shop air hoses

[simonb]

hey people
i am looking to buy an air hose for the shop
i have been looking around and i have seen majority of these hoses are 1/4" or 3/8"

i have a 1/2in" ingersoll rand impact
so what hose should i get? i dont mean brand
i mean size

what is the standard hose connections at shops- 1/4 or 3/8?
thanks

 

[Hoot]

I always get 3/8 id hose with 1/4 npt ends. I also buy the 3/8 quick disconnects with the 1/4 npt threaded ends.

 

[wantedabiggergarage]

hey people
i am looking to buy an air hose for the shop
i have been looking around and i have seen majority of these hoses are 1/4" or 3/8"

i have a 1/2in" ingersoll rand impact
so what hose should i get? i dont mean brand
i mean size

what is the standard hose connections at shops- 1/4 or 3/8?
thanks

There are variables. Generally a 3/8" hose, with 1/4" fittings for things like impact guns, air ratchets, etc. But larger 1/2" hose, with 3/8" fittings for things that require air (and you have a big enough compressor to supply them).
Generally, you increase the pipe size, not the hose size.

I prefer rubber hose for the garage (3/8"), and have started using 1/4" polyurethane hoses for my pnuematic nailers.
I don't have need for the larger 1/2" hoses yet.

 

[SteveU]

Go with the 3/8" hose but if you get the HVLP fittings which have larger openings & flow more air than the standard fittings it will give your air tools a bit more power. The guy that installed my lift used a 3/4" CP impact which worked well with these.

 

[JCByrd24]

Agreed 3/8" hose is what you want for a 1/2" impact. It will come with 1/4" NPT threads and the 1/4" quick connects are pretty standard until you get into big air. The hi-flow ones that Steve posted will give you a little more punch at the same regulator setting, but you can adjust your regulator to get the same output if you can't get the fittings locally and want to get up and running. To get the rated output you want to make sure the pressure stays around 90 when running. Ideally you would have a gauge right at the tool and make sure it's 90 when running, but the gage at the regulator will tell a similar story. Usually 100 at the tank with no draw will get you everything you need and not harm your tools.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Always 3/8 rubber line with quick disconnects. I do not like 1/4 line in my shop. I prefer red rubber hose and I always buy what is cheap at HF or the like.

 

[Jay H 237]

Always 3/8 rubber line with quick disconnects. I do not like 1/4 line in my shop. I prefer red rubber hose and I always buy what is cheap at HF or the like.

+1 on the rubber hoses. The others don't like the cold and wind up being like a giant phone cord stretched across the garage or driveway and won't "relax". I've been switching over to rubber hose now, much easier to work with all around.

I use 3/8" for everything but do have a 20' length of 1/4" that I use for my Eastwoods powder coater. Just easier to manuever the gun with.

 

[dreaminbimmers]

Even the rubber hoses can be a pain to coil if they get cold enough (or get old). I got so tired of coiling mine that I recently purchased a Lincoln hose real with 50 feet of 3/8 hose. I can pull out 50 feet of hose in ten seconds and put it back in about half that time. IIRC I bought it for right around $120.