Recently one of my air hoses developed a leak. To fix it, I first squeezed silicone caulk into the hole. Then I wrapped the area with two layers of friction tape, as shown in the drawing. This sticky black tape has a fabric core that stays flexible. Next I wrapped the tape with braided fishing line. This is the same detail that sailors use to wrap the end of a line to keep it from fraying (called whipping). I let the repair dry overnight, and the hose is now as good as new.
James Blohm, Amityville, NY
