Flexible shop vac hose

semenza

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    So I have all my Festool vacs and I also have a 14 gal. Ridgid for those general debri / cleaning / water jobs. The 2 1/2" hose that comes with the ridgid is too stiff. I am in search of  truly flexible 2 1/2"  +/-  hose.  The flexibility is the most important feature. Swivels at both ends too. And Ridgid attachments fit without adapters.  I don't care much about how crush proof or tough it is. No plans on driving over it with a truck.

  Suggestions ? Especially if you have the Ridgid hose to directly compare.

Seth
 
The Shop Vac brand hose is more flexible than the Rigid hose and the same size but it’s still much stiffer than what you’re used to with the Festool hoses.
 
If Hartville Hardware still has any left on their clearance sale, I got one of the Festool "industrial" 2-1/4" hose and attachment sets. The hose in it is definitely better than the Ridgid hose. It's a little stiff, but nowhere near what the Ridgid is. Swivels on both ends. I'm very happy with it.
 
If you want true 2.5" internal diameter hose, this hose from Oneida is about the nicest I've found.  Very flexible and slightly larger diameter than a normal shop vac hose.  Both ends swivel.
https://www.oneida-air.com/flex-hose/vacuum-hose/2-5-inch-25-foot-wire-reinforced-vacuum-hose

Cen-Tec also sells a variety of shop vac hoses, but I haven't tried any of them, yet.  I have their 27 mm vacuum hose and it's pretty nice.  They have every size you can imagine but here's some of the larger kits (they also have various 2" hoses and tapered hoses if you dig around their site).

1.5"https://www.centecsystems.com/1.5-diameter-kits-accessories/

1.875"https://www.centecsystems.com/1.875-diameter-kits-accessories/

2.5"https://www.centecsystems.com/2.5-diameter-kits-accessories/
 
centec is great co. to work with. if you call them im sure they will help you 
 
jeffinsgf said:
If Hartville Hardware still has any left on their clearance sale, I got one of the Festool "industrial" 2-1/4" hose and attachment sets. The hose in it is definitely better than the Ridgid hose. It's a little stiff, but nowhere near what the Ridgid is. Swivels on both ends. I'm very happy with it.

I'm with Jeff on this one. I can't find the receipt but it was cheeeeeeeeeeep, like less than $70 cheap from Hartville. I picked it up to see if it improved the dust pickup with a Kapex. Haven't done that lab experiment yet because I have bigger...errrr...more expensive fish to fry.  [smile]

I'm surprised with the flexibility of it although it is NOT an anti-static hose which contributes to its flexibility. Here are a couple of photos, I'm absolutely OK with it and you can see you can jam it down the intake port of a MIDI I and still actuate the T-Loc.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]
 

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