There are many types of hose fittings for industrial uses. You can find hydraulic hose fittings, garden hose fittings and other industrial fittings online. A hose fittings manufacturer can provide you with a variety of choices as to the material the hose fitting is made from. Some of the most common are plastic and brass hose fittings.

Most industrial hose fittings come in a variety of sizes and shapes for a host of connection and repair jobs. A hose fittings distributor can help you select the best type of fittings for the job. Hose fittings pricing and costs will depend on many factors, some of which include:

1. The type of hose you use with the fitting.

2. The maximum PSI a hydraulic or air hose fitting can handle.

3. The size of the fittings.

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Buy hydraulic hose fittings for your hydraulic machinery

Hydraulic hoses and hose fittings are typically used in hydraulic machinery, but can also be found in oil, gas and air transfer systems. Temperature ranges for these fittings can withstand -55 to 300 degrees and a maximum 3000 PSI. Hydraulic hose fittings should be used whenever the maximum PSI is above 1000. Hydraulic host fittings cost $15 to $25, depending on how large they are.

I recommend: Applied has a variety of hydraulic hose and pipe fittings for hydraulic machinery. Hydraulic House sells many sizes of crimp and reusable fittings for hydraulic hoses. Fittings include male and female ends, elbow connectors and tee-bar connectors.

Get plastic hose fittings for thinner hoses

Plastic hose fittings are used for low-pressure jobs. Plastic fittings can withstand a maximum 125 PSI, and are often used in sprinkler and irrigation systems. You can buy hose fitting ends and connectors made from plastic for $2 to $6, depending on their function.

I recommend: Fast Fittings and Valve Supplies offers a variety of male and female ends, plus connectors, tees and elbows made from plastic materials. The Drip Store provides many types of plastic hose fittings for irrigation systems and sprinkler systems.

Purchase a multi-purpose brass hose fitting

Brass hose fittings are used for a variety of different jobs because brass is strong and works well with hydraulic systems and systems with lower pressure. Brass fittings can handle 125 to 3000 PSI in many cases. Brass hose fittings also resist rust, so you can use them in irrigation systems like plastic. Brass hose fittings cost $3 to $10, depending on the size and type of connection.

I recommend: PlumbingSupply.com offers a large variety of brass hose fittings, including a number of different sizes and shapes. Discount Hydraulic Hose offers a large variety of brass hose fittings, from brass hose barbs to compression control fittings.

Many hose fittings manufacturers carry a wide variety of products for different purposes or applications. Whether you are looking for a simple garden hose fitting or industrial and hydraulic hose fittings that can operate in applications that require very high pressure, you can find a hose fittings distributor online that can meet your business needs. However, given the vast numbers of fittings available, it may be difficult to choose the hose and fitting system that best suits a specific application. You need to look at some factors that can help you narrow down your choices for the type of fitting required.

You should consider factors like types of hose fittings (adapter, compression fittings, couplings, etc.), category (reusable or permanently attached), port/connection configurations, materials and type of application. The best-designed hose fitting systems require the right material, right type of fitting / connection and are application-dependent.

When searching for a hose fittings distributor, many options can help you find the right products.

1. Use online catalogs to locate products from hose fittings manufacturers.

2. Find distributors that sell multiple types of hose fittings for diverse applications.

3. Search for custom hose fittings suppliers for specialty products.

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Browse through online catalogs for hose fittings to compare multiple products

Many hose fittings manufacturers provide online catalogs that include specifications, prices and more to help you choose the right product for your needs. Searching online catalogs can also aid you in comparing hose fittings from other suppliers.

I recommend: Go to Fast Fittings, Inc. and HoseandFittings.Com where you can select from a wide selection that includes garden, brass, metric, compression and plastic hose fittings. These companies have many types of fittings in different materials for many applications. Grainger offers an online catalog with many types of fittings; you can also browse through the catalog to find your specific needs. Aeroquip.cc carries a good line of hydraulic and industrial fitting hoses for many applications.

Buy hose fitting from distributors that sell a variety of products for many applications

If your business requires different types of fittings like a brass hose fitting, air hose fitting or other diverse applications, find manufacturers that can provide a wide array of products. Purchase from companies that can also offer accessories as well.

I recommend: JGB Enterprises offers industrial, hydraulic, fire and air hose fittings plus many others. They have an extensive inventory of products. At Pipe & Tube Fittings, you can get various types of fittings like adapters, tees, couplings and elbows. Go to Poweraire for a selection of air fittings and standard/metric hose fittings in stainless steel. For a stainless steel heater hose fitting, go to Route 66 Supply.

Purchase the right hose fittings that fit your desired application

When you require a fitting that may be a specialty product, locate a manufacturer that can supply or create custom fittings for your required specifications. Some systems that use specialty fittings to transport compressed air, hydraulic fluids or refrigerants are application-specific and require expert customization.

I recommend: At Specialty Fittings, Inc., you can get custom hydraulic fitting designs for unique applications. VNE Corp. can also manufacture customized components to your specific requirements. MicroGroup Inc. is a supplier of hose fittings for use in the medical, marine, refrigeration and chemical industries. Clippard offers a line of pneumatic miniature products that include fittings.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When you need to buy a brass hose fitting and you don't know the part number and manufacturer, you can avoid getting the wrong fitting by knowing the size of the fluid passage, thread size of the manifold or ports and the hose size.

If your business involves working with equipment needing hose fittings, it's important for you to know about the different hose fittings types and styles. Whether you need an air hose fitting, hydraulic hose fittings, heater hose fittings, fire hose fittings or industrial hose fittings, you'll find hose fittings come in an assortment of types and materials.

From steel or brass to plastic, you'll find a vast inventory of different types of hose fittings, such as adapters, connectors, couplings, tees and plugs. When it comes time to buy hose fitting, consider hose fittings types and styles:

1. Gather information about the many types of hose fittings, from adapters to tees.
2. Find a wide array of plastic hose fittings to meet your needs.
3. Use a stainless steel or brass hose fitting for heavy industrial use.
   

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Select from a wide variety of hose fittings

Generally, hose fittings join two or more hoses together. You can join the same type of hoses or different styles of hoses together using hose fittings. It's a good idea to become familiar with the many types of hose fittings your equipment may need.

I recommend: GlobalSpec defines many hose fittings types and styles, and includes sizes and types of hoses as well. Click on any hose fitting type, from couplings to cross connectors, for a picture and detailed description at Pipe & Tube Fittings.

Go for plastic hose fittings to keep your equipment running smoothly

Plastic hose fittings come in different types of materials such as nylon, polyethylene and polypropylene for various applications. From medical equipment to garden hoses, plastic hose fittings can be used on many types of equipment. If you have water filtration equipment, medical devices or work in the automotive industry, you may opt for plastic hose fittings.

I recommend: Thogus Products Company carries a list of plastic hose fittings, from adapters and tees to Y connectors and reducer bushings. NewAge Industries has plastic hose fittings, such as adapters, connectors and nipples, that are chemical and temperature resistant for many uses.

Turn to brass or stainless steel hose fittings when necessary

You might prefer or need to work with stainless steel or brass hose fittings. Many hydraulic hose fittings, or hose fittings for refrigeration or air conditioning equipment, use brass or stainless steel. There are literally hundreds of end configurations to choose from when it comes to steel and brass hose fittings.

I recommend: Pioneer Hose & Hydraulic has many hose fittings types and styles, both standard and metric hose fittings, in carbon and stainless steel. Dixon Brass is a leading manufacturer of brass hose fittings and provides a variety of couplings, connectors and adapters.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Hose fittings should meet industry standards, such as NPT (National Pipe Taper), ANSI (American National Standards Institute), ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) and ISO (International Organization for Standardization).

Hose fittings are products used to connect two hoses together. These fittings come in a wide range of styles and sizes to fit every kind of hose. Hose fittings are also made from a number of materials including brass, aluminum, steel and thermoplastics. Many styles of fittings are permanent once attached, but there are a few types of reusable fittings available. These fittings can be partially or completely removed from the hose once attached.

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Hose guard

A hose guard is a piece of woven fabric or other material that helps to reduce or eliminate abrasion on the hose and fittings.

I recommend: Hoseline provides sizes and specifications for hose guards made from plastic, metal alloy and nylon.

Back pressure

Back pressure is any pressure that exists on the discharge side of any type of load. Too much back pressure can lead to a situation where backflow occurs.

I recommend: The University of Florida IFAS Extension provides information on preventing backflow in a hose connection.

Coupling

The coupling is the area where the fitting attaches to the hose. There are many coupling types for hoses. The most common type is a coupling with male and female ends that fit together tightly to form a leak-proof seal.

I recommend: JGB Enterprises provides a list of the most common coupling joints available for hoses.

Collar

The collar of a hose fitting is the area that is compressed by the swage or crimp die. This action seals the hose and the fitting together to create a permanent attachment. Reusable fittings have a mechanical collar.

I recommend: Reader's Digest provides a guide on how to remove a bent hose fitting, including the collar, and replace it with a new one.

Die

A die is a tool used for crimping or swaging a fitting onto a hose. Crimp dies are made to work for a range of hose diameters while each swage die is made to fit a specific size and type of hose.

I recommend: Shand UK provides information on when a swage die or crimp die should be used to get a tight fit for a hose fitting.

Sanitary fitting

A sanitary hose fitting is a fitting that provides a seal without needing a male and female connection as part of the design. Instead, the seal is created by a round gasket that fits inside a groove on the face of the fitting.

I recommend: St. Patrick's of Texas provides a list of sanitary valves and fittings with size and material specifications for each. Click on the Sanitary Fittings/Valves link to see a full list of available products.