Don't let a hole stop your hose

A few years ago, I traded in my heavy rubber pneumatic hoses for a Flexeel hose, and I haven’t once regretted my decision. Flexeel hoses are light, tough, and easy to handle, even when it’s cold outside. Made from an ether-based polyurethane and reinforced with Dacron polyester, they can handle up to 200 psi of air pressure from the compressor.

Despite the durability, even a Flexeel hose can't be (accidentally) dragged along some freshly cut copper flashing. The copper was as sharp as a knife and sliced the hose almost in half. I thought I’d have to replace the entire hose--but I'll show you why I didn't.

A friend had a Flexeel splicing coupling and I was able to repair the hose in a matter of minutes. I used a knife to clean up the cut ends, then slid the splicer's nuts over the hose ends (ABOVE). Then, I put the coupling in the middle and fit the loose ends over it (BELOW). After turning the nuts with a wrench, I had a new, airtight seal.

I keep the metal splicer mummified in duct tape so it won’t scratch delicate surfaces, like an old varnished wood floor. Now, I keep a couple of $5 splicers in the cup holder of my pickup, just in case.

A kink in a pneumatic hose will starve your tool of power, which translates into getting nothing done. But not once have I gotten a kink in a Flexeel. Instead (and this is my only complaint) the hoses can tangle like line in a fishing reel given the chance. Between freshly cut copper flashing and a bird's nest of compressor hose lying on the floor, the job site can be a dangerous place.

But at least, today, I didn't drop my nail gun off a ladder.