[jonboywalton75]

I want a nice manual reel that will hold
100 m 8 mm microbore comfortably.
Looking at the pure freedom one's around the £200 mark but would like recommendations
I have a cheap claber reel at the moment.
It will be fixed
I definitely don't want an electric one
Cheers in advance

[Pete Thompson]

Have you had a bad experience with electric reels?

I’ve been using one for 4 weeks, and it’s no exaggeration to call it a game-changer. I’ll never ever go back to manual reeling. Less fatigue and greater speed, means I’m getting through about 15%-20% more per day. Plus eliminating the risk of RSI.

But anyway, for manual reels, Ionics do a stainless steel one that has a lifetime guarantee. Heavy, but very robust.

I suppose it depends how you intend to use it, ie fixed in the van or take it out at every job.  If it’s the latter, go for the lightest one you can find.

[Richard Groves]

Do you mean 8mm minibore ?
Personally I'd hate to manually reel in 100 meters of that stuff.  But the blue mounted pure freedom one looks up to the job else consider a coxreel, also very well built and durable. I was always of the mindset that window cleaning is a physical job and keep it simple with a quality manual reel however 3 + months in going electric, I wouldn't want to go back.

Apart from the obvious benefits . One I'd overlooked is you can stand clear of the vans back doors with a remote button whilst reeling in checking for pedestrians and traffic you may not see whist you're hunched over at the back of the van manually reeling in a fixed reel.  Earlier this year a small child ran out of the gardens of a bock of flats I was cleaning straight in to the trailing hose I was reeling in. Although I always try to keep an eye out, I was unaware until I heard their screams when they hit the deck. It only needs to happen once. I wasn't held to blame but told myself once was enough. Ordered myself an electric reel the next day.

[Shrek]

I’d never use a manual reel again , if my electric reel broke, I’d order another one straight away. It reely is a no brainer, don’t waste your money on manual reels.

[CleanClear]

Jon, i still use one of these. Mine must be 10 years old. All i ever do is squirt some WD40 along either side of the shaft from time time , never had a problem with it. I've never tried the Claber one so i can't compare.

[Shrek]

Jon, i still use one of these. Mine must be 10 years old. All i ever do is squirt some WD40 along either side of the shaft from time time , never had a problem with it. I've never tried the Claber one so i can't compare.

Imagine turning over £85k a year and using this  💩 😂 😂😂😂

[CleanClear]

Jon, i still use one of these. Mine must be 10 years old. All i ever do is squirt some WD40 along either side of the shaft from time time , never had a problem with it. I've never tried the Claber one so i can't compare.

Imagine turning over £85k a year and using this  💩 😂 😂😂😂

? You lost me. I don't turn over £85k a year, not even close to it . i'm a sole trader/lone worker . Its just the reel i've always had, never had a problem with it.

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

I can beat that.... 2 Hozelock reels at £30 each lasted me 16 years!! I'm on my third now, but I've upgraded to the newer style and colour one!😁 The trick is to use them back to front, it makes all the difference.👍

[mac74]

Jon, i still use one of these. Mine must be 10 years old. All i ever do is squirt some WD40 along either side of the shaft from time time , never had a problem with it. I've never tried the Claber one so i can't compare.

This one, BUT definitely the wheeled version of it! Because u can pull it around easier on wheels, it wont fall over as easy and you don't have to bend as low to reel it in. They are £20ish more, and well worth it, also best used with the brass hozelock 90 degree elbow fitting (£10) on it. I used these for years b4 going electric. Good luck m

https://www.cleaningspot.co.uk/water-fed-equipment/hose-reels/wheeled-metal-hose-reel-100m

[Shrek]

Jon, i still use one of these. Mine must be 10 years old. All i ever do is squirt some WD40 along either side of the shaft from time time , never had a problem with it. I've never tried the Claber one so i can't compare.

Imagine turning over £85k a year and using this  💩 😂 😂😂😂

? You lost me. I don't turn over £85k a year, not even close to it . i'm a sole trader/lone worker . Its just the reel i've always had, never had a problem with it.

Apologies, wrong ‘clear’ . But I still wouldn’t ever buy a manual reel ever again.ever.

[dazmond]

I want a nice manual reel that will hold
100 m 8 mm microbore comfortably.
Looking at the pure freedom one's around the £200 mark but would like recommendations
I have a cheap claber reel at the moment.
It will be fixed
I definitely don't want an electric one
Cheers in advance

a manual reel and 8mm hose?WTF? ......each to their own but if i had to go for a manual reel to fit 100m minibore on id go for a cox reel...ive still got one as a spare....its a quality piece of kit......

[SB Cleaning]

It would kill me using a manual reel now

Go electric 

[JandS]

Do electric reels have to be van mounted....from time to time I need to take the reel out.

[dd]

https://www.hannay.com/en-US/series/1500/?model=1520-17-18

Available from Bridge Engineering. Should last a life time.

I have the 1520-17-18 model.

15 years old. I had to replace the swivel joint 2 years ago (simple job).

[colin bird]

I want a nice manual reel that will hold
100 m 8 mm microbore comfortably.
Looking at the pure freedom one's around the £200 mark but would like recommendations
I have a cheap claber reel at the moment.
It will be fixed
I definitely don't want an electric one
Cheers in advance

I have a purefreedom hose reel had it four years,not had any problems with it

[Shrek]

I want a nice manual reel that will hold
100 m 8 mm microbore comfortably.
Looking at the pure freedom one's around the £200 mark but would like recommendations
I have a cheap claber reel at the moment.
It will be fixed
I definitely don't want an electric one
Cheers in advance

I have a purefreedom hose reel had it four years,not had any problems with it

The reels are very well made but that’s not what you should be thinking about. You should be thinking about RSI on that same elbow/forearm winding in 100’s of meters of hose every day for years.

[dazmond]

electric reels are a luxury,same as xtreme poles and hot water.........im quite sure he ll be fine with a fixed manual reel......

[colin bird]

I want a nice manual reel that will hold
100 m 8 mm microbore comfortably.
Looking at the pure freedom one's around the £200 mark but would like recommendations
I have a cheap claber reel at the moment.
It will be fixed
I definitely don't want an electric one
Cheers in advance

I have a purefreedom hose reel had it four years,not had any problems with it

The reels are very well made but that’s not what you should be thinking about. You should be thinking about RSI on that same elbow/forearm winding in 100’s of meters of hose every day for years.
[/quote

Hi shrek,I can see the benefits of an electric reel,and agree with what your saying regarding Rsi,personally after thirteen years of using a manual hose reel I've luckily not had any problems.
The main attraction for me having a manual hose reel is,I have external connection ports,so I can stand my hose reel on the ground and angle it towards the direction I'm working  which enables me to get a direct pull on the hose.
I also like the idea of being able to remove the hose reel easily from the van to free up space so I can get all my fishing tackle in,
Not sure how easy it is to remove an electric hose reel,I also don't like the idea of cutting holes in the van floor and fitting rollers etc.
Having said all the above I may be completely out of touch,and living in the dark ages

[Shrek]

Fair enough 👍

[DeLuce]

https://www.hannay.com/en-US/series/1500/?model=1520-17-18

Available from Bridge Engineering. Should last a life time.

I have the 1520-17-18 model.

15 years old. I had to replace the swivel joint 2 years ago (simple job).

Yeah, I had one of these reels for quite a few years before going to an electric reel. They are excellent.
Smooth reel in, they’ve got bearings on the axle. Far easier to reel in than one of those bog standard ones. I think they come with a proper bearing joint on the swivel elbow too. I never needed to replace it in over 7yrs.  Well worth the extra money if you don’t want electric.