Armed Polite Society
Main Forums => The Roundtable => Topic started by: Ben on February 08, 2021, 08:29:28 AM
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Is anyone using an air compressor hose reel that they like? I'm rearranging a corner of the shop where my big compressor will sit and figured it's about time to clean up the hose on the floor mess. The reel will need to be mounted in a concrete block wall. I'll probably just keep 50' of hose on it and just couple on more hose if I need more.
Speaking of hose, I have always just used rubber. Any big benefits (or cons) on the hybrid hoses?
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We use Flexzilla hoses at work. Lightweight and pretty durable and they don’t have the kinking issues rubber ones do. I also have a Flexzilla whip on my mini 3/8 impact that has a built in ball swivel to connect to the tool it gets into really tight places. I can’t comment on reels though we are still in the Stone Age in that regard and we have to hand coil ours on a hook.
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We use Flexzilla hoses at work. Lightweight and pretty durable and they don’t have the kinking issues rubber ones do. I also have a Flexzilla whip on my mini 3/8 impact that has a built in ball swivel to connect to the tool it gets into really tight places. I can’t comment on reels though we are still in the Stone Age in that regard and we have to hand coil ours on a hook.
Flexzilla is exactly the hose I was looking at.
You also bring up another thought: Am I just as well off sticking a hook on the wall versus a reel that might mechanically fail at some point? I end up using the big compressor maybe just once per week on average, though there are times I use it multiple days in a row.
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I've thought about getting a reel but never manage to get around to it. I just coil up the hose and hang it on the wall, if I don't just leave it strung out across the floor of my shop till I need to use it somewhere else or move it for access.
I've got a 50' length of hose that I "surplussed" off my last boat, it had a damaged connector on one end and it was headed for the dumpster. It has lasted me more than 30 years now.
I'll have to look into the Flexzilla hose, eventually I'll have to replace it.
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Flexzilla is nice hose, and lasts well.
On the reel, for a non-professional user, this is one of those "get thee to Harbor Freight" situations.
I have had the previous version of this reel (https://www.harborfreight.com/38-in-x-50-ft-enclosed-retractable-air-hose-reel-56876.html) tapconed to a cinderblock wall for about 15 years. It has actually switched garages. It started plugged into my Campbell Hausfield portable and is currently plugged into my twin parallel compressor setup. I figured when I bought it when the hose gave out I would keep the reel and swap out for a nicer hose, but that Chinese hose is still going strong. The swivel function is really nice when I drag the hose end out the garage door and around the corner of the house.
Have modded two mustangs, did a frame on rebuild of an F150, all my car and boat maintenance and put on two roofs with it.
The professional grade reels are tougher, and heavier. We have 6 in the shop that hold 100' of hose and were like $600 from Grainger, but they have all needed to be worked on (one needed a new pawl fabricated) and don't work any better than the HF reels.
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My garage had a garden hose reel on the wall when I bought the place. I just use that. I'm assuming the previous owner did the same.