So, I'm always torn on Harbor Freight stuff. I've never been thrilled with the quality, but sometimes their prices are lower than 20% of other places for stuff that seems to be good enough for a hobbyist or amateur.
I bought a hose reel from them. It normally runs $100, I got it for $50 in part because I had a coupon, and in part because the buddy that was with me apparently used to work for the current manager at that store when that manager worked somewhere else, so he knocked an extra $10 off the coupon price.
At the moment I can't go above 125psi because the compressor is set to kick off then. The previous electric motor was only 3/4 horse, but now that I have a three horse motor on it I'll probably raise it up to around 150psi, kicking in back in around 100psi, but I'll probably use a regulator to keep my line pressure no more than 130psi anyway. Supposedly the hose is rated to 800, but that's probably what the gauge read as the hose ruptured.
I had to buy a leader hose as well, it was around $5. I also had to buy a quick connect fitting for the end of the 3/8" line, and I actually picked up an aluminum Speedaire 3/8" fNPT 1/4" Industrial from Grainger. Yeah, $50 hose reel, $15 quick connect, go figure.
Anyway, it installed with no trouble. The only annoyance was that since there's nowhere for a leader line to free-spin to avoid twisting it up, I first installed the line on the compressor, then on the hard supply pipe, then spun the hose reel to get the line straight and unkinked. I used four 1/2" redheads to anchor to the cinderblock wall, and its lowest point is about six and a half feet off of the ground. High enough to avoid hitting my head on it. I pressurized it and got my 125psi on the line without any problems, and of course the Speedaire quick connect worked fine.
The box showed it mounted opposite of how I did, with the return at the top. I couldn't see how this would matter at all, so I installed it with the return guide low, to make getting the hose easy.
It looks like Home Depot has the EXACT same unit, as far as the actual reel is concerned, for $89. It is painted a different color and comes with both the reel hose and the leader hose, so if the HF unit isn't on sale or lacks a coupon, the HD version might be a better choice. Of course, I'd rather pay $50 or $60 than $89.
I'm even considering getting one for water, as supposedly it's water safe, but I don't know if that's really necessary or not. I certainly am not going to use it for oil.
I bought a hose reel from them. It normally runs $100, I got it for $50 in part because I had a coupon, and in part because the buddy that was with me apparently used to work for the current manager at that store when that manager worked somewhere else, so he knocked an extra $10 off the coupon price.
At the moment I can't go above 125psi because the compressor is set to kick off then. The previous electric motor was only 3/4 horse, but now that I have a three horse motor on it I'll probably raise it up to around 150psi, kicking in back in around 100psi, but I'll probably use a regulator to keep my line pressure no more than 130psi anyway. Supposedly the hose is rated to 800, but that's probably what the gauge read as the hose ruptured.
I had to buy a leader hose as well, it was around $5. I also had to buy a quick connect fitting for the end of the 3/8" line, and I actually picked up an aluminum Speedaire 3/8" fNPT 1/4" Industrial from Grainger. Yeah, $50 hose reel, $15 quick connect, go figure.
Anyway, it installed with no trouble. The only annoyance was that since there's nowhere for a leader line to free-spin to avoid twisting it up, I first installed the line on the compressor, then on the hard supply pipe, then spun the hose reel to get the line straight and unkinked. I used four 1/2" redheads to anchor to the cinderblock wall, and its lowest point is about six and a half feet off of the ground. High enough to avoid hitting my head on it. I pressurized it and got my 125psi on the line without any problems, and of course the Speedaire quick connect worked fine.
The box showed it mounted opposite of how I did, with the return at the top. I couldn't see how this would matter at all, so I installed it with the return guide low, to make getting the hose easy.
It looks like Home Depot has the EXACT same unit, as far as the actual reel is concerned, for $89. It is painted a different color and comes with both the reel hose and the leader hose, so if the HF unit isn't on sale or lacks a coupon, the HD version might be a better choice. Of course, I'd rather pay $50 or $60 than $89.
I'm even considering getting one for water, as supposedly it's water safe, but I don't know if that's really necessary or not. I certainly am not going to use it for oil.
