Key Takeaways

• Air hoses (pneumatic) move gas instead of fluid, making them cleaner to operate: any leak releases only air, not hazardous hydraulic fluid.

• Pneumatic systems are easier to set up in facilities that already supply compressed air, reducing installation complexity.

• Air hoses are designed for speed and rapid movement, not high pressure, making them ideal for tools like jackhammers, staplers, and impact wrenches.

• Pneumatic equipment typically requires less maintenance and has a longer operating lifespan than comparable hydraulic equipment.

• Royal Brass and Hose stocks Continental Frontier, F5, and PLIOVIC air hoses in bulk reels and pre-made assemblies with crimped brass NPT fittings.

In the manufacturing world you might ask when or why should I use air hose instead of hydraulic hose? Pneumatics follow the same power movement principle as hydraulics except it involves the movement of gases instead of fluids. While pneumatics and hydraulics each have their ideal places in a wide range of industrial operations, there are times when it's beneficial to use air hoses to meet your needs.

What Are the Four Reasons to Choose Air Hoses Over Hydraulics?

• Clean Power: Pneumatics is cleaner than hydraulics. If there's a leak, only air is released instead of slick fluids, which are dangerous and hard to clean.

• Easy Setup: It is normally easier to set up because many industrial facilities already provide compressed air.

• Long-Term Investment: Pneumatic equipment might be more expensive overall than hydraulic equipment, but generally it requires less maintenance and has a longer operating lifespan.

• Speed: Although air hoses aren't made for high-pressure applications, they provide for rapid movement operations. They are designed with speed in mind, not strength.

The real-world applications for air hoses are seemingly beyond measure as they can be used in all forms of industrial automation. Air hoses can supply power to cylinders and vacuum pumps as well as funnel compressed air to jackhammers, staplers, and impact tools. They can even be used to provide vehicle functionality for mobile equipment and can also be used in areas of agriculture, mining, and drilling. Having been designed for age, weather, and oil resistance, this type of hose is suitable to transport air in multiple workplace environments and conditions.

Frontier Continental Rubber Air Hose

• Red or Black Cover

• One-braid spiral synthetic yarn reinforcement

• Synthetic rubber tube rated for limited oil resistance

• Temperature rating of -40 degrees to 190 degrees F; 200, 250, or 300 pounds per square inch (PSI)

• 1/4" inner diameter (ID) to 1-1/2" ID available

Shop Frontier Continental Rubber Air Hose

Blue F5 Continental Air Hose

• Blue thermoplastic cover offering lightweight flexibility and all weather performance

• Highly flexible polyester yarn reinforcement rated for medium oil resistance and low temperatures

• 300 PSI

• Sold in bulk reels, custom lengths, and 50' assemblies

• 1/4" ID to 3/4" ID available

Shop Blue F5 Continental Air Hose

PVC Air Hose Continental (PLIOVIC)

• Smooth red PLIOVIC cover

• Medium/High oil resistant tube with spiral synthetic yarn reinforcement

• 250 PSI

• Temperature rating of -10 degrees to 158 degrees

• 1/4" ID to 1" ID available

• Can be used for water and spray solutions

Shop PVC Air Hose Continental (PLIOVIC)

What Royal Brass and Hose Offers

RBH stocks Continental Frontier and F5 rubber air hoses along with PLIOVIC polyvinyl chloride (PVC) air hose. Rubber air hose is sold in bulk reels and in heavy-duty, pre-made assemblies of 25' or 50' lengths. Bulk hose lengths and assemblies can be customized upon request. The RBH Hose Shop air hose assemblies come complete with crimped 1/4" male brass National Pipe Taper (NPT) pipe thread fittings and brass ferrules on each end. They are rated at either 200 or 250 PSI depending on the type of hose. All assemblies are resistant to oil, abrasion, sunlight, and ozone.

Considering Using an Air Hose in an Application?

Contact your Royal Brass and Hose local sales representative or call 800-669-9650 to speak with a member of our customer service team.

Our locations include Knoxville, TN; Marietta, GA; Orlando, FL; Charlotte, NC; Little Rock, AR; Fort Worth, TX; Benton, IL; Madisonville, KY; Princeton, WV; Birmingham, AL; and Calvert City, KY.