I just replaced my old "compressor" with a new one, a small capacity 10 gallon hotdog style electric cheapo Husky. I only say cheap because I just use it for adding air to tires and blowing crap out of motors etc. I don't run any air tools. I've been using the cheap 1/4 inch "stiff" plastic type hoses you get at home depot and the like, but it handles terribly, kinks and knots, you waste time and entergy dragging it around and it takes forever to wind back up for storage.

Anyway, I looked on the internet and 3/8 diam rubber hose is supposed to handle very well in comparison, apparently what pros use all the time. But my question is, if I replace my pos stiff plastic 1/4 hoses with 3/8 ID rubber hose, will I get any "better" performance with inflating truck and car tires and blowing stuff clean ? I don't know about the physics of air efficiency inside hoses, but will a 3/8 ID hose give me more air, so to speak, for these simple uses ? In other words, will my compressor perform better with the 3/8 ID rubber hose compared to the 1/4 ID cheap plastic hoses ?

Your compressor will perform the same but you'll get increased volume through the hose. If the compressor can keep up you'll fill your tires faster. Rubber hoses are great but they're heavier. Check out the hybrid hoses, super flexible and lightweight. I've got a couple Flexilla hoses I like for my nailers.

Changing over to rubber hose from plastic/vinyl is a common upgrade. Hose is easier to use, as you noted.

The total airflow will depend on size of fittings and ports coming out of the tank, typically designated in Cubic Feet per Minute, CFM.

While a larger rubber hose will hold a little more volume of air than a smaller plastic hose, it's not enough to make much difference in total volume, from a storage standpoint. But, the larger diameter hose will improve efficiency to a certain extent.

Air pressure and air flow will diminish over longer runs thru hose and/or pipe, and the diameter of the hose will have an impact on loss of both flow and pressure. This should be similar to your experience with water flow thru various garden hoses.

The larger 3/8" rubber hose, vs the 1/4" plastic hose, will maintain volume and air pressure a little better, as there will be less loss over the distance of the hose length.

The compressor will actually determine the total amount of air (CFM) which you will have available. But, air flow should improve, and you should notice that inflating tires should go faster, until the compressor pump becomes the limiting factor.

FWIW....I rarely use my compressor, but I have it rigged up with a quick connect/disconnect at the compressor.

I recently purchased a good quality hybrid type hose, and I find that to be really good.

I also decided to get one of those hoses, I guess they're some sort of plastic (???) that is shaped like a slinky.

My thinking is that I will use the longer hybrid type hose as needed, but for things very close to the compressor I'll try to use just the curly que slinky type hose.

It will take me a while, as I said I don't use the compressor very often, but I'll eventually see how that works out.

I also have a portable air tank, I think it's something like 6 gallons or so. I also have it with a quick disconnect at the tank, but right now it has the curly slinky hose hooked up to it, but I have a shorter regular hose to use with different ends like blowers, chuck, air nozzle for balls and air rafts and such.
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I've had good use from harbor freight hoses in a shop environment, using them full time on shop air, 80 psi. That, being run over, dragged, constantly hauled around, and in continuous use. I use 3/8 PVC line, though a hybrid PVC/rubber line works too for increased abrasion resistance. If working higher up, the extra weight of the rubber or hybrid hose is a liability, and the rubber doesn't pull around objects as well; it's more draggy. It does tend to roll a bit better, and rubber hoses stay more flexible in colder weather.

PVC works fine for me for most applications, and it's not that expensive to replace. I use rubber or hybrid hose savers or leaders at the working end, which allow a bit more flex and wear resistance when working around metal edges. These are typically two or three foot sections that can be bought pre-made, or I make my own from other hoses.

The slinky coil hoses only last a couple years for me before becoming brittle and breaking. I changed over to a reinforced hybrid type and like it pretty well.

I don't think you will observe any discernable difference in performance.

Yes, the hose will flow more air and you'll get less pressure drop. Keep in mind 3/8" hose can kink and is heavier to drag around than what your using. Goodyear is a good brand for 3/8" compressor hoses. I like the Hybrid type.

 
A much better hose than the plastic is Goodyear rubber. I use them in both 1/4" and 3/8" size. But the volume of air coming from both is about the same, because you are typically using 1/4" NPT fittings for quick connects, and the air has to pass through that fitting regardless. Just about any air tool/device you buy either comes with, or comes ready for, a 1/4" NPT fitting.
 
Either size Goodyear rubber hose would be an improvement over your plastic. Personally, I would just go with the 1/4" Goodyear rubber hose, as it is probably cheaper than the 3/8" and is also easier to work with (easier to coil, lighter).

Yes, the 3/8" hose will deliver more air volume. Inflating your tires, especially if very large or very low, will take somewhat less time. I intensely dislike plastic coil hoses. They turn whatever you've attached to them into an unguided missile. For the same reason I don't like coiled cords on electrical test lights.

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But the volume of air coming from both is about the same, because you are typically using 1/4" NPT fittings for quick connects, and the air has to pass through that fitting regardless.

Quarter-inch pipe is not actually a quarter of an inch inside diameter, it is closer to 3/8". You can put a quarter-inch bolt through an eighth-inch pipe.

You won't notice any difference with that setup. Handling the hose will be the only difference and that's mostly personal preference.
Adjusting the compressor pressure a little higher (if even possible) would make the tire filling slightly quicker but not all that noticeable unless the pressures need to be high.

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Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

But the volume of air coming from both is about the same, because you are typically using 1/4" NPT fittings for quick connects, and the air has to pass through that fitting regardless.

Quarter-inch pipe is not actually a quarter of an inch inside diameter, it is closer to 3/8".

While 1/4" pipe is indeed closer to 3/8" ID, the 1/4" NPT quick connect fittings are .29" ID at the threaded end, due to thicker walls. But that is not the bottleneck if you are using quick connect fittings, it is the other end of the fitting, where the male and female come together. The ID of the male QC fitting you typically put on tool is only .19" on the small end. So both 3/8" and 1/4" hose have to pass air through that small hole.

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Originally posted by henryaz:

quote:

Originally posted by egregore:

quote:

But the volume of air coming from both is about the same, because you are typically using 1/4" NPT fittings for quick connects, and the air has to pass through that fitting regardless.

Quarter-inch pipe is not actually a quarter of an inch inside diameter, it is closer to 3/8".

While 1/4" pipe is indeed closer to 3/8" ID, the 1/4" NPT quick connect fittings are .29" ID at the threaded end, due to thicker walls. But that is not the bottleneck if you are using quick connect fittings, it is the other end of the fitting, where the male and female come together. The ID of the male QC fitting you typically put on tool is only .19" on the small end. So both 3/8" and 1/4" hose have to pass air through that small hole.

The I.d. of the hose is the most determining factor to how much CFM it flows. A smaller fitting at the end will slow down CFM much much less than if the entire hose is smaller ID and you'll have less pressure drop.

I've used a variety of hoses over the years and surprisingly the rubber one from harbor freight has been the longest lasting, most durable one.

I got tired of uncoiling air hoses, hooking them up, having them tangle, having to disconnect and re-coil them, so I have one of these



American Forge & Foundry 3/8 in. x 50 ft. Air Hose Reel

mounted to the "ceiling" of my garage. It's permanently plumbed back to the air compressor with 3/8 in. rubber hose.

It came with an unknown brand of rubber air hose, The working end finally started failing after... fifteen years? more? of use. I replaced the hose with Goodyear rubber hose.

I do run air tools, so I have a coalescing filter to remove moisture and other foreign debris plumbed into the inlet side of it.

I can't speak to long-term durability, but like several other posters, I find the dramatically decreased weight and dramatically increased flexibility of the Flexzilla 3/8" air hoses to dramatically decrease the amount of cussing that accompanies wrestling with air hoses.

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Originally posted by jimmy123x:
Goodyear is a good brand for 3/8" compressor hoses.

We use the Goodyear 3/8" hose here at the airline I work at and are generally easy to work with and very durable.