Rubber Hose In Bulk

If you are doing this for production work, then buy new at some place like this:

McMaster-Carr

If this is just a home project, then WallMart might be a good choice. Since you are cutting it why not cut the ends?

Graingers, Ryan-Herco, Harrington Plastics are all good too. I've done business with them all over the years. (Usual disclaimer) You might get it cheap enough at Harbor Freight to just cut the fittings off and throw them away.

You might search for local salvage yards, too.

I know people hate this place, but I'm a regular.

I see the costing of the heavier Commercial hose sold at Tractor Supply and other farm outlets runs only .40¢ to .50¢ a foot with the fittings. I wonder why the McMasters is so high for just the bare hose?

Anyway, I am not sure of the absolute toughness required for this project but right now I just need a reasonable covering to go over 6mm and 8mm line for light to moderate chafing.

I will be needing a source for several hundred feet every few months. You are correct with the idea of just buying a commercial hose package and cutting off the fittings.

Thank you.

From previous posts I assume you are a business. So if this is a continuing demand, why not just call a few manufactures.

I just searched "thermoplastic tubing, hose" and seemed to find several.

Auto Zone is a good place for bulk hoses

As an OEM, you should be able to hook up with with a wholesale hose supplier such as Aeroquip or Gates (just to name two; no personal connections). Fabric-reinforced air hose should be ideal for your app.

Some refrigerant hoses need to be changed out after 5 years; this might be a cheap source of used hose, if you can find the right sizes. (I've tossed lots of old ammonia hose, but it was 1".)

This could be a perfect opportunity for recycling. Good luck!

Rubber Hose In Bulk

That reminds me of an anecdote about a guy in Sydney. He was a high ranking somebody with a million dollar mansion. His hobby was gardening. He noticed one day that he couldn't reach the far ends of his property and thought the hose was shrinking. It was two hoses really, connected together.

One day he had enough and rang the CEO of the garden hose company and asked him if he could have a hose of 150 feet length, and a Hose that would not shrink like the one he had before.

The manager made it all possible and it was delivered and all was good. 6 months later the hose was shorter than last time he had watered and he rang the company and complained. They sent a guy out and it was investigated. Hose does not shrink and there must be another reason.

He then thought of his son, the teenager from hell, and went to the "west-wing" were the brat resided. He entered and before he could even start asking he saw a row of bongs standing on the table. "They were meant for the flea market" was the explanation. Son had used short hose bits to make it all work. There was hose and endless supply of it, so, why not use it?. I think the dude became a lawyer

Good luck with the hose clippings.

True story, Ky.

Rubber hose with fittings installed is usually cheaper per foot than bulk hose. Most places don't stock pieces longer than 50' pre-made but they are still cheaper than bulk, marketing folks sometimes can't be understood why they do some things.

Go to the hardware dept of the local orange big box, or any other similar source, and buy the appropriate number of lengths, cut off the end fittings and you have what you are in need of.

Places like McMaster-Carr, Graingers, etc. very seldom sell bulk at less per unit than a pre-made item that is a good seller. For many reasons bulk is a more expensive inventory for them than the prefabbed air hoses would be.

Depending upon where you are located, a search on google or the yellow pages could be the quickest way to find a distributor. In New Jersey I use Industrial Rubber located in Bridgewater and Elizabeth for all my bulk or difficult to find items.

Good Luck, Old Salt

A quick survey yesterday proved your point. It is positively cheaper to buy pre-cut good quality garden hose and just toss the fittings then it is to try and purchase just the hose itself.

I would need to purchase a 40' container of raw hose to even get close to a good price ( for the same product) at either Tractor Supply, Sears or Walmart.

Go figure.

Thank you all. A Lesson in economics and marketing was learned on this caper!

One more thought netmaker.

You may want to try to put a wanted ad on your local craigslist. People throw out leaky hoses all the time..........air, water, etc. You just may come up with a few local, (free), sources of hose that will continue into the future..................landscapers, car washes, golf courses, etc.

Might be worth a try and it won't cost you a dime.

Hey if your just looking for cheap hose Harbor Freight 100 foot 3/8 hose $20.00. Their pre-made with fittings. There are several outlets in your state. Other then that your local hose dealer will give you better price then most of the industrial supply companies like McMaster Carr.

Any good hardware store should have it. I think I have seen it at True Value Hardware.

You all have been so nice I decided to show you what I am doing. This rig rolls in front of a SKAG Beam Net and gently disturbs cobble just enough to loosen the stones and run small YOY ( Young of the Year) out in the open where they are caught ( for scientific study ).

I experimented with PVC but found it was too rigid. 5/8" commercial quality garden hose works excellent!

The wheels allow the rig to slip down inside the cobble and the rubber hose creates a venturi effect of sorts, aiding in the live ( and gentle) capture of the target species.

Now everybody has to sign off on a Non-Disclosure form...... can't have them Yankee net makers knowing all of my secrets!

You might find if you go to a manufacturer and ask them to make you cut lengths you will avoid the 'un-bending' exercise inherent with coiled stock.

Good Point. Keeping the lengths to under 8" per piece seemed to avoid the natural curvature in the hose. I think the idea of just whacking up commercial hose and tossing the fittings will be my best all around method for now. This is all low tech right now. We are already discussing using a low pulse shocking system to do the same thing. However, its not everybody ( even Government guys) who can afford a customized shock box unit similar to this electro-fishing outfit.

thank you again.