In search of a retractable air hose reel.
Looking for feedback on getting a retractable air hose reel. Don't really need 50 feet, 25 feet would be fine. 3/8", min. My problem is there are so many choices. I have a Dewalt, hand reel near the air compressor, which I like but I'm not climbing a ladder to wind it up. 
It would go here, In rectangle, to right of next to hdtv. Or above on the 2x12. The plywood seams are above 6x6 (down door side) and 2x6 studs. I'll make a plywood plate to span the gap.
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Mount to wall, air hose hanging straight down, not out and down. Pumping air to it is easy, there's a 1/2" line (PEX) near it.
It would go here, In rectangle, to right of next to hdtv. Or above on the 2x12. The plywood seams are above 6x6 (down door side) and 2x6 studs. I'll make a plywood plate to span the gap.
Mount to wall, air hose hanging straight down, not out and down. Pumping air to it is easy, there's a 1/2" line (PEX) near it.
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I have a Goodyear branded 50-foot 3/8 hose/reel that I bought 11 years ago. It has been 100% trouble free.
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I picked up a DeWalt unit 3 years ago. It's been trouble free. A little more expensive than some other options though...
I have the Harbor Freight version with 50 ft of 3/8" hose. The first one had been cross threaded and returned so I had to exchange it. I think it's 3 or 4 years old and has been trouble and leak free.
I have it u-bolted to the ceiling rafters.
I have it u-bolted to the ceiling rafters.
Most of the reels seem to made in the same factory oversees, just have different color paint. I just bought one with made in the USA Flexilla hose, and darn if the reel doesn't look EXACLTY the same as the one @Gizmo2 just bought from Horrible Fright. I also have a Dewalt one on the other side of the building, and it too looks the same.
www.greentractortalk.com
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Flexzilla Open Face Retractable Air Hose Reel, 3/8 in. x 50 ft., Heavy Duty, Lightweight, Hybrid, ZillaGreen - L8611FZ: Air Tool Hoses: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement
Flexzilla Open Face Retractable Air Hose Reel, 3/8 in. x 50 ft., Heavy Duty, Lightweight, Hybrid, ZillaGreen - L8611FZ: Air Tool Hoses: Amazon.com: Tools & Home Improvement
www.amazon.com
What we did in our shop today!
45° cut if all else fails. I do 30* for straight seams.
www.greentractortalk.com
GTT's slipping. No one recommenced Coxreels?
A flexible hose is very valuable. I have a 15+ year old Grizzly reel that's been great, but the 1/2" PVC hose gets stiff in even moderately cold weather.
Agreed a quality hose that stays soft and pliable is more important than the reel. Same with extension cords quality rubber not PVC plastic coating
Quite true. Shopping for the best hose is more important the the reel itself IMHO. So far I really like the Flexilla hose, its very lightweight and flexible. The Dewalt hose is OK, but not perfect in cold weather.
Spot on. As you know I found the same thing.
They also have a 25 ft unit... 3/8 in. x 25 ft. Retractable Air Hose Reel
As @Kennyd pointed out to me, "Keep in mind if you mount the unit in the overhead you lose hose length the height you mount it."
I am very pleased with the one I bought,,,so far.
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I picked up a 50 ft on 1/14/23...3/8 in. x 50 ft. Retractable Hose Reel (I also had a 25% off coupon)
They also have a 25 ft unit... 3/8 in. x 25 ft. Retractable Air Hose Reel
As @Kennyd pointed out to me, "Keep in mind if you mount the unit in the overhead you lose hose length the height you mount it."
I am very pleased with the one I bought,,,so far.
Reelcraft
www.reelcraft.com
Air Hose Reels Archives
Reelcraft's full line of air hose reels for a wide range of applications. Reels are availabe in hand crank, spring retractable, or motor driven models.
www.reelcraft.com
Might as well go for the gold. Gotta keep up with the Jones’s (Garage Journal).
Hose reels | Prevost
Hose reels | Prevost
GTT's slipping. No one recommenced Coxreels?
I've had a coxreel for probably 30 years, and it saw daily use for a lot of those years. Back when I bought it the wide selection of inexpensive chinese made reels we have today was non-existent. You could find a couple hand crank reels that were really terrible or you bought a pro quality reel.
It's never had any problems with the mechanism, started leaking a little air once or twice over the years. It only took a couple minutes to replace the O-rings and good as new. I bought it at Northern when it was called Northern Hydraulics then. It wasn't so bad, only about $200 at that time.
I bought a Dewalt reel for about $90 a couple years ago to hang in another location. It works fine but it's nowhere near as solid or as strong as the coxreel. You almost have to feed the hose back in, even after I've added numerous wraps to tighten it up.
Flexzilla hoses are nice and flexible, but don't buy one of their enclosed plastic reels, total junk. I've seen three of them and none would reel up right or even at all. Frustrating and all but totally unusable.
It's never had any problems with the mechanism, started leaking a little air once or twice over the years. It only took a couple minutes to replace the O-rings and good as new. I bought it at Northern when it was called Northern Hydraulics then. It wasn't so bad, only about $200 at that time.
I bought a Dewalt reel for about $90 a couple years ago to hang in another location. It works fine but it's nowhere near as solid or as strong as the coxreel. You almost have to feed the hose back in, even after I've added numerous wraps to tighten it up.
Flexzilla hoses are nice and flexible, but don't buy one of their enclosed plastic reels, total junk. I've seen three of them and none would reel up right or even at all. Frustrating and all but totally unusable.
GTT's slipping. No one recommenced Coxreels?
What's funny is I have a Flexzilla 50' 14/3 cord reel in the garage and it works pretty good. Of course I don't use it for daily use; the only reason I picked it was because of the cold weather flexibility. I wouldn't want one for something thick like an air hose, just not enough "beef" to the mechanism.
I've got an 80 gallon 2 cylinder compressor for the barn to hook up, that will likely get a Coxreel. My buddy's company uses them on their trucks and they're pretty solid. Like FIll-Rite/Tuthill, they're expensive but worth it.
I've got an 80 gallon 2 cylinder compressor for the barn to hook up, that will likely get a Coxreel. My buddy's company uses them on their trucks and they're pretty solid. Like FIll-Rite/Tuthill, they're expensive but worth it.
I have 50 footer from HF and so do a couple neighbors and they have been fine for all of us. Mine gets a lot of use have had it quite awhile. To save the hose I have a ball valve at the compressor to shut off supply to it and always release the pressure in it.
www.harborfreight.com/38-in-x-50-ft-retractable-hose-reel-93897.html
www.harborfreight.com/38-in-x-50-ft-retractable-hose-reel-93897.html
I also have the Goodyear branded reel and hose lije the picture above. It was a birthday present from the wife.
I picked one up at Northern Tool over 10 years ago and it sees quite a bit of use. Still working great!
Keith I'm liking the red air "dispenser"! A lot.
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