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Hose reels that don’t ****

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thunderskunk

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Joined
Oct 4, 2022
Messages
130
I was a flexzilla fanboy. I have two hose reels and a cord reel. Used to have the water hose as well.

One year of mechanic work, the extension cord reel ratchet broke (I fixed it but it’s days are numbered), the hose reels are worse for wear, and the water hose is scrap.

Looking for a Pro-sumer grade air hose and extension cord reel that doesn’t ****: gets used every day and doesn’t bind up. Open rather than enclosed.
 
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scooby074

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Joined
Oct 26, 2008
Messages
5,236
Location
Nova Scotia
Retract style, the Reelcraft are what I saw most of in industry. Lincoln would be second. Retracta enclosed would be third most common.
 
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Firebrick43

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Joined
May 12, 2015
Messages
14,033
Location
West central Indiana
We had hundreds of reelcraft and cox air hose reels in the factory where I worked, many over 20 years old. Main problem was horrible operators that would let them self rewind and just let go of the hose. The springs on the pawls would get flipped off.

Some times they needed a swivel union replaced. I only remember 1 broken recoil spring

Hannay is on a different level but I have only used and worked on their larger electric power rewind reels
 
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Rinspeed

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Apr 26, 2020
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1,822
Location
NY
Reelcraft are very solid, the people who have problems are too lazy to do a little maintenance on them.
 
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senlow

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Apr 26, 2008
Messages
2,232
Location
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
As far as I'm concerned, Reelcraft is the minimum acceptable quality hose reel. I prefer Hannay and Cox. All of my reels are Reelcraft. I got a great deal on them when I worked for a company that sold them. I've had them for over 20 years and they are still working great.
 
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gizardlizard

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Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
726
Location
Madison, WI
After having nothing but junk at work, we bought a Cox. It’s been flawless. I finally found one on Market place for home. I stole it for 50 bones. 👍
 
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username2

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Joined
Aug 22, 2016
Messages
970
I've got a Cox but honestly I'd probably rather have a good quality hand reel.

You could keep an eye on Amazon Warehouse (theforklift.net) for one of the better brands.
 
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loganb

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Joined
Dec 29, 2011
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5,524
Location
Omaha, NE
Cox is what we prefer at work in manufacturing facilities. If its a less than 10' hose we may use Reelcraft but majority are Cox and have very few issues
 
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tarbellb

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Joined
Apr 17, 2011
Messages
5,757
Location
Oregon
Careful i found the cheapest/econo line of Cox hose reels to be disappointing in quality- especially for the price
 
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senlow

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Joined
Apr 26, 2008
Messages
2,232
Location
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
cvairwerks said:
Got a coworker that got yanked off his feet and one shoulder destroyed when a spring retract electric cord reel unlocked by itself. It hit the stop ball on the guide so hard that it shattered the ball. Coworker is 5'9 and about 205 lbs when it happened.
Click to expand...
WOW!!! I've never seen anything like that happen. That would really ****. I wonder if the pawl was already damaged.
 
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cvairwerks

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Within hearing distance of Texas Motor Speedway
Senlow: The hose and cord reels at work get used hard, like almost 24/7/365, and they do wear out eventually. In this case, it was a fairly new reel, having been installed about 18 months before. We've had hose reels do the same thing before, but not quite as violently.
 
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username2

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Joined
Aug 22, 2016
Messages
970
Those springs do have a fair amount of force built in.

"Really. Why would you prefer a hand operated reel?"

(mine is used in a large home garage)
I just don't think it would be that big of a deal to reel the line in by hand. What I'd like would be a premium manual hose real, spend some of the money on good materials, bearings, crank, air hose connection. I don't spend all day dragging an air hose around, but I think to some extent that spring retractable lines don't add that much to the usability. Plus, it would feed out more easily.

I'd also apply this to water hoses and extension cords.
 
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Beerhippie

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Oct 13, 2023
Messages
9,779
Location
Far NE Oregon
I have a Reelcraft in the shop at work. It's been in use for twenty-odd years, at least a half-dozen cycles a day. As long as some idjot doesn't let it freespool in, I've never had problems. If let freespool return, it will jump the pawls off the wheel and it's a PITA to fix. Amazingly, the pivot seal is still sealing.
 
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thunderskunk

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Joined
Oct 4, 2022
Messages
130
I’m liking the price point of the Lincoln, but am I seeing the name and associating welders with hose reels in a way I shouldn’t?
 
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senlow

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 26, 2008
Messages
2,232
Location
Wheat Ridge, Colorado
username2 said:
Those springs do have a fair amount of force built in.

"Really. Why would you prefer a hand operated reel?"

(mine is used in a large home garage)
I just don't think it would be that big of a deal to reel the line in by hand. What I'd like would be a premium manual hose real, spend some of the money on good materials, bearings, crank, air hose connection. I don't spend all day dragging an air hose around, but I think to some extent that spring retractable lines don't add that much to the usability. Plus, it would feed out more easily.

I'd also apply this to water hoses and extension cords.
Click to expand...
Thanks. I appreciate your input. We all have a different set of needs and wants. Your preference makes sense. I will continue to use spring loaded reels because they fit my needs. This is in my personal shop. I will make sure my reel locks properly as I deploy the hose.
 
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