While Iโd love to say the RoboReel air hose reel is perfect for all applications, it simply screams to be used in a workshop or garage. This is a great shop tool review. Before I go into that, however, itโs good to understand justย what this product is. The RoboReel retractable air hose reel is a powered system that feeds and retractsโautomaticallyโa the touch of a button.
Designed and sold by Great Stuff, Inc. this is one of the coolest tools you can have in yourย garage or shop, and it most definitely makes more sense than any other air tool accessory weโve yet seen. Weโre not strangers to retractable air hose reels, having reviewed the PneuPower ReCoiler retractable air hose, but this one takes it further, with a swiveling system and powered retract and feed-assist. In that way, itโs very much like the air version of the RoboReel extension cord reelย we reviewed previously.
The poweredย RoboReel air hose reelย also comes ready-to-use, so thereโs no difficult assembly or tools required to use the floor model. For the ceiling mountable RoboReel, all you need to do is pick a location and then mount it. It comes with all the hardware needed for a ceiling mount installation, and an optional wall bracket or L-bracketย can be purchased ($35 each) if you want to hang it from a wall or vertical beam surface.
RoboReel Air Hose Reel Features
Theย RoboReel air hose reel plugs into anyย 120V outlet and then connects to the male 1/4-inch inlet port of any pneumatic tool. The RoboReel is loaded withย 40ย ft.ย of 1/4-inchย hose that can handle up toย a 300 psi rating. The system is rated to last for up to 4000 winds/retracts. If youโre using the floor model, that gives you an 80 ft. diameter in which to use the RoboReel for any shop or garage needs. We got a little less than that inย the PTR Shop since we were suspended about 14 feet off the ground.
Like the RoboReel extension cord reel the RoboReelย retractable air hose reel has a motorized retraction system that slows down at the end, preventing the expectedย whipping action from damaging any surrounding objects.
As we mentioned, the two available models include the portable RoboReel air hose reel and the ceiling mount model. The portable model has a nice carry handle, and rubber bumpers protect the unit whileย keeping it in place during use. The orange shell is chemical and impact-resistant, and the hose inlet connection is located on the bottom of the sphere.ย The pricing is $279.99 for either model, but if you have a shop, the ceiling modelย will be an attractiveย solution.
Using the RoboReel Retractable Air Hose Reel
We mounted the RoboReel retractable air hose reel near the 15 ft. peak of our 2000 sq. ft. steel building. It bolted easily to the steel purlin, and thereโs plenty of clearance so that the mount doesnโt catch on the heads of the bolts or screws used to install the plate. Mounting it high and centrallyย gave us the ability to reach nearly every primary work area in the PTR Shop. For our automotive work as well as using nailers and other tools, this configuration made the most sense and offered the greatest flexibility.ย Retraction of theย RoboReel retractable air hose reel can be accomplished by pressing the one-touch rewind button on the top of the domeโif you have the portable model. Both models also have a button near the end of the hose as well.
We attachedย the included plastic ball so that it would to stop the air hose from retracting so far that we couldnโt reach it. This left us with roughly 25 feet of lateral movement with the hose to reach around the shopโplenty for our needs.
Feeding and Retracting the Air Hose
We used the RoboReel to connect a few different finish and framing nailers for testing. We also found itย an excellent solution for our automotive needs, connecting it up to our in-house single phase vertical airย compressor. To extend the hose we simply grabbed it and pulled. The power-assist feed aids inย letting you move the business end anywhere you need it. To retract we just pressed the button on the end of the RoboReel and it began to retract at full speed. Once it got to around 8-10ย feet away from the final position the speed downshifted to reduce whippingโas expected. Itโs nice when the reality of a tool matches the theory. In this case, the RoboReel retractable air hose simply worksโand works well.
Conclusion
The ability to grab a hose, connect it to your tool, and then move in any direction is simply a game-changer. The 360 degree rotation of the RoboReel is something to be experienced.
While itโs more expensive (by far) than a good quality 1/4-inch hose, the RoboReel retractable air hose reel brings a new type of convenience that will see you using yourย air tools more oftenโsimply from the convenience.
For a high-end shop or anyone who truly values the convenience of a tool like this, the RoboReel certainly makes a lot of sense. If, however, youโre struggling to make ends meet, then sticking with a traditional hose is going to save you a lot of money.
Check out the whole RoboReel lineup at their website.
