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Retractable air hose reels for new compressor

G

GerGa

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Joined
Sep 6, 2014
Messages
9
Hi,
I am looking to buy my dad a Hitachi EC99S double stack 4 gallon portable air compressor because we never owned a compressor let alone anything for filling tires. It's mostly for filling tires or general use like blowing stuff off. We have a cordless impact which is convenient for doing lug nuts or whatever else.

I am looking for a retractable reel right now and there is one at Lowes on sale for $60, 50ft of hose.

I know someone with a 25ft reel from Harbor freight ($60) and after only a year the hose is cracking where it hangs off the end from flexing.

I'm not sure if the Kobalt hose will be any better, does anyone have it? I'm not sure I should buy it unless the hose is better than the Harbor Freight.

I have done some reading on this forum and apparently Reelcraft and other brands are nice but cost $150+. I found a Reelcraft on craigslist, but the guy is 1.5hrs away, I forgot to ask if he's every in my area though. There's also a 25 ft reel for $25 that looks ok, waiting on reply from seller.

Looking to hear other's experiences. Let me know what you think of the compressor too, It gets good reviews and is quiet, and I think it is a good choice because it would last a long time being an oiled type.

Thanks
 
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LS6 Tommy

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Dec 27, 2013
Messages
26,162
Location
Northern NJ
I have the Harbor Freight 50' reel that goes on sale a lot. It's over 8 years old and I have had no problems. I also have a Costco 25' reel that has been flawless for over 10 years.

Tommy
 
C

CSRPenFab

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Oct 27, 2015
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5,148
Location
Meridian Idaho
Just picked up a 50' flexzilla 3/8" hose reel with hose from Tractor Supply. On sale Nlack Friday for $50 off at $59.
 
K

Know Wosad

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May 15, 2016
Messages
811
Same here. I have 2 of the Zilla 50 foots.They take a few days to break in and click correctly.Best hoses and reels on the market to me.
 
A

astroracer

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Joined
Jun 22, 2005
Messages
3,001
Location
Mid_Michigan
I have three different reels from H.F. The small, black, manual one. The bigger, yellow, manual one and the big self retracting unit. Have never had an issue with any of them and I have been using them for ten years now. :)
Mark
 
I

ItsNemo

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Mar 5, 2016
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Canada
What's the point of a hose reel on a 4 gallon compressor? I just don't see the reel as being useful with such a little bit of air supply. Reels are best for fixed compressors, not for portable ones.
 
J

justsam

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Aug 20, 2010
Messages
1,268
Location
Penngrove, California
As posted above, I am not sure what a retractable reel buys you since the compressor you have is portable. Seems like it would just make things more complicated unless you just intend to have a "home" location for the compressor where it sits most of the time and have the reel attached to an overhead or wall location.

I too have had no issues with HF hose reels, 3/8 hose, 50 ft. If money were no object I would have Cox reels since I feel they are top of the line and has been their business for close to a hundred years.
 
P

padroo

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Joined
Nov 25, 2011
Messages
564
Location
Chesterton, In.
I bought a hose reel many years ago and thought it was a spring retract model but when it came it was a manual model. After working as a millwright for years and using commercial spring loaded reels I actually like my manual model better. It has a brake built in that keeps it from turning when you quit pulling on it so it doesn't keep spinning after I quit pulling on it. The spring loaded ones are dangerous if you accidentally let go of it around people and nice cars.
 
W

WWheeler

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Jun 23, 2015
Messages
4,105
Location
Middleofnowhere USA
ItsNemo said:
What's the point of a hose reel on a 4 gallon compressor? I just don't see the reel as being useful with such a little bit of air supply. Reels are best for fixed compressors, not for portable ones.
Click to expand...

justsam said:
As posted above, I am not sure what a retractable reel buys you since the compressor you have is portable. Seems like it would just make things more complicated unless you just intend to have a "home" location for the compressor where it sits most of the time and have the reel attached to an overhead or wall location.

I too have had no issues with HF hose reels, 3/8 hose, 50 ft. If money were no object I would have Cox reels since I feel they are top of the line and has been their business for close to a hundred years.
Click to expand...

I guess it depends on what you want to use it for. I made this little setup back in the late 90's out of scrap I had on hand (all except the two wheels) so that my little pancake would be ready-to-roll whenever/wherever I needed it. Almost 20 yrs later it's still kicking.

34q70j6.jpg


>95% of the time it stays parked in the corner of the garage plugged in and on for filling up tires and somehow has remained air tight all these years. Unless I forget and leave a tool, like the air gun or tire inflator, attached it never ever kicks on. When I do want to pull it with me to go inside or on the road to do some trim or whatnot all I have to do is unplug it, tilt it back, and roll'er wherever I want. And if for any reason I need to remove the hose reel I just have to uncouple the air hose, lift out the bolt dropped through a hole in the aluminum angle (the bolt has a short piece of wire attaching it to the handle upright so it doesn't get lost) and the 1-1/2 chunk of Kilz-covered MDF the reel is attached to slides right out. In case anyone wonders that MDF piece was the cutout for a router table insert. It's what I had laying in the scrap pile at the time that seemed sturdy enough for the task. Turns out it was good choice.
 
E

electroman187

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Feb 27, 2016
Messages
147
Location
NH
I have the Kobalt one that's grey with the hybrid hose. No problems after 1.5 years, but it doesn't get used a ton. Definitely worth the $40 I paid.
 
M

Mechtech

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Joined
Aug 13, 2011
Messages
236
I have a Kobalt reel with 50 ft hose. It leaks a little, if left connected the compressor cycles every 3 hrs or so. I've tried to fix it but it's not a connection and I just disconnect when not using it.
 
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James-W

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Feb 3, 2013
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12,432
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Southeastern Wisconsin
I have the 50ft one from Harbor Freight. I don't recall exactly when I bought it, about 15 years ago I think. Anyway, it works great and I have had no zero problems with it.
 
C

churd9

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Nov 4, 2010
Messages
24
Tell me where did you get the vac hose and reel setup


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
T

TheOtherChris

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Sep 15, 2013
Messages
226
Location
SE Idaho
HarborFreight 50 footer here. Red rubber hose started cracking within 5 years. Reel was in a non heated garage where inside temps would hit close to zero in winter so it was likely cold checking.

I switched to the green Harborfreight hybrid hose and haven't had a problem since. If I could find a 50' Flexzilla reel in the $50 range I would buy it for the other end of the barn.
 
OP
G

GerGa

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Sep 6, 2014
Messages
9
TheOtherChris said:
HarborFreight 50 footer here. Red rubber hose started cracking within 5 years. Reel was in a non heated garage where inside temps would hit close to zero in winter so it was likely cold checking.

I switched to the green Harborfreight hybrid hose and haven't had a problem since. If I could find a 50' Flexzilla reel in the $50 range I would buy it for the other end of the barn.
Click to expand...

Same here, a friend has the red rubber hose and it is cracking after less time.
I don't think I can get the flexzilla for 50 anymore since tractor supply only sells it in store.


ItsNemo said:
What's the point of a hose reel on a 4 gallon compressor? I just don't see the reel as being useful with such a little bit of air supply. Reels are best for fixed compressors, not for portable ones.
Click to expand...

It's a 50 pound compressor and we want to fill up car tires on a car in the garage or driveway. I suppose I could just get a tire filler to plug in but would rather have the benefits of a real compressor.
 
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S

srr

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Jul 10, 2015
Messages
111
Location
San Diego
I have two of the 50' HF reels, one at each end of my 30' shop. I have had to replace both hoses and it's really not that hard. I used a 50' black USA made hose. I keep a couple of 25' hoses around to supplement the hose reels if needed. I always hold a rag around the hose when retracting to keep dirt away from the hose reel. Mine are 10 years old.
 
S

sberry

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Jun 18, 2005
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Brethren, Michigan
That CH reel has the best mounting bracket, like the Legacy. I have a couple, one fract the hose in the cold but the other inside is great. The hard hose doesn't bother me and is very durable. HF may change vendors who knows but I have some well over 20 and still fine, one sat outside 20 yrs and is still tight. Never had a problem with one, have several.
 
W

WWheeler

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F

Freakish Mind

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Nov 6, 2015
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Frederick Colorado
drmarkr said:
I have five of these.....bought them at Costco, actually. They've been installed for 10 years now...still working like a charm, and one is actually outside.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Campbell...caqQNNG-tC-QxE5-rER2wmm8mqPV08HC4kaAqUi8P8HAQ

8cf2a3e4-2951-42dc-8db4-d0b1637f5390_1000.jpg
Click to expand...


My work has these and they were absolute garbage. We had a total of 6 of them and 3 of them were broken within a year and all 6 replaced within 1.5 years. I've had the 50ft harbor freight one at home now for 1.5 years and have have no issues with it.
 
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