DIY water hose reel, rotating join.
 

Hi, I am thinking of making my own water hose reel, which will last longer and has the certain look I want. The most important part is the rotating join, brass or anything that will last. I can't find it any where include local stores and online. Anyone has seen anything like it anywhere?

Rotary Unions | Rotating Union | Rotary Joints | Deublin Company

Good. Not cheap.

wow. There must be something cheaper that does the purpose.

While I understand that expensive doesn't guarantee quality, leaks from something one has just assembled are demoralizing and over time destroy a fella's will to live (along with everything that gets soaked).

I bought a hose reel with a rotary union that was leaking like crazy within a year. I loathe the thing and its usefulness has been more than cut in half. I'll follow along here and appreciate the inquiry!SmileWavy

What about not using one at all?

I've seen them with just the hose end coming out to the side right next to the axle.
With a snap fitting on the end and a short conecting hose to the tap.

You could make one from brass and O-rings.

I, my dad, my bother, and my... many others been buying the usual reel many times. Leaks and other issues are normal. For me, it snap at the plastic port, beside I hate to have to hold it down on every use. Then, I decided to hang the hose manually. Then, most of the time it gets frustrated because the hose can get too stiff. There is the all metal cart, but it's ugly and also the bushing can get loose after time and leaks.

1990C4S, can you be detail on how? Thanks.

sc_rufctr, another thought. Do you have experience with those snap fitting from HD? Are they any good, or also leaks like hell? :)

The snap fitting we have in Aus are plastic and have an internal O ring.
They are made by "Gardena" and Aust company but their products are made in China :rolleyes:

They rarely leak but years in the sun and wear a tear make them brittle and eventually then they need replacing.

This is a basic set. All you need for an average hose. ;)

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1374006894.jpg

This is the snap end. I'm sure you have something similar in the US.

The point is you don't need a rotation joint if you use one of these next to the axle of a hose real.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1374006928.jpg

thanks peter. I'll go to the store to take a look.

They have gardena products here as well, home depot is just one that sell them.
you will have to replace them every few years,

6 Piece Garden Hose Quick Coupler Set


Harbor freight carries the quick disconnect for cheap. Have them and they work pretty well. I have found i'd rather have two hoses though.

IMHO, none of the "cheap" options suggested are going to be durable enough to endure the continuous rotation that the hose reel would require - unless of course it is not used very often. Those are made only to snap on and off for quick disconnects - not to rotate.

Agreed. The brass versions have a chance of lasting a season, the plastic ones are crap. And they need to be well guided or they will jam up.

There's a reason Deublin's are expensive. they have seals and bearings. Because you need them.

Why not simply buy a quick disconnect with a shut-off and disconnect the hose while you wind/unwind?

what do you guys think about this? Reelcraft rotating joint
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/Reelcraft-S60...lLg~~60_35.JPG
http://www.amazon.com/Reelcraft-S600886-Swivel-Assembly/dp/B008XZYGS6

Where's the rest of it?

Milt, I plan on building an all metal reel myself, using this part as the rotating joint to attach the hose only.

Those threads/fittings don't appear to be standard water hose fittings. You'll have to use adapters - if they even exist to mate to those connections.