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.
