[Davew]

Must be fairly light, last forever, have replaceable parts, hold 100mtres of microbore and not cost the earth.

[a-r window cleanin]

I got mine from Gardiners

[Sir Squeaky]

Ditto.

Excellent wheel.
You'll have fun putting it together.

Alex may be nice and give you instructions, you never know.

[jeff1]

I have a set of instructions I can post, if you don't get a set.

[pylofm]

I got my 2 reels from Cleantech and they are a year old and do what they do...excellent kit and excellent service.

Dave.

[Londoner]

Varitech do a good one, its probably the same as the others.

[brett walker]

  gardiners 


brett

[macmac]

Hozelock, i have 2, over 3 years old, never failed.

tony

[Davew]

Metal? If not how do you make them last more than a day?

[Alex Gardiner]

We have 4 Hozelock reels two small and two large. We have never had any problems with them and they are now 6 years old. We have given them so much use that the bottom metal bars that sit on the floor have now half worn through, so we are going to slip a length of rigid polythene pipe over the bars to prolong their life. We are hoping to get an even 10 years out of them!

The metal ones do seem more popular from a sales point of view though, but they are a lot heavier.

[john tomkins]

Well I initially bought the hozelock plastic due to the write up on gardiners website about it lasting 5 years for them, well mine lasted 4 months before the male connector wore out and kept popping off everytime it was wound in/out , and constant drips from the connector
Tried to find a new connector but in hozelocks wisdom they decided not to use the standard, pick it up at any hardware store tap connector, and go for an almost impossible to find, crappy size
Hozelock was the only place I found stocked them and within 2 months that one had gone too
Bit the bullett and bought a metal reel with a brass elbow a couple of months ago and all is well with the world, no pop offs and no drips

Yes you do get what you pay for, just go metal to start with.

[macmac]

I think there are a few different types of hozelok reels, mine has aluminium bars & a plastic reel (the round bit). only ever had to replace the rubber "O" ring on the male connector to stop it dripping & it was just a standard size. to add to this, i got 2x 50 meters of anti-kink hose which has never kinked & is still in daily use after 3 years. It is quite heavy though & i plan to go mini-bore (8mm id). mind you, it has had tractors, cars, lorries the lot run over it & it's still going strong.

tony

[Davew]

You guys must be lucky or I'm unlucky  : My first one crushed the spool in four hours my second one did the same in six hours after aralditing it first. My first grey connector lasted half a day my second has managed a day so far after packing it with grease first. (and it still drips). If I could fit brass then I would be ok but like John said you can't

[john tomkins]

Davew you're welcome to the reel itself as its only waiting to go down the tip, the only problem is the grey male connector, everythin else is fine.
West Midlands if its any good to ya email me

[Davew]

Ha thanks John, no you take it to the tip.

[pjulk]

I have been through a couple of hozelock reels and the middle of both of them went and the fitting would just pop off.
Changed to a metal reel about 18 months ago put a brass elbow on it and have never had a problem in all the time and this one does not leak the hozelock one's i have leaked like a sieve.

Get a metal reel it will be cheaper in the long run.

Paul

[neil100]

I have 2 fixed metal reels. Used them for 20 months and going strong NOW.

I did have one problem, photo enclosed the metal cone spacer cut through the metal on the side of the reel which caused the reel to collapse.

I overcame the problem by buying some Big metal washers which I put on the frame next to the spacer cone.

Nel