Hose Reels

[countrybumpkin]

Hey, looking for an air hose reel for the garage. Not looking to spend an arm and a leg.

I've been looking out for a used reelcraft but they are still going for upwards of $200 around here. I wouldn't mind picking up a cheaper used one with a warranty as an alternative. I am wanting to go with an open metal housing.

So far I have found a few alternatives. What do you guys think and what do you use?

HF Central Pneumatic https://www.harborfreight.com/50-ft...ose-reel-with-3-8-eighth-inch-hose-93897.html

On sale for 57.99 with the general HF warranty.

Klutch Reel https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EGB7NA8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Good reviews. I have used some Klutch stuff before without major complaint. A bit more expensive than the HF and I don't know anything about their warranty services. 89.99

 

[PoorOwner]

I have the northern one before they painted it gray but it is pretty much the same reel as the HF. So I would say get whichever cheaper.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

I have 2 of the harbor freight reels. They actually hold up really well. The only complaint is that the hose is junk and dry rots after a few months. Ive rewound both with a flexzilla 50’ and havent had a problem since.

 

[Jazz1]

I got a $20 Tooltown reel, the hardware alone was worth it and no issues. Tossed the 50' hose, blue plastic ****, it was garbage. I'm too cheap for recoiling anything.

 

[99LeCouch]

A few times a year the Kobalt hose reel from Lowes goes on sale for $60 or so. That makes it a better deal than the HF hose reel since the Kobalt hose isn't junk. One of those has been up in my garage for a year of intermittent use with zero issues.

 

[bobcatdan]

I have tekton reel, think it was on sale for $50. Works like it should, only thing is the supplied hose is slowly getting shorter as I cut it back as it starts to leak at the end.

 

[Provincial]

I have used the HF reel for about six years. I have cut back the hose twice in that time. Lately, I have been using another short hose snapped into the end to attach my air tool/blow gun/etc.. This seems to make it last longer by reducing the side load on the hose barb.

I have started putting a 6" piece of heavy heat shrink tubing from an electrical supply house on the hose as a support underneath the hose clamps. Then I cover the clamps with another piece of heat shrink so they don't catch on things or scratch stuff up.

I have also begun using "clampless" hose barbs that supposedly don't need metal clamps. I use the 6" long heat shrink over them, and use Gates (NAPA) heat-shrink hose clamps over that. The clamps are not rated for this, but the hose barbs claim not to need any clamp, so I am not relying on the clamp for anything except redundantcy. No problems so far, and no metal except the quick coupler to catch or scratch.

 

[Firebrick43]

I have used the HF reel for about six years. I have cut back the hose twice in that time. Lately, I have been using another short hose snapped into the end to attach my air tool/blow gun/etc.. This seems to make it last longer by reducing the side load on the hose barb.

I have started putting a 6" piece of heavy heat shrink tubing from an electrical supply house on the hose as a support underneath the hose clamps. Then I cover the clamps with another piece of heat shrink so they don't catch on things or scratch stuff up.

I have also begun using "clampless" hose barbs that supposedly don't need metal clamps. I use the 6" long heat shrink over them, and use Gates (NAPA) heat-shrink hose clamps over that. The clamps are not rated for this, but the hose barbs claim not to need any clamp, so I am not relying on the clamp for anything except redundantcy. No problems so far, and no metal except the quick coupler to catch or scratch.

We use miles of the clamp less hose at work. It's not just the barb, it's the Barb and hose combination but there is absolutely no need for a clamp if both are compatible. We have never had a hose fail there. We still use the barbs with non compatible hose (more abrasion resistant but stiffer) and use a punch lock clamp.

 

[danielbuck]

I don't remember the brand of hose reels that I have, but they look just like the Klutch brand you posted. I use that for when I need to get air farther away from the garage. For stuff inside the garage, I use a lighter weight hose so it's more flexible on a smaller reel.