Retractable Air Hose Reel Recommendations

[Greatwhitewing]

Covered but unheated garage in New England needs a retractable pneumatic hose reel. Intermittent use for both wood and auto work in sometimes humid conditions. Have a decent three stage dryer/filter
Probably just get new hose with it since most come that way, minimum 50 feet and a hose that works in the cold.
I like the flexilla hose (have one) but the mounting for their reels looks flimsy to me on all their offerings
Goodyear looks decent with good ratings on AMZ
Dewalt offering also looks decent

Should I look at enclosed versions? I fear wasps will find it homy

Look forward to your input

 

[svtride]

Never can go wrong with a Reelcraft unit...https://www.reelcraft.com/catalog/interactive-catalog/air-hose-reels/
Buy once, cry once. Nice stuff. I’ve gotten 2 off Craigslist.

 

[Beerhippie]

Our open, non-pivoting Reelcraft is going on thirty years old. I once had to replace the pawl spring--maybe fifteen years back. It's still using the original Reelcraft hose. I really should take that down to the farm supply and get the end replaced someday.

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Never can go wrong with a Reelcraft unit...https://www.reelcraft.com/catalog/interactive-catalog/air-hose-reels/
Buy once, cry once. Nice stuff. I’ve gotten 2 off Craigslist.

They are pricey and have a solid reputation. Thanks for reminding me of that brand

 

[Greatwhitewing]

Our open, non-pivoting Reelcraft is going on thirty years old. I once had to replace the pawl spring--maybe fifteen years back. It's still using the original Reelcraft hose. I really should take that down to the farm supply and get the end replaced someday.

How many tools do I leave for my estate sale? lol
Is a comparison of a 30 year product valid for todays models?

 

[Beerhippie]

How many tools do I leave for my estate sale? lol
Is a comparison of a 30 year product valid for todays models?

How would I know? Buy once, cry once.

 

[kbuhagiar]

The Reelcraft is an amazing product.

That being said...I'm going on twelve years with my el cheapo Harbor Freight special:

https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-x-50-ft-retractable-hose-reel-93897.html

Granted its only used maybe once every two weeks or so to inflate tires, but it's never given me a problem.
Even the hose it came with still looks like new.

 

[allinon72]

I have both Coxreels and Reelcraft products, but lately I've been considering the Earthquake XT HF unit. Cox clone.

https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-x-50-ft-industrial-grade-air-hose-reel-64925.html

 

[spsullivan82]

I have both Coxreels and Reelcraft products, but lately I've been considering the Earthquake XT HF unit. Cox clone.

https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-x-50-ft-industrial-grade-air-hose-reel-64925.html

I like the ⅜ fittings. I ran a ¾" rapid air system and it physically pains me to have to choke it down to ¼npt

 

[BWWgarage]

The Reelcraft is an amazing product.

That being said...I'm going on twelve years with my el cheapo Harbor Freight special:

https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-x-50-ft-retractable-hose-reel-93897.html

Granted its only used maybe once every two weeks or so to inflate tires, but it's never given me a problem.
Even the hose it came with still looks like new.

Good to hear positive review as I was just looking at it (BF sale).

One suggestion: each time I roll in my power cord reel, I run the cord through a paper towel to keep as much dirt out of the reel. The paper towel is always dirty when done.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I forget what reels I have in the garage but one is a covered unit and I know that one is a Flexzilla brand. The other three are open and have been refitted with Flexzilla hoses. The last one is a Performax from Menard's. It's been fine but has had little use.

 

[Beerhippie]

Good to hear positive review as I was just looking at it (BF sale).

One suggestion: each time I roll in my power cord reel, I run the cord through a paper towel to keep as much dirt out of the reel. The paper towel is always dirty when done.

I put on gloves before letting the hose run through my hands. The damned thing picks up metal slivers from the cleanest of floors and leaves those in my hands if not protected.

I guess maybe that cleans the hose off, too? Don't know that it matters.

 

[sparky 1971]

I have this one in an unheated shop. It's only been up for about six years so I don't know about long term durability but it has performed flawlessly from -10 to 100+ so far. It has always worked, even when I didn't want to.

https://www.menards.com/main/tools/power-tools/pneumatic-tools/air-hoses/masterforce-reg-3-8-x-50-heavy-duty-retractable-rubber-air-hose-reel/bbrhd3850pmf/p-1559284404439-c-12914.htm

I know there are probably no Menards around, but someone has to make it for them and be sold under another name somewhere else.

 

[kngelv]

I have both Coxreels and Reelcraft products, but lately I've been considering the Earthquake XT HF unit. Cox clone.

https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-x-50-ft-industrial-grade-air-hose-reel-64925.html

So I have the Reelcraft and Cox reels at work and agree they are top notch. I had a coupon for the HF Earthquake at $134.00. I have it sitting on my toolbox but have not installed it yet. It's very heavy duty and basically a copy of the Cox.

James

 

[tarmy]

I have both Coxreels and Reelcraft products, but lately I've been considering the Earthquake XT HF unit. Cox clone.

https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-x-50-ft-industrial-grade-air-hose-reel-64925.html

Yep…me too…

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have a Reelcraft, a Cox, and a $67 Vevor from Amazon. All work well.

 

[whateg01]

I have a 50' and a 25' harbor freight reel. Both work as they should. The 50 is almost 25 years old. I had to replace the hose once. If you are going to use the hose that comes with it, that should be the deciding factor. Otherwise, but the cheapest reel and just plan to replace the hose at some point. The reel itself is pretty foolproof. Fwiw, the original hose was fine until it was left out in the sun for a couple weeks. Within a couple days off being put away, it cracked and started leaking.

 

[BWWgarage]

I have this one in an unheated shop. It's only been up for about six years so I don't know about long term durability but it has performed flawlessly from -10 to 100+ so far. It has always worked, even when I didn't want to.

https://www.menards.com/main/tools/power-tools/pneumatic-tools/air-hoses/masterforce-reg-3-8-x-50-heavy-duty-retractable-rubber-air-hose-reel/bbrhd3850pmf/p-1559284404439-c-12914.htm

I know there are probably no Menards around, but someone has to make it for them and be sold under another name somewhere else.

Looks a lot (!) like the harbor freight reel except for the shiny Masterforce green paint.

 

[sparky 1971]

Looks a lot (!) like the harbor freight reel except for the shiny Masterforce green paint.

Could be, I didn't shop around for one so I don't know what's available or who has what. I didn't even know I needed an air hose reel until I saw the one I bought at Menards. It's the type of thing that I will talk myself out of unless I impulse buy it. I have a lot of impulse buys.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Could be, I didn't shop around for one so I don't know what's available or who has what. I didn't even know I needed an air hose reel until I saw the one I bought at Menards. It's the type of thing that I will talk myself out of unless I impulse buy it. I have a lot of impulse buys.

At least you are honest about it.

 

[Beerhippie]

Could be, I didn't shop around for one so I don't know what's available or who has what. I didn't even know I needed an air hose reel until I saw the one I bought at Menards. It's the type of thing that I will talk myself out of unless I impulse buy it. I have a lot of impulse buys.

Surrender is your only option!

 

[drokihazan]

I bought the HF Earthquake on sale to replace my worn out Cox that it cloned. It was like 20% of the price of a Cox and 100% of the quality. Hell it might be better than a Cox. I think the Earthquake hose reel is top 5 products at Harbor Freight, easily.

 

[Beerhippie]

I bought the HF Earthquake on sale to replace my worn out Cox that it cloned. It was like 20% of the price of a Cox and 100% of the quality. Hell it might be better than a Cox. I think the Earthquake hose reel is top 5 products at Harbor Freight, easily.

Since we're just talking about some stamped and formed sheet-metal pieces, I seriously doubt there's much difference.

The difference is going to be in the quality of the springs and seals used. Both are fairly easily replaced. Oh, yeah--and the hose if you buy one with.

 

[cvairwerks]

I've got an open type, manual drum reel with 100' of Flexilla 3/8" on one of the garage doors. A spring rewind reel was too bulky for where it needs to go. I don't care for the spring rewind hose or cord reels anyway, due to them problems we have with them at work. Doesn't matter if they are Cox, Reelcraft or KH electrical units. Doesn't matter what models we have, every one has had spring or ratchet pawl failures at times, resulting in damage to aircraft, equipment or people getting hurt.

 

[decableguy2000]

Cheapest HF for me with a Flexzilla hose on a Ironton swivel. Have no complaints so far.

 

[Nocturnal]

What do you all think about Milton?

 

[larry_g]

I've got an open type, manual drum reel with 100' of Flexilla 3/8" on one of the garage doors. A spring rewind reel was too bulky for where it needs to go. I don't care for the spring rewind hose or cord reels anyway, due to them problems we have with them at work. Doesn't matter if they are Cox, Reelcraft or KH electrical units. Doesn't matter what models we have, every one has had spring or ratchet pawl failures at times, resulting in damage to aircraft, equipment or people getting hurt.

I also use the manual wind up hose reel. Works for me.

lg

 

[Greatwhitewing]

I also use the manual wind up hose reel. Works for me.

lg

A manual wind probably wouldn't work well for me since with my current facilities I have to mount it high so not readily accessible but I understand the benefit of simplicity.

 

[PoorUB]

I have a Harbor Freight that is well over twenty years old that still works fine and zero leaks, original hose. I have never touched it as for a repair. I would buy another with no hesitation.

 

[allinon72]

I finally bit on the HF Earthquake after they lured me in with a $20 off coupon. I was not prepared on how heavy and stout this thing is built, perhaps overly so. It’s gotta weigh every bit of 50 pounds and had me reengineering my whole wall attachment method. Ratcheting mechanism seems to be top notch. Hose is garbage as expected. I debaged the thing and you’d be hard pressed not to tell it’s a high quality Cox reel. I’m all about brands (brand ***** at times) but at 1/3rd the price this is a no brainer. (Have to get some fittings tomorrow to attach the leader)

 

[Greatwhitewing]

I finally bit on the HF Earthquake after they lured me in with a $20 off coupon. I was not prepared on how heavy and stout this thing is built, perhaps overly so. It’s gotta weigh every bit of 50 pounds and had me reengineering my whole wall attachment method. Ratcheting mechanism seems to be top notch. Hose is garbage as expected. I debaged the thing and you’d be hard pressed not to tell it’s a high quality Cox reel. I’m all about brands (brand ***** at times) but at 1/3rd the price this is a no brainer. (Have to get some fittings tomorrow to attach the leader)

The HF seems to be a reasonable and affordable choice.
You said the hose was bad, maybe I'll put my Flexilla hose on it

 

[kbuhagiar]

I finally bit on the HF Earthquake after they lured me in with a $20 off coupon. I was not prepared on how heavy and stout this thing is built, perhaps overly so. It’s gotta weigh every bit of 50 pounds and had me reengineering my whole wall attachment method. Ratcheting mechanism seems to be top notch. Hose is garbage as expected. I debaged the thing and you’d be hard pressed not to tell it’s a high quality Cox reel. I’m all about brands (brand ***** at times) but at 1/3rd the price this is a no brainer. (Have to get some fittings tomorrow to attach the leader)

I'm telling ya, that's why I bought my HF reel all those years ago.

 

[danielbuck]

I have what looks like a Cox clone (don't even know what brand it is, I paid about $90 for it 7-8 years ago online) with 50 feet of 1/2" hose. It's outdoors (on the edge of a carport, barely covered), has been holding up nicely for about 7 years now. I don't know that it's specifically rated for "out door" use, but it's working just fine, never have problems with the ratcheting mechanism.

 

[lolaetype]

I bought this one somewhere between 25 and 30 years ago from one of those traveling tool sales events that would roll from town to town selling off-brand tools from the back of a semi trailer. It's worked without failure since new, except for a white plastic roller that just disappeared. Even the 25' hose is original. No manufacturer's name.

 

[tiredoldironworker]

We have Cox in our crane shop and they have been bulletproof. The HF looks like a decent clone.

 

[thunderskunk]

The flexzilla is garbage. Junk. Don’t get it. Flexzilla makes the best hose in the world, it’s fantastic stuff. The enclosed hose reels with the Flexzilla “legacy” brand on it you get from tractor supply are utterly trash. I had two. Used about 30-50 hours a week. No complaints on the hose itself. The connectors on the ends of the hose popped off. The ratchet mechanisms broke. I fixed one, tossed the other in the garbage. They’re not designed to accommodate the stretch the hose ends up with over time, so you must reel back in without air or it will get stuck. Common enclosed reel problems, but not worth the money. I would expect such issues from harbor freight models, not something with flexzilla written on it.

 

[driftpin]

I have a HFT retractable 50 ft hose reel, I bought it new about 10 years ago. I replaced the hose a year ago, and used the HFT blue non-kinking hose, which has proven to be just fine. It's used weekly, not daily, but it's done fine for me. I have it mounted on the loft fascia, a 2 x 8 inch board, w/quality self-tapping screws, like lag screws. It's as rigid as a recent corpse's femur.

 

[Rinspeed]

Flexzilla makes the best hose in the world, it’s fantastic stuff.

Lol.

 

[Nutria]

ReelCraft purchased used ten years ago, still going strong.