[Update: within a few days of posting this, the US-rep reached out to me to answer a few questions and take down some user-feedback. They've already implemented a few of the easier changes (a foam wrap around the brass nozzle to prevent shipping damage) and a new color way (aahem: still waiting for the gray with orange hose)... Nonetheless, it demonstrates the want for a company to get-it-right.]
[Breakage-alert: The clamp that attaches the nose to the inside reel is not tightened enough and will — over time — slip free if under pressure. Two easy fixes: (1) don't leave the pressure on the hose — turn off the spigot. (2) a half dozen #2PH screws hold the faceplate onto the unit. Remove the screws. Rotate the face a slight turn to release the tabe — and remove. See where the tail end of the hose connects to the reel on the inside? Simply tighten that metal clamp a bit more — easy. Retracta has already implemented a fix on the most recent models.]
It's often the small things that can either make you happy or be the bane of your existence ... and sometimes a single thing can be one and the same. Hose reels are something that you don't think a lot about until you do... and then — if you're like me — it can be all-consuming.
Years ago, we stumbled upon the idea of an auto-retracting hose reel. At the time, Claber and Gardena were the two biggest names in the game here in the US. Both were Italian. Both were cool. Both were expensive. We went with the Claber model. Trouble is, they never lasted more than a few years before the sun faded them badly, the retracting spring gave out, and you started to hate everything Italian. There's nothing more annoying than a pile of 50ft hose under a retracting reel that won't retract. We tried the Gardena model later and it leaked within the day — uggg. So, we just bought the Claber reels every 4 years or so. Then they became unavailable.
[(left) When the Claber was good, it was very good... (right) but when it was dead...]
We started a new search last year. There were tons of cheap import versions with weird names like G-GOODGAIN, OT-QOMOTOP and TwinkleStar. We tried one from Giraffe Tools and it was returned the next day. It's hard to imagine that an idea so simple would be so easy to mess up, but folks can apparently do it. We had given up hope.
Last week, we stumbled across an Australian design/made reel called the Retracta R3. Australia is not known for its sleek industrial design and this model is no different. Like an Ute, it's pretty ugly... you might says it's cute-ugly, but like an Ute, it's made to work well more than look good. Casie — the engineer in the house — said: "Like, all it really needs is a big-ass spring, right?" (... and cue the Crocodile Dundee "Now, that's a spring!").
[Note: I've had a pair of Australian Blundstones on my feet every day for the past two decades, so there's no ire for AUS goods].
I replaced the dilapidated Claber with the Retracta R3 today. Some initial thoughts and pictures:
- Overall, I'm impressed
- I'm not going to doubt the function — this thing will work for years. It might look like it was rode hard and put up wet in 5 years, but it will work.
- To the durability/appearance bit: there is already a bit of box/shipping damage — see pics. This was likely caused by the brass coupling on the hose — a simple wrap with foam will fix that. However, I expect that this will scuff and scar easily.
- I'm concerned that the join at the elbow to the reel will not last long. It looks to be medium quality polyethylene and ABS. Brass or stainless would have been better given the price point.
- I'm concerned about the flat mounting bracket. It's not stainless steel and will be prone to rust... Retracta should have either made this from stainless or powdercoated it.
- The fit of the hose and bracket isn't as tight as the Claber... but a wrap of electrical tape on the shaft took up some slack and is invisible.
- The unit is obviously made by someone with a hand in the air-hose industry. Everything is crimped. This is fine until you need to rotate something or shorten a hose.
- There is no easy way to shorten the leader hose. With the Claber, you were able to trim and re-attach the connector. With this one, I'm going to need to get inventive. [Note: I've since replaced/refashioned a new hose connection with brass and ABS connectors for a trimmer fit]
- The cheap stickers will last about a month in the CA sun. This is a big miss on Retracta's part. Any branding should have been cast or silkscreened. At least the bubbly stickers should easily peel off. [Edit: They did and it looks a lot better — see new pics and a place for a potential logo. I hope they do not put more than a tiny logo on this thing.]
- It takes four 1/4in (M6) lag bolts to attach. Neither these nor a hose nozzle were included.
... But holy-cow, is that spring powerful. There is no stopping that hose from going back into the housing! ... and the lack of a traveling guide is nice. This was the first thing to go sideways on the Claber reel.
All in all, it'd give it 4 stars out of 5 based on a few flaws... But — in the end — nothing stopped me from ordering two more reels (we need 3 to cover the yard)... and it retracts amazingly — so, that's worth a 5-star review, right?
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