Swinging Power & Air Reels

[cnc-me]

Here is a gadget I built to swing two reels into three different positions.
The unit will rotate up to 180 degrees to place both reels in a garage
door opening, so that the cord and hose can be easily payed out for
outside use as well as inside use.


Inside mode


90 degree inside mode


Outside mode


The main frame is made out of 1-1/2" x 16 gauge square tube.
The door can be closed with out hitting the reels.
This is the second unit I have built like this, the first one is shown
later in this thread.
The hose reel is a Harbor Freight unit, and the cord reel is a Bayco.


Electric and air hose routing.


Locking mechanism


Custom cable clamps made from red polyurethane plastic.
These were later split down the middle with a bandsaw.


Sandblasted parts ready for primer and paint.


To unlock, just pull the lever back and rotate, the spring will
snap the keeper into place automatically.


Here is my accessory holders, they sit directly below the reel unit.
Blowguns and tire chucks go in the top, and high, medium and low
pressure gauges go in the bottom one.
These were made from store fixture shelving units turned upside down and
cut to the proper length, as the stock is about 3 feet long to start with.


Latch plate


Bottom of latch plate showing welds.






This is the first unit that I mentioned earlier.
Its been in service for about 5 years now.
This one has about 100 feet of hose on it.
Has been so handy I just had to built another for the machine shop area
as this one is in another building used for storage and support equipment.


Door open with hose payed out.


With these two units combined, its no longer a chore to air up tires, or work outside with air or electric tools.
Maybe I should patent this design (ha,ha)

 

[V70R]

I like this setup a lot. Estimated weight minus reels? Looks like something worth taking orders on and having for sale!

 

[cnc-me]

I like this setup a lot. Estimated weight minus reels? Looks like something worth taking orders on and having for sale!

Thanks, around 30 pounds I'm guessing.
Some of the mounting brackets may have to be customized
to fit the particular framing of the building.

My unit #1 is just flat but unit #2 had to have an offset so
that it could be lag bolted into a second stud.

Just one piece of 1-1/2 tube bolted to framing will not adequately
hold these things as there is quite a bit of leverage.

Maybe a kit would be the way to go on these.
I did make some sketches of the parts and will draw them up
in AutoCAD once I get the time.

It is a very slick way to go.
I think these could even be mounted in enclosed trailers for
race cars ect.

 

[sscustom]

holy sh#^ that thing is sick i love it ,looks and performs great ,nice job !,loving the colour too

 

[chris fresh]

that has got to be one of the coolest,best creations,i've seen in years,on any board.

 

[Rezarf]

That is a smart design. You should explore a small production run and see if you can drum up some business. It looks great man!

 

[dagoat_1]

Very nice solution.

 

[mdbeck1]

I like...

I was actually thinking about something like that for my garage/drive. I have the added problem of having the compressor right there (in a closet) and was planning on putting a door on it..

My idea was to put the air hose on the closet door and swing the compressor closet door open into the opening of the garage door when I wanted to use it outside...

 

[jhn9840]

Very nicely done. Looks like it was factory built. As others have said there should be a market for them.

jhn9840
John

 

[ZTFab]

That is freakin' awesome!!!

 

[steel 35]

Its things like this that keep my benches cluttered. Very nice;
too many projects never enough time.

 

[rocketmac]

That is a great design....where do I send the cheque ??

 

[machine_punk]

Very nicely done! Looks very professional.

 

[cnc-me]

I like...

I was actually thinking about something like that for my garage/drive. I have the added problem of having the compressor right there (in a closet) and was planning on putting a door on it..

My idea was to put the air hose on the closet door and swing the compressor closet door open into the opening of the garage door when I wanted to use it outside...

Same problem just different ways of solving them.
It always amazes me as something so simple in principal takes so much
parts to accomplish.

 

[cnc-me]

that has got to be one of the coolest,best creations,i've seen in years,on any board.

Really, thanks a lot.

 

[cnc-me]

That is a great design....where do I send the cheque ??

Thanks, just trying to gauge what people would be willing to pay
for something like this.
I know I would have to get a lot faster at building these to make any money
at it.
Also the design could be more streamlined to eliminate things that
don't add any value to the customer.

Someone throw some numbers at me, and I will see what we can do.
The concept is good, just need to get the part count down as small as
possible.

 

[cnc-me]

Very nicely done! Looks very professional.

Thank you

 

[cnc-me]

Its things like this that keep my benches cluttered. Very nice;
too many projects never enough time.

Got the same problem, more ideas than time.

 

[LIVELY]

VERY GOOD DESIGN---this could go alot in of different areas

 

[cnc-me]

Very nicely done. Looks like it was factory built. As others have said there should be a market for them.

jhn9840
John

Thanks, I would like to think there is a market for these.
This looks like something unfortunately the Chinese could make for a
fraction of what I could build it for, this is very discouraging.
Sometimes I wish this was 1911 instead of 2011.

 

[cnc-me]

VERY GOOD DESIGN---this could go alot in of different areas

Thanks a lot

 

[cnc-me]

That is freakin' awesome!!!

Thanks

 

[cnc-me]

What do you guys think? A small production run of 5 units to start with.
I know most of the guys reading this will probably build their own as it IS
posted in the fabrication section, and thats okay with me, just post up the completed
pictures. I will think you will find there is a lot more to this project than what it seems,
and you have pictures and some instruction to go by, where I had nothing but an idea.
Shoot some numbers at me, what you think this would be worth to you.

 

[cnc-me]

That is a smart design. You should explore a small production run and see if you can drum up some business. It looks great man!

Thank you very much.
If we can get enough interest, and nail down the price, I would consider
a run of 5 units to start with.
This is one of the best boards on the internet, can't think of better
place to try a concept out, than with the guys here at the Garage Journal.

 

[KCarGuy]

Nice Idea, Great fabrication and Build.
Fantastic Job from start to finish!
Made in the USA! Way to Go!

 

[cnc-me]

Nice Idea, Great fabrication and Build.
Fantastic Job from start to finish!
Made in the USA! Way to Go!

Thank you, I wish the whole thing was made in the U.S.
Both reels are made in China.
Oh well, the equipment used to make this was made in the USA.
Miller
Clausing
Walker-Turner
Delta/Rockwell
Baldor

 

[hunter1151]

I know why you made it the way you did.........now that you see that people like it, try thinking of the "production model" in terms of cutting parts with a laser and braking with a press brake. Laser press brake shops in the U.S. make it on service and low price (not China low price but you will be pleasantly surprised at how low a price you can get limited production work done here in the good old USA). Depending on thickness, most lasers cut at speeds exceeding 600 inches per minute, the use P and O material, pickled and oiled, which it also cheap, is used extensively. Check it out..........I think you have something there but, you need to become an assembler, not a cut it out and weld it. It could stand to be cut down for shipping, but I'm sure the guys on here would gladly "bolt it" together.

 

[cnc-me]

I know why you made it the way you did.........now that you see that people like it, try thinking of the "production model" in terms of cutting parts with a laser and braking with a press brake. Laser press brake shops in the U.S. make it on service and low price (not China low price but you will be pleasantly surprised at how low a price you can get limited production work done here in the good old USA). Depending on thickness, most lasers cut at speeds exceeding 600 inches per minute, the use P and O material, pickled and oiled, which it also cheap, is used extensively. Check it out..........I think you have something there but, you need to become an assembler, not a cut it out and weld it. It could stand to be cut down for shipping, but I'm sure the guys on here would gladly "bolt it" together.

Thanks, Unit #1 was strictly a proof of concept. (It does work well though)
Unit #2 has many refinements and is smaller, with this one I was starting
to think of how these could be made in numbers, but did not know if
anyone would even be interested in them.
I did write down all the dimensions and made sketches of most of the
parts as I was making them. Had ideas of drawing them up in CAD.
Parts like the main post are turned in the Lathe, I know in a production
model this will not be possible, as it will cost to much.
Unit #2 just plugs into a standard wall outlet where Unit #1 was wired in.
The cord goes through the center bearing which is rounded on both
edges, I also put a piece of heat shrink tube over the cord and hose to cut
down on abrasion. The cord does not move very much and I don't think its
a problem with a small number of units. But I would hate to get a bunch
of these out and have one of them cause a fire or something.
Putting in a union for both the air and electric would price these things
out of reach most people.

 

[alberto]

I love it, great idea. One way to lower cost might be to have some of this water jet cut. I'm not ready to buy one (we need to build our house first), but when I am I will be interested in one or two of these.

 

[V70R]

If I am going to shell out the funds to purchase a product like this, I would rather have an American made piece and helping the inventor/producer would be an added bonus. I am interested, as this is a very quality piece.

 

[cnc-me]

Working out my time and materials, will post up prices.

 

[risinoutlaw]

Definitely interested! Subscribed.

 

[930dreamer]

Very nice fab and design work.

 

[NASTYZEN]

F%/"! you have too much time!You ****.Way too nice.

 

[LIVELY]

VERY INTERESTED ? LET US KNOW --THANKS

 

[cnc-me]

Ok, this is what I came up with $435 + shipping this does not include the
reels but will include fasteners and a shut off valve.
The main pivot will be turned in a Lathe for a smoother action
just like my two prototypes. Decided to go after the high end, and let the
Chinese do what ever they want.
Reelcraft and some other high end reel companies get this price for a
production hose reel.
There is always the option of building it yourself, or waiting for the China version
that will probably come out.

 

[Sureshot]

That is some very profesional fab work.

I understand your price point but I think it falls into the sundial verses swiss watch category. Which will do for what you need and how much will you spend to get it.

One thing to look into for the power reel is mercotac connectors.

 

[pdizzleinmt]

that thing is awesome!

 

[Redpower]

DId you ever put the drawings on ACAD? Are you building them to sell? I'd be interested in either purchasing complete or buying the ACAD drawings.

 

[wilb1976]

BAD *** idea and fabrication! Gonna have to steal it.