Braided hose vs thermoplastic hose

[GeneMiller]

I have only used the braided hose. What are the advantages of the thermoplastic hoses? Do they repair the same or do you need a special machine? What kind of life would I expect from one? I currently replace my lead hose every December. Thanks

Gene

 

[Mikey P]

Plastic (Parflex) wont pop in your or your customer's face.

Pins holes are factory placed to let water out to let you know far in advance when it's time to fix.

It seems to retain 30º more heat per 100 ft

Far less likely to burn grass or melt olefin carpet

Slides around corners better

No Black Death

 

[Chris Muetterties]

I hated my Parflex hose. I had to repair it more often, and the coiling was the worst thing to work with. It is light and is not as hot to the touch but I could not use it again.

 

[Dolly Llama]

I've only used Parker Parflex and Goodyear Ineptune, Gene.
So I have no experience with the other (Synflex) thermoplastic sol lines.

We've run Parker for 17 out of 19 years.
The advantages far out weight the disadvantages as far as I'm concerned.

with what bIg hEd just said...
Carries more heat to the wand
Little to no concern of permanent pile distortion on olie
lighter wt
and no instant burst failures like Ineptune...

The disadvantages of Parker are strikingly apparent when brand new.
ie..memory coiling
It takes 20+ hours of use before it relaxes.

It's a PITA to hand coil no matter how old.
large arbor reels are best.
Small arbor live reels would likely be a PITA too, cause the stuff is always "heat set" on the small arbor.
I'd guess rolling it hot on sm arbor would also contribute to it's lack of relaxing over time

The ONLY advantage to Ineptune is it's flexibility.

Parker out lasts Ineptune at least 2 to 1.
Indeed, the only reason I've replaced it several times in the past, is simply because of appearance.
(Looking a little too unsightly for res use)

If you run at 230 and under ATM, Parker will last you darn near forever

...L.T.A.

 

[TimP]

I need to unreel mine some time and show them how it coils once broken in, it's no big deal at all.


I'd say the diameter of where it's reeled on my solution reel is like 12-14 inches. probably under 10 is too small for it. It takes me 5-10 seconds extra per job to reel it in cause it twists on itself some. But it's well worth it. Once it's broken in it lays pretty well flat. It's not as flexible or pliable as rubber but that's cause it's plastic.

Mine looks pretty bad now but after about a year and a half or so it's had a lot of use.

I wont buy anything else unless something comes out with the same properties and more flexible and that's all.

 

[Steve Smith]

I hated my Parflex hose. I had to repair it more often, and the coiling was the worst thing to work with. It is light and is not as hot to the touch but I could not use it again.

You have got to be lying. If Mikey and Greenie say it is superior to steel braid hose, then it is, and your a hack! :roll:

Why doesn't Mikey or Greenie get one of the leading truckmount manufacturers to explain to everyone why they use thermoplastic hose as original equipment instead of steel braided hose?

 

[Dolly Llama]

Why doesn't Mikey or Greenie get one of the leading truckmount manufacturers to explain to everyone why they use thermoplastic hose as original equipment instead of steel braided hose?

money maybe?
Inepune is cheaper.
They probably get the crap for fiddy cent a ft.
Parker is twice as much

Some major manufactures also supply cheap $200 (cost) wands with their TMs too
1.5" tubed wands along with a 1.5" whip
vac setting at 12HG on cheap relief valves
the list goes on..


..L.T.A.

 

[Spurling]

how about strapping it to your vac hose ..

 

[GeneMiller]

Not melting the olefin carpet would be a plus as long as I don't have to repair it more often. The South Florida heat should help stop the coiling effect. I guess I'll just have to try some for my self.

Gene

 

[Greenie]

Judson sent out Parker thermoplastic for years, as did HydraMaster, so I don't know what Steve Smith is talking about?
Cost really is the only reason you see Ineptune out in masses.

Chris and Mikey both have Vortex reels, Mikey deals with it, Chris hated it, it is America we are free to choose our preference. Since I have hundreds and i means hundreds of cleaners that buy and re-buy it over their Ineptune options, there msut be a few reasons.

Les has some Custom Blue label coming in, ask him to make you up a 100' section as it's going on sale for June.

 

[KevinD]

Judson sent out Parker thermoplastic for years, as did HydraMaster

HydraMasters Synflex with that smooth as a babies ass cover is the best hose I have ever used.
Do they still manufacturer it? It was also made by Parker? No?

 

[Dolly Llama]

Judson sent out Parker thermoplastic for years, as did HydraMaster

Synflex It was also made by Parker? No?

no.
Synflex is a hose (among other things) manufacture.
Eaton Corp now owns them

They're actually a competitor of Parker


side note, both Synflex and Parker are local to me.
Both pay good wages and bennies to their employees too.
( well above average for non skilled manufacturing jobs)

I know folks that work at both places.


..L.T.A.

 

[Kevin. McCreary]

What is the orange stuff that came with Hydramasters in the 80's and 90's?
Synflex or Parker?
I was told Synflex no longer made hoses.

 

[Louis]

I ran into a cleaner in our area that had the orange hydramaster hose on a small reel and it was 8 years old. No problems and he loves the stuff. I guess I would too if I didn't have to replace my hose for that long.

 

[Kevin. McCreary]

Yeah that old orange Hydramaster hose rocked!

 

[Dolly Llama]

I was told Synflex no longer made hoses.

I donno, Kev.
Think they still make plenty hose/tube .
Do a google search on Eaton Hydraulics

as I mentioned, Eaton bought Synflex several years ago.
So if Synflex brand is no longer available, it may just be a name change of the product(s)

..L.T.A.

 

[Kevin. McCreary]

Yeah, I found them under the Eaton Hydraulic division. They still make hoses, just in case
someone other than me cared.

 

[Doug Cox]

I'm on 2 years with my Parker Parflex with no problems and I run my machine at 250 every day. Ever since 1984 when I got my HM CDS I've used Synflex until I couldn't get it anymore, then I switched to Parker. I coil my hoses by hand and don't have issues with any memory.

 

[Richard Crawford]

You sir, are delusional!

 

[Out of Character - 0]

We also run the para flex at 250F, I have to cut a few feet off every 4-6 months.