Manguera / Tubo

Choosing hose diameter and length

Two things decide which hose you want: how far you need to reach, and how much pressure you can afford to lose getting there. Material rubbing against the hose wall costs pressure over distance, and a wider hose loses noticeably less of it over the same run.

For runs beyond about 100 feet, common practice is to put the larger 3/8" hose on the main run from the sprayer and finish with a length of 1/4" hose or a whip at the gun. You keep the pressure and still get a manageable hose in your hand.

Pressure rating comes first

A hose must be rated at or above your sprayer's maximum working pressure. Bedford stocks assemblies rated from 3300 PSI up to 10,000 PSI for high-pressure equipment, and the rating is stated on every product page. Check it against the plate on your machine before ordering, and never put a lower-rated hose on a higher-pressure sprayer.

• Do not mix ratings on one run. The lowest-rated component in the chain governs the whole system — that includes the whip hose at the gun.
• Retire damaged hose. Kinks, blisters, exposed braid, or a soft spot mean the hose is done. High-pressure hose does not fail gently.
• Check the fitting size too. Thread sizes vary by machine and by hose end — each product page states what it carries.

Hose types

Getting longer life from a hose

• Relieve pressure before disconnecting, every time. It is both the safe practice and easier on the fittings.
• Do not kink it or drive over it. Damage to the braid is invisible from outside until the hose fails.
• Flush thoroughly. Material left to cure inside narrows the bore and raises pressure drop permanently.
• Coil, don't fold, and keep it off hot surfaces and out of prolonged sun when stored.

Hoses & Tubing FAQ

What size airless hose do I need?

1/4" is the standard and suits most work. Step up to 3/8" for long runs or a high-output sprayer, where holding pressure at the gun matters more than hose weight. 3/16" is for whip hose at the gun only.

Can I join two hoses together?

Yes, and it is common practice on long runs — a 3/8" main length into a 1/4" length or whip at the gun. Every section must be rated at or above your sprayer's maximum pressure; the lowest-rated piece governs the whole run.

Why has my spray pattern gone weak at the far end of a long hose?

Pressure drop over distance. The longer and narrower the hose, the more pressure you lose between pump and gun. A larger-diameter main run recovers most of it; winding the pump up to compensate just wears the tip faster.

What is a whip hose for?

Flexibility at the gun. A short 3' to 6' section in a smaller diameter takes the stiffness of the main hose off your wrist over a long day, without changing the setup upstream.

What pressure rating do I need?

At or above your sprayer's maximum working pressure, which is on the machine's data plate. Bedford stocks assemblies from 3300 PSI through 10,000 PSI, and every product page states its rating.

Are these genuine OEM hoses?

No — Bedford hoses are compatible replacements, not genuine Graco, Titan, Wagner, or other OEM parts. Each is manufactured to OEM-equivalent dimensions and pressure ratings so it fits and performs like the assembly it replaces, at a lower price.

Compatibility and cross-reference

Bedford hose and tubing assemblies are compatible replacements cross-referenced to the original manufacturers' part numbers, including Graco, Titan, Wagner, and Speeflo. Search the OEM part number from your equipment manual — dashes optional — or open the Custom Lookup Tool to match a hose to your machine. Related ranges: filters and strainers, connectors and fittings, and spray guns.

BEDFORD® and BEDFORD PRECISION PARTS™ are proprietary marks of Bedford Precision Parts, LLC ("Bedford"). All other listed marks are proprietary to their respective owners and are not affiliated with Bedford.