Retractable Air Hose Reels - Recommended?

[st@rk]

Looking to order air hoses for my new compressor and debating about whether to get a retractable ratcheting hose reel that lets me pull the hose out when its needed, but will whip it back up and out the way when not in use.

What's people's opinion of these? Do they work well and give you enough slack when you need it? Or are you always fighting with it?

I can't decide whether it'll make the hose curl up or will it lie flat on the ground? I'm used to long hoses hung off walls in large loops so that the hose just stays flat on the floor when its being used and minimises the trip hazard.

Thanks for any help!

 

[WWheeler]

My one experience with an auto-retractable hose reel was 15 years or so ago and wasn't a good one. About a week after it was bought I walked in to find it in pieces after one of the other guys in the shop disassembled it trying to 'fix' it only to find the end of the spring inside was broken. I didn't even try to put it back together so I could return it. I went and bought a manual retractable air hose reel instead and we're still using it ~15 years later.

I know others who have had much better experiences with their auto-retractable hose reels. I figure we just got a lemon.

With either version the hoses still lay flat.

 

[doorfx]

I love mine. Hose always lays flat, and the ratcheting mechanism has stops every foot. That way your not fighting with it. I like to wrap a rag around the hose as it's retracting, keeps it clean and dirt and **** doesn't get into it.

 

[Stompit]

Coxreels and Reelcraft ! American made with top quality. I have a Cox and it has been fantastic. Kind of pricey but worth it to me.

 

[Badger 13]

I have the Legacy Level Wind for about 12 years. Never had a problem with the reel, but the standard red hose that came on it does curl easy and not lay flat. About two years I replaced the hose with Flexzilla air hose and that works extremely well for laying out flat, plus it is more flexible. The Flexzilla hose was not offered when I originally purchased mine, but if I ever had to replace it, I would only do it with the Flexzilla hose. It may cost a little more, but certainly well worth it.

 

[Katodog]

Flexzilla, hands-down. We use one at work and it's spectacular. No issues with the reel, locks every foot, and has a lever that will allow full retract, or retract on demand. The Flexzilla hose is ridiculous, never kinks, and durable as all get-out. We run it through oil, grease, chemicals, battery acid, on a daily basis and it shows no signs of wear...except for being dirty. I love it, and would have one in my garage if I didn't already have 100' of hose and another reel.


Hard to buy new stuff when the old stuff works...can't convince the wife to spend more money, she's too smart for that

 

[Repsolracer22]

ive used the ones from greg smith equipment. no issues. several years of use

 

[larry4406]

I have two overhead reels, one by the garage door and other more interior. I also have piped outlets at my work benches. I never use the piped outlets.

Mine are the cheapo HF/Lowes type. About 5 years ago Lowes was clearancing them for $29 so I couldn't pass it up. The hoses are starting to crack so I will be replacing them.

X2 on keeping a rag handy to wipe hose during recoil.

 

[johnyg]

h/f and their goodyear hose.i am not a pro but after 5 years still good.

 

[2oolhound]

I have a 50'x3/8" speedaire all steel unit that is solid, built to last decades.

I'm looking for a small one that has to be 13" or less diameter so if anyone knows of a small sized one please post. 20' of hose would work for it. I'd hate to have to cut one down if I can't find a small one.

 

[Roberts210]

Reelcraft. I have two for air hoses and one for garden hoses. Here's when I was cleaning up one of my Reelcrafts, I found out it was badged as a Speedaire:

 

[jdlong]

I got a Reelcraft at Northern tool w/35 ft hose for less than 100 bucks. Love it and the hose retracts nicely. Even when the temps are sub zero, the hose flexes nicely.

 

[seagravedriver]

While I tend to try to buy American and things that will last me a long time.....I bought the Harbor Freight one. Light use over the last 10 years with NO problems at all. If anything went wrong with it, I'd toss it. Spring loaded things are kinda scary to me. For the price, it was hard to beat.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I was considering buying one recently, and I went with the Flexzilla manual reel instead. I wanted 100' of 3/8 hose. You'll pay a lot for a quality reel with 100' of 3/8" hose on it if you can find one. With the manual, there's really nothing to go wrong.

Mine had a small leak out of the box, but 2 minutes and some Teflon tape fixed that. Happy with it.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Going on 2 years on the HF 50' reel with no issues. I put it in the attic and cut a hole in the center of the garage ceiling and it's out of the way and just works. Highly recommended. I did reinforce the hose at the connector with some fabric tape because I read it starts leaking from being bent back and forth and it still looks great. Won't leak down more than 20psi after a week.

 

[engineer2]

I've had a HF 25ft for over 5 years and it still works great. I regret not getting the 50 ft.

 

[st@rk]

Thanks everyone - great feedback! Doorfx that's exactly the one I'm looking at.

 

[bwringer]

3/8"X50' Blubird here.

http://www.thebluehose.com/blubird/blubird_air-hose-reel.htm

I like the BluBird hose even better than Flexzilla, if such a thing is possible.


I had a HF 25' hose reel for several years and never had a problem other than, well, the damn thing was only 25' long and wouldn't reach quite a few things I wanted to reach.

 

[toyotadriver]

I bought a HF 50' on sale for something like $69 (or $59 can't remember). I like it and when I have to replace the hose, I'll replace it with a hybrid type hose.

 

[JUNK-MAN]

I would suggest (unless like a roof set up) a regular air hose. I bought a retractable one with the same thought in mind and threw out my old one. I Hate it, a major pain in the **** to use and the stupid plastic stopper on it just gets in the way.

 

[Bcom]

About 10 years ago i bought a generic one from Ebay which as i remember was a central pneumatic. It came with some HUGE/FAT 3/4" hose that was a pain to manipulate. The hose itself was waaaay too big for the reel and i couldnt see how anyone could even use such a fat hose. The hose either said"Michelin or Goodyear" on it. I cant remember which but anyway i had to remove the hose it came with and put in my own 1/2" hose i got from the local farm store which was easier to manipulate. Over the years,the reel has fallen apart a few times but i just reassemble it and put it back together and its still working today. Its the only reel ive ever used so im assuming the quality is mediocre but ok for light use. I wish i wouldve spent the extra money on something a little higher quality but i think i only spent 60bux on it so i got what i paid for.

 

[burleyfarm]

Just bought a 50' HF on sale for the price of their 25'. Wasn't able to install it on the wall where I'd planned to do so I cleared an area out from under my bench. Works great and now I don't have to install a drop at the bench. Reaches the entire garage and lays flat.


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[sqaurelizard]

use pcl ones all over our workshop one seal failure after 5 years of heavy use so cant complain

 

[sberry]

Recessed or overhead a retractor, if its down low I like a manual.

 

[fourjeepin]

I have had a manual reel for about 18 years and love it. It has to blue Goodyear hose which lasts forever but is a but stiff. A few years ago I got a cheap reel and it is a pita. I guess it doesn't have enough stops because it is a hassle to get it to stop reeling in. And to get more hose out is very easy with the manual - just pull. With the reel, I have to go over to it, pull the hose out, then fight the stops.

Also the China hose splits where it gets grease and oil on it. I recently replaced it with flexilla and have been much happier.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I have two different Flexzilla reels. One is the enclosed plastic one and the other is a open steel reel. The former is older of the two but I have no complaints out of either one.

 

[trackwelder]

Hannay reels the best in my opinion.

 

[sberry]

I have some HF hoses been on for decades Never had a problem but 1 with a Legacy I left out in cold weather and cracked a hose, I discontinue it for winter. I have a cheap HF reel I added circles to the fingers but it has been very good and has the original hose.
Old pic, some plumbing changes but the old reel is still there. I had the circles from another reel I cut down to fit in a service truck.

Someone made the mistake of putting a drop of oil on th9e swivel, made it too slippery. It was about 20$ with hose at the time. I like it as good as better ones. I have a couple retractors but just as soon as have hand winders.

 

[Koolmoose]

I have had the HF 50 ft reel for 4 years with no trouble, but it doesn't get used daily in my garage. It is ceiling mounted in the center of the garage. Really easy to use! Prior to getting the HF reel (Xmas gift from wife) I had a manual cheap reel mounted low at the back of the garage. It was sort of in a pita location as I would have to move whatever vehicle was parked in that bay to use it. That reel now stores extra hose. I also have ratcheting extension cord and trouble light reels ceiling mounted as well. I always feel " professional" when pulling down a hose or cord. I highly recommend ratcheting reels.

Steve

 

[texasfiremedic]

Coxreels and Reelcraft ! American made with top quality. I have a Cox and it has been fantastic. Kind of pricey but worth it to me.

+1

i have a truck mounted Coxreels on always outside in the weather. I have not had any problems out of it. Always lays flat. I have the ezcoil. It slows down the recoil and doesn't let it rip and whip.

 

[wvrailroader]

Hannay reels the best in my opinion.

I would have to agree with this. We have their hydraulic hose reels on most of our trucks. Those damned things take some major abuse and keep on going. Some of them are going on 12+ years with no problems other than an occasional hose replacement. When they do finally fail or get damaged beyond repair, boy are they expensive to replace.

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