you have to go with "buy the best you can afford for now" theory in order to get the job done. I started out with a cheap import socket set which broke many sockets. Then bought a decent craftsman when I could afford it. Then slowly have been upgrading to snap on and other brands as money allows. Same with my screwdrivers, pliers, specialty tools, etc. Sometimes you just have to compromise in order to get all the things you need.

 

[VWandDodge]

I agree with you and I have had that belief since I was in high school and I'm not trying to turn this thread into a HF vs. thread. But you have to consider what he said, he only gets a few dollars for cutting grass. So he has 2 choices. First one, buy a snap on 1/2" ratchet for 175 bucks and not be able to afford sockets to use with it and can't even change a tire. Or, spent 30-40 bucks at harbor freight and get a ratchet and set of sockets and probably a few other things and be able to change tires until a socket breaks, then just take it back and warranty it. Sometimes it's better to have a set of cheap tools that will get the job done most of the time instead of a few quality tools that will really limit the amount of work you can do.

A good example of this would be 12 years ago when I was 18 I bought a craftsman floor jack, jack stand, and creeper for 100 bucks give or take. I needed it to fix something and it's all I could afford at the time. It was a cheap chinese jack but got the job done. The jack still works but I recently bought an older blackhawk to use. Now my other option would have been to buy a quality jack for 200 bucks and up, which I didn't have and also wouldn't have been able to buy any other tools to fix anything else since I was just starting out. So I would have been able to jack my car up but wouldn't have had stand, creeper, various hand tools I might have needed, etc. So I bought the best I could afford at the time and used it till I could afford something better.

I totally agree with your "buy once" theory but sometimes you have to go with "buy the best you can afford for now" theory in order to get the job done. I started out with a cheap import socket set which broke many sockets. Then bought a decent craftsman when I could afford it. Then slowly have been upgrading to snap on and other brands as money allows. Same with my screwdrivers, pliers, specialty tools, etc. Sometimes you just have to compromise in order to get all the things you need.

You make a couple of good points *except* I never once mentioned Snap-On, nor do I worship at the altar of the Snap-On truck driver. Some careful research will yield quality tools for someone in his position so long as he knows he's not going to get all that he wants right away.

 

[juiced10]

@ VWDODGE..... So what did you mean? Don't buy what you can afford , just throw in the towel? I don't get it. You do what you have to to get the job done ....period!

 

[chrommagman]

I'd rather go someplace where I know I can always buy quality items rather than having to dig through piles of **** to find it.




You're fooling yourself. Pay once, cry once. Buy quality tools while you're young and they'll last you a lifetime. It's much better than the **** tool failing right when you need it most. Believe me, that does happen.

the tools that I have bought from them are fine. but would I like to own all snap on,hell yes but that isn't in my budget.
once I get a job I will be buying better tools

 

[galute]

@ VWDODGE..... So what did you mean? Don't buy what you can afford , just throw in the towel? I don't get it. You do what you have to to get the job done ....period!

Years ago I bought a dump truck and went into business for myself. I was broke and struggling to survive. I needed a 3/4 drive set to change tires on my truck. I bought a 30 dollar set of junk Taiwan sockets with ratchet knowing I would break them but I could replace them one at a time as they broke. I low down abused that set every way known to man. Here it is 30 years later and I still have every piece to that set except one socket that was eaten by the monster that lives in the black hole and eats tools and has been replaced by a NAPA socket.

When my Dad retired he told me he would never work on anything that big again and gave me his Snap On set. Ironically, the first time I used the ratchet I used one of the cheap sockets and the same cheater pipe I used on the cheap ratchet and broke the Snap On ratchet. Go figure.

 

[chrommagman]

I have a husky hose reel and 50 of campbell hose form walmart
I had it sitting in the Arizona sun for 7 months all that happen is the paint dulled and the husky hose witch was orange is now whiteish. I have had the campbell for 4 or so years now but the husky 3 years old.

 

[1984Datsun]

Years ago I bought a dump truck and went into business for myself. I was broke and struggling to survive. I needed a 3/4 drive set to change tires on my truck. I bought a 30 dollar set of junk Taiwan sockets with ratchet knowing I would break them but I could replace them one at a time as they broke. I low down abused that set every way known to man. Here it is 30 years later and I still have every piece to that set except one socket that was eaten by the monster that lives in the black hole and eats tools and has been replaced by a NAPA socket.

When my Dad retired he told me he would never work on anything that big again and gave me his Snap On set. Ironically, the first time I used the ratchet I used one of the cheap sockets and the same cheater pipe I used on the cheap ratchet and broke the Snap On ratchet. Go figure.

Like my neighbor has said, he's broken every good tool brand you can think of. SK, Snap-On, Mac, Matco, Craftsman... everything. He swears by Craftsman ratchets. He said he's broken more Snap-On ratchets than Craftsman when he had to use a cheater pipe on one. More expensive does not always mean better... in fact, for what I paid on amazon for my IR QTiMax 2135 impact, with a boot to protect it, I could've bought a mid range Snap-On... the SO would be weaker, less reliable, and heavier, as well as uglier. So there. **** the Snap-On...

I ain't paying the same or more for the same or less performance and reliability. I do have some Snap-On tools. In fact, I broke one of their drill bits when I didn't break a HF one on the same damn job. It caught while finishing the hole and broke right off. HF did the work and completed said hole. Enough said.

I'm cheap, and when I think I need it, I will pay a little more, but not ridiculous Snap-On and Mac type prices.

I bought my slightly beat up used Snap-On tool box for 600 bucks. A couple of the drawers open and close hard as grease or something has built up on the slides... gonna do something about that soon. Probably some carb clean, rags, and oil...

 

[chrommagman]

some times I think the cheap **** out last the higher brands *cough cough SnapOn cough*

 

[Torque1st]

You're fooling yourself. Pay once, cry once. Buy quality tools while you're young and they'll last you a lifetime. It's much better than the **** tool failing right when you need it most. Believe me, that does happen.

I have had Craftsman tools fail on me also. Tools of all brands are a **** shoot. I just try to keep multiples. A lifetime replacement warranty is worthless at midnight.

 

[theoldwizard1]

The issue is quality. Or at least what we perceive as quality.

A high price does not guarantee quality, but a very low price should always cause you to pause and think twice (I fell for the $1.99 HF 12" squeeze grip clamps - only out $1.99)

Made in the US does not guarantee quality (but it does provide jobs) just as made in China does not guarantee junk.

Buying a Goodyear :brand"air hose is probably more important (they have a reputation to uphold) than buying "made in the USA".



“The bitterness of poor quality is remembered long after the sweetness of low price has faded from memory.” - Aldo Gucci

 

[red]

I can guess that you don't own any products produced by Apple Computer then.

So far the Apple products I have purchased over the past 15 years - have been of the highest quality in all regards.

Cheaply made products are - cheaply made products. Doesn't matter if they are made in the USA or in China by US based Corporations.

High quality products are - high quality products. Doesn't matter if they are made in the USA or in China by US based Corporations.

IMHO - Somehow - a few people have let "perception" replace facts or reality.
FWIW,
Carl B.

Talking about "Perception" Just on the news "Apple Computer has more cash (or cash back securities) than the U S Government" Was something like 76 billion.

Amazing how everyone loves Apple with their 42% profit margin, with production in China (not USA) and very few American jobs. But we hate our oil companies, who employ 10,000 of thousands US workers and average an 8% profit. Marketing? or our "News"? To think that over $200 of your $500 Apple product went to Profit . . . O u ch

 

[bgott]

Like my neighbor has said, he's broken every good tool brand you can think of. SK, Snap-On, Mac, Matco, Craftsman... everything. He swears by Craftsman ratchets. He said he's broken more Snap-On ratchets than Craftsman when he had to use a cheater pipe on one. More expensive does not always mean better... in fact, for what I paid on amazon for my IR QTiMax 2135 impact, with a boot to protect it, I could've bought a mid range Snap-On... the SO would be weaker, less reliable, and heavier, as well as uglier. So there. **** the Snap-On...

If he is using a cheater on a ratchet he's an ignorant SOB...why don't you educate him on the use of a breaker bar and the general proper use of tools? Or is he one of those people that doesn't think he's accomplishing anything if he's not tearing stuff up?

 

[chrisziem]

Years ago I bought a dump truck and went into business for myself. I was broke and struggling to survive. I needed a 3/4 drive set to change tires on my truck. I bought a 30 dollar set of junk Taiwan sockets with ratchet knowing I would break them but I could replace them one at a time as they broke. I low down abused that set every way known to man. Here it is 30 years later and I still have every piece to that set except one socket that was eaten by the monster that lives in the black hole and eats tools and has been replaced by a NAPA socket.

When my Dad retired he told me he would never work on anything that big again and gave me his Snap On set. Ironically, the first time I used the ratchet I used one of the cheap sockets and the same cheater pipe I used on the cheap ratchet and broke the Snap On ratchet. Go figure.

You offended the Snap-On ratchet, lower it's dignity and it committed hari kari.

 

[diggerrick]

Funny how this thread went from chinese hose reels to Snap-On ratchets.

I bought a cheap chinese retractable hose reel from a Homier tent sale about 10 years ago, and it's in Dad's home shop still working fine. It doesn't see daily use, but it hasn't rotted away either. The only thing that leaked was the cheap HF q/d after a few years, so we replaced it with another cheapy that still seals well. The ratcheting mechanism isn't the most reliable either, but it was worth $30.

And yes, if I had to use it in a professional shop environment, I would have bought a better one. We all aren't pro's though.

I can't afford a Cadillac either - does that mean I shouldn't drive?

 

[ishiboo]

Since this thread is damned anyway to the China Debate, I have an idea to share.

Obviously, any China-made tools, farm equipment, etc. is garbage, so clearly China is full of people waving their fists in the air over not being able to get the job done as the stuff keeps breaking.

Let's open a line of Harbor Freight stores in China that sell overpriced US-made tools with fancy brand names, to the hard-working Chinaman that cannot buy quality tools locally. We'll be rich!

Also, Dude, chinaman is not the preferred nomenclature. Asian-American, please.

 

[Virgil Cain]

The people that live in China are Asian-American? Who knew?

Besides, if a guy that lives in France can be called a Frenchman, why can't a guy that lives in China be called Chinaman?

 

[bgott]

The people that live in China are Asian-American? Who knew?

I watched a news report one night where the politically correct reporter kept referring to Haitians or some such as "African-Americans". I guess it confused the guy that they had black people somewhere other than the USA and he didn't want to get in trouble for not following the memo.

 

[bgarrett]

My new air hose burst first time I used it. Made in INDIA!

 

[Virgil Cain]

I watched a news report one night where the politically correct reporter kept referring to Haitians or some such as "African-Americans". I guess it confused the guy that they had black people somewhere other than the USA and he didn't want to get in trouble for not following the memo.

I've seen something similar as well. Don't think it was Haiti, I believe it was a reporter reporting on something out of Africa, and the reporter referred to the indigenous population as "African-Americans", then there was this puzzled look that went across her face, then she went on with the story.

I actually have a feeling that because we've become so sensitive about race that this reporter was somehow afraid that to use the perfectly reasonable words "black" or "African" would somehow give offense, so she fell back on her safe word "African-Americans" even though it clearly did not apply. Some kind of cognitive dissonance at work I think.

 

[rodm850g]

OK so back to the original rant....
I'm still rockin the Binks air hose my Dad bought in the early 80's.....I've run air ratchets, painted with it and other than some small ridges made onto the outer cover wearing away, no leaks , no bubbles.....I kinda think if its only getting used once or twice a month economy is a good way to go ...but for the long rum......name brands are hard to beat.....
Rod

 

[soob]

Back in the day I broke a lot of craftsman ratchets putting pipes on them.

I've never broken a harbor freight ratchet because I got a breaker bar there for $6.

 

[chrommagman]

name brands are hard to beat.

I have the same feeling!


...Campbell Hausfeld FTW!!! best hose you will buy

 

[dadsEH]

Public service announcement ..............

Don't buy Chinese condoms.

yeah, they only come in one size ..... small !