In the past I have extolled the virtues of Polyurethane air hoses:
light weight, thinner profile, good cold weather flex
and also its cons - cost and its weird twisting problems.
Nonetheless I have exclusively used PU hoses for all but the overhead retracing reel. - a spool to lay out on the drive when airing car tires, and a roll on a hook inside the shop.
This week I have discovered another possible downside: a Hitachi hose I repaired for a leak last year sprung another bad leak a few minutes after I pressured it up. Did my work with a spare and then fixed the hose (shortened it) and it sprung yet another leak. Took a good look at it and I see that the polyurethane has rotted - basically a tough plastic usually, it is simply crumbling and separating from the woven fibers in the wall. I could see other spots where the hose was white showing separation from the reinforcing fibers. I tossed the whole hose after I salvaged brass fittings and noted that it had an apparent date code of 9524 printed on the hose wall every couple of feet along with the name and pressure rating. For a lot of stuff a four digit code like that means 1995 24th week?
So I'm thinking Polyurethane has a lifetime - anyone else had this issue with PU hoses?
I hope my BT3000 belts are OK...
light weight, thinner profile, good cold weather flex
and also its cons - cost and its weird twisting problems.
Nonetheless I have exclusively used PU hoses for all but the overhead retracing reel. - a spool to lay out on the drive when airing car tires, and a roll on a hook inside the shop.
This week I have discovered another possible downside: a Hitachi hose I repaired for a leak last year sprung another bad leak a few minutes after I pressured it up. Did my work with a spare and then fixed the hose (shortened it) and it sprung yet another leak. Took a good look at it and I see that the polyurethane has rotted - basically a tough plastic usually, it is simply crumbling and separating from the woven fibers in the wall. I could see other spots where the hose was white showing separation from the reinforcing fibers. I tossed the whole hose after I salvaged brass fittings and noted that it had an apparent date code of 9524 printed on the hose wall every couple of feet along with the name and pressure rating. For a lot of stuff a four digit code like that means 1995 24th week?
So I'm thinking Polyurethane has a lifetime - anyone else had this issue with PU hoses?
I hope my BT3000 belts are OK...
Comment