new water hose

GMC said:
got the best invention for $6 tonight at sears. BRASS QUICK DISSCONNECT SET. dont know how i did without? makes a breeze hooking up the hose now.
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Hey, quick-connects are the way to go.:dblthumb2: Let us know how those work over a few years time.

If you have any leaking at all, try changing the washers. When they age/patina and begin to leak you can soak them in a harsh chemical metal cleaner, or simply change to NELSON brand. These will last longer than you and I. I always remove my connectors when not in use and place them with my other detailing items.

They also sell plastic re-placement washers for some of these connectors. Some come with rubber washers which will harden over time. The rubber washers are the best, but sometimes "softer" plastic versions can be found as well and they will work well also if you can find them. For these I don't go by brand, but by feel. You can also buy filters that fit where the washers go inside.

I don't know about the quality of these connectors you bought, as I haven't seen them. If they end up giving you problems don't give up on the convenience of quick-connects...go out and buy some NELSON brand...expensive, but worth every penny. They are another product I learned about working in the greenhouse industry years ago...quick connects are not all created equal. However, even if the ones you purchased last you a short time you should be rewarded from their convenience enough for the investment of $6. Sears usually sells good products though.

On the dirty hands (from oxidizing rubber...doesn't have to be in the sun to do this) issue I mentioned, it may be worth your effort to wipe that hose down with a good quality vynil/rubber treatment sold here at AG (If, or dare I say, WHEN it becomes a problem for you and others). I have not tried this with my dad's hose, but it may help to keep the hands a little more clean. May even turn an already lifetime product into an heirloom to be passed to your grandchildren too:dblthumb2:.
 
Hoytman said:
I'm not a detailer, but it always pays to know your tools and know them well. I'd guess this is an often overlooked detail in the detailing business.

We use rubber hoses in the greenhouse industry quite often. They'll last you a long time...

...and that's really the only thing good about them I can say. Here are some of the bad things:
-Initial cost high=long life=cost balance.
-They hard to roll up.
-They are heavy to lug around.
-They...well let me explain this one first.

Numerous times on this forum I've noticed the comment made to "start clean, work clean." I can tell you that with a rubber hose, especially after some age, you won't be starting clean, or working clean. At least not IMHO. After all, detailing means paying attention to the details. Right?

Thirteen years ago I went to Lowe's and bought 3 -100ft. SWAN SOFT & SUPPLE name brand hoses. All but one of these hoses has been sitting out in the weather and are just now showing signs of detetiorization due to UV light and weathering. They aren't quite as soft now, but still better than rubber IMHO. It would certainly be easy enough to take some Meguire's #39 and wipe them down real good, then "soak" them (pun intended) with a good vynil/rubber conditioner. Of course, there's no need to do this for my yard hoses because they'll continue to collect dirt outside, but if I need a hose to detail cars with, I'd keep them protected either by keeping them inside and/or wiping them clean. My hoses still serve me well for what I use them for and I wouldn't hesitate...let me restate that...I would NOT by anything else but SWAN SOFT & SUPPLE. I believe these hoses carry a lifetime warranty as well.

My dad asked me a few years ago what hoses I had bought and I told him the name. Well, he went to Sears and bought this lifetime warranty black rubber hose. I can tell you that from day one that thing leaves tracks everywhere it goes, just like the red rubber hoses we use in the greenhouse. What I mean by tracks is, your hands will turn blk/red, whichever color hose you buy, from the first time you use them and will remain dirty throughout whatever you're working on. Bottom line...

Rubber hoses IMO have no place in the detailing world. I'm not a detailer, but I have worked with and used many different types of water hoses in some very harsh environments, i.e. fertilzer & UV light from greenhouse use. Again, rubber hoses will last you a lifetime, but they'll also make you wash your hands constantly, if you want to keep your hands clean while doing something. I personally do not like them for this reason. I'd much rather buy/use SWAN SOFT & SUPPLE hoses.

In the greenhouse business cash "flow" wouldn't be possible without quality hoses. We used both rubber and the brand I mentioned above. Give me rubber in the greenhouse, and SWAN SOFT & SUPPLE at home. They are easy/soft around what you'll be working with (cars), they take UV light well, they're easy to roll up, they're supple in your hands, and they are perfect for detailers IMHO. SWAN SOFT & SUPPLE.

I do not work for them, I'm just a happy customer.
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Hoytman I'm not trying to be a downer, but it looks like Swan may not be the company they used to be, based on the reviews on the Lowe's website
Lowe's - 5/8"Dia. x 50'L Heavy-Duty Soft and Supple Hose customer reviews - product reviews - read top consumer ratings
I'm looking into getting a new hose and your posts made me very curious, so I looked around.

Tony
 
I bought a 3/4" 75' Gilmour Flexogen with a lifetime warranty. Lightweight and flexible. One of my best detailing purchases. I had a 3/4" rubber hose years ago that weighed a ton. I agree with HoytMan FWIW.
 
BlantonDetail said:
Hoytman I'm not trying to be a downer, but it looks like Swan may not be the company they used to be, based on the reviews on the Lowe's website
Lowe's - 5/8"Dia. x 50'L Heavy-Duty Soft and Supple Hose customer reviews - product reviews - read top consumer ratings
I'm looking into getting a new hose and your posts made me very curious, so I looked around.

Tony
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It is quite possible that the company may have started cutting corners, therefore cutting the quality of these hoses. Perhaps it was a bad batch of hoses. I cannot prove nor disprove either claim. That said, I'd buy another one of those hoses regardless of the negative comments. Here's why:

If you'll notice that most of the people saying the hoses were junk also made claims to them swelling and bursting. Now, stop and think about that for a moment. If cool water is moving through a hose it can't swell and burst. I can't believe that a hose being exposed to short term pressure on/off as in washing a car would burst. That's a rediculous claim imo. Obviously they were left with pressure on them for extended periods, and I'd be willing to bet they were left out in the sun to boot. That heated water inside that hose will naturally cause the hose to swell.

I could spend a great deal of time explaining something so simple, but it really isn't worth it. Here's the simple cure: Take the pressure off of the hose when not in use for extended periods. Doing so will extend the life of any hose.

I've even had the best rubber hoses to kink, however, they don't tend to kink from having a memory like a cheap plastic hose. Usually it's caused from me not watching how much I'm twisting them. Good hoses have less memory to them which keeps them from kinking as often. In the right situation they all will kink.

Some people could tear up an anvil.

EDIT:
Sure, I've accidentally left my hoses with pressure on them a few times in the hot sun, but I've never had a problem. Did the hose swell? Obviously yes. It's also something I try not to make a habit of.

Re-read my posts and you'll see how long I've had my hoses and how much they've endured. I couldn't be more satisfied. Perhaps Lowe's offers a better non-rubber hose...I wouldn't know. I haven't had a need to look at them.

Also, if the powder on your hands isn't that big of a deal while you're detailing, then I'd recommend the rubber hose.


Old Tiger said:
I bought a 3/4" 75' Gilmour Flexogen with a lifetime warranty. Lightweight and flexible. One of my best detailing purchases. I had a 3/4" rubber hose years ago that weighed a ton. I agree with HoytMan FWIW.
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:xyxthumbs:
 
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