How to Choose an Abrasive Blast Hose

In the high-pressured sandblasting industry, it is essential that high quality equipment is used to ensure that a job is completed efficiently with maximum safety.

The blast hose is a key component within a blast system, carrying compressed air and abrasive from the blast pot to the working nozzle. Yet, with a wide range of types and sizes available, it can be difficult to decide which hose best suits your project and blasting needs.

Hose Condition

The first factor affecting the performance of a sandblasting hose is its condition; if a hose is worn, the air passing through becomes turbulent, causing pressure losses due to increased friction. Therefore, it is imperative that the condition of a blast hose is preserved to achieve minimal pressure losses.

The Elcometer 102 Needle Pressure Gauge is designed to accurately measure air pressure throughout the blast hose, meaning it can serve as a key indicator into the hose's performance.

Hose Length and Position

Another factor affecting a sandblast hose’s performance is its length and position. Testing has shown that a longer blast hose causes increased pressure losses, at a rate of up to 2bar of pressure per 40 metres of hose. Increased pressure losses also occur when a hose is positioned at a height above a blast pot, meaning that a shorter hose which is laid flat will lose significantly less pressure than a longer blast hose positioned at a height above the blast pot.

However, as the length and position of a blast hose is often determined by the scope of a project, a blaster often has little control over these factors.

Adapting Your Blast Hose

Sometimes, it is necessary to make changes to your blast hose to reach your desired location or to maintain optimum performance. Elcometer offer a range of blast hose at 40m lengths, along with blast hose extensions to extend the length and blast hose cutters to reduce length.

When a sandblasting hose is unable to reach its desired location, blast hose extensions can be used. Available from Elcometer in 10 or 20 metre lengths with 32mm or 38mm internal diameters, the pre-assembled hoses are supplied with twinline remote control hose and couplings, with locking pins and gaskets – allowing you to connect the extension to your hose quickly and safely.

Elcometer quick hose couplings are available in nylon and cast iron. Nylon couplings are recommended for use upto 12bar working pressure, whilst the cast iron couplings are ideal for use upto 15bar working pressure. It is also important to note that you should always connect the safety locking pins through the connectors and use a whip check safety cable when using hose extensions.

Conversely, where necessary, blast hose can be shortened to reduce pressure loss within the blasting system. When shortening a blast hose, it should be done cleanly with a square cut to ensure a good airtight hose/coupling connection. This in turn maximises the lifetime of the couplings and minimises pressure loss.

The Elcometer Blast Hose Cutter ensures a good clean square cut of a blast hose with an outside diameter of up to 63mm (2¹/₂").

Choosing Your Internal Diameter

As a rule of thumb, you should use a blast hose that has an internal diameter which is at least three times larger than your nozzle size.

The Elcometer 12bar blast hose is available in a choice of five internal diameters, ranging from 19 to 38mm (½” - 1½”); the Elcometer 15bar blast hose is available with either a 32mm (1¼”) or a 38mm (1½”) internal diameter - allowing you to choose the most appropriate diameter and pressure combination for your application.

Anti-Static and Abrasion Resistant­­­

Elcometer’s comprehensive range of blast hoses are designed to be incredibly hard wearing, tough and most importantly safe, featuring highly woven cord linings in a 2-ply cross pattern which improves the strength of the blast hose whilst enabling flexibility.

The Elcometer blast hose is manufactured out of natural and styrene-butadiene rubber compound with carbon black, has an abrasion resistance value of 50mm³ in accordance with DIN53516 and has an anti-static rating (R) of R<10⁶ Ω/m. This dissipates static electricity to the ground to protect the blaster from injuries caused by a static shock.

Elcometer’s comprehensive range of hoses ensure that the blaster can choose the correct hose for the job and complete the project in a safe, timely manner using equipment that will withstand the rigours of the job and stand the test of time. The table below details full technical data from hoses across the range: