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Tool shop vac hose recommendations

Tool
M

Mike R

Well-Known Member
I'm tired of my shop vac hose collapsing every time I use it. Is there a recommendation for a hose that doesn't degrade when it sees oil from my lathe or mill?
I'm using the 2-1/2" hoses now as I used to have a vac with the 1-7/8" and that would just end up clogged all the time. Now I don't usually get clogs (once in a while if I'm really lazy and sucking up some really stringy swarf), but now the hose collapses in several places if the end is covered or I bend it just a little bit... Was good when new but the oil has softened it.

Also would not mind it being a little bit longer. Mine is 8ft and I really don't want it shorter. Would consider daisy chain of 2 hoses.
 
A collapsing hose means that you have enough suction pressure to collapse it ;) Probably you have a corrugated plastic hose and an 8 foot one is a long one already. Probably it is some sort of plastic

I would guess that are thinking that oil is a problem is a red herring. My guess is that you have a fatigue problem in the plastic - new hoses are okay, but as you use them, they bend; and then they are less able to resist that suction because plastic is especially susceptible to that problem

For such a long run, and if you have often had clogs, you'll want a larger pipe. And probably a better one

It is hard to emphasize how much less efficient a corrugated flexible pipe is than a solid pipe. Usually, runs like this are quoted in terms of effective length - which accounts for all of the elbows and other joints. On an 2 1/2" pipe, corrugations increase the effective length by around 10x.

If you want a long run of hose like this, find a pool supply store. The hoses that they have readily available are designed for much larger loads (water is much heavier than air). Otherwise there are lots of industrial sources.
 
Suction hose for use on water pumps would be the way I would likely go. Your shop vac likely cannot suck water up from 20 feet below, but the gasoline pumps will, as a maybe murky point of reference.

PA lists 2 inch diameter at $4/per foot. May be worth considering, if you are near one.
 
Mike R said:
Is there a recommendation for a hose that doesn't degrade when it sees oil from my lathe or mill?
Click to expand...

I do not use a vacuum to pick up all my swarf. I do most of that with magnets and long nose pliers. The vacuum only gets used to clean up the little stuff.

When I do use a vacuum, it's a Rigid unit with a small 2.5" hose that is strong enough to never collapse. Of course, I'm careful not to kink it.

Without getting too technical, Rigid brand hoses at Home Depot have worked for me for 15 years now.
 
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