Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: David Beecroft on April 09, 2016, 08:38:58 am
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Hi Everyone, I'm looking for advice from anyone who has experience in using a power reel. For years I've used a stand alone reel with wheels. I've felt the advantage of this type of reel is their versatility, ie taking the reel to the furthest point and wheeling it back to the van or not having to worry about parking the van in a particular position or direction to give the hose a clear run. However I'm now at the point of renewing them.
A few questions, does the reel being fixed cause a lot of inconvenience? (snagging on corners, tyres etc) Can you wipe the hose clean as it rewinds without it interfering with its "action"? How does it affect the battery performance? Has the cost been worth it in time and effort saved? Which make would you recommend and why?
I'm sure I'll come up with more questions but I would appreciate everyone's input. :)
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Does nobody recommend them? ???
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To be honest I don't think many have used them, theres a couple of users on here and from what they have said they seem
happy enough.
Manually reeling the hose in is one of the few things in wfp that doesn't really annoy me, all the snagging and other crap that comes
with using hoses wont change with a power reel if anything it might cause more problems as it wont stop when you have a
pensioner tugging on the line.(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1460207656_grin[1].gif)
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My guess is you have been buying the typically crap hose reels that most window cleaning suppliers sell. There are absolutely not fit for purpose and are a waste of £89.99 with or without wheels!
They fall apart, nuts and bolts come undone, wheels fall off plastic bushes disintegrate and are hard to wind in.
Grippatank, X- line Systems, Window Cleaning Warehouse you should all hang your heads in shame for selling such crap.
Just go to the Gardiners website and buy a Hi-Vis 100 Hot Water Hose Reel from Koreel. for £159.00
It has proper bearings, it is built to last, takes hot water with no problem. It winds in so easy you don't need an electric reel...trust me.
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Currently have two electric hose reels in my van.
Cox reel full setup costing about £1300-1500
Also had fitted today a
PowerUP HD reel. Costing £500-£600
Obviously both fixed to van. I also have a hose roller system. So van doors are locked up.
After using elec reels. Would NEVER ever go back to manual.
I have three MANUAL Cox reels at a cost of £330 each plus vat plus fitting kits and I still wouldn't reel in manually. Not on your nelly.
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I have a power up reel wouldent be with out it
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I have 2 of the powerup reels from waterworks ... best purchase in a long time ... saves time and effort .. never go back to manual
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I had a power up reel and lasted a month with it and sold it. A waste of money imo
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I have 2 of the powerup reels from waterworks ... best purchase in a long time ... saves time and effort .. never go back to manual
can you still fit 100mt of hose on the reels
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That' :)s great to hear from you guys, any comments on the questions I asked? I guess the answers might seem obvious if you use them daily but these are the concerns I have and nobody locally uses power reels.
£1k investment is a lot to me and I cant afford to waste it.
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Mines being fixed
I had the add on from waterworks purchased from the window cleaning warehouse when then had them on offer for £199. I also bought a new reel, petal style as the add won't fit to the caliber reel.
No instructions on the reel assembly but managed by watching the waterworks and Mark Manro utube vids.
Could not get the reel to run straight so rang (Saturday) the waterworks helpline who guided me through how to straighten it . I fecked it up. I was told the plastic cones that damage as you adjust , we're not available to buy, but cleaning spot sell them.
Two mates that are mechanics have it to replace the plastic cones with purpose made nylon bushes. I will post a picture when it's done.
I bought it from a recommendation off Bob Plum who raves about it.
When Bob knew I was having problems he offered to drive the 200 mile round trip to sort it for me, just to give "the van a run"
Bob Plum, top man.
Tony
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I'm getting one I'm in the middle of choosing between the Cox reel and power up the new power up not the original,I've come to the conclusion that reeling hose in day after day is harder on the arms and shoulders and back more than cleaning the windows. I've mounted my reel at shoulder height which has made easier but it's still hard work.
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I've got a couple of 10 year old hannay reel. Built like a tank those reels and not showing their age. I'm now wondering that they might have a power add on ....hmmmmm
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I have 2 of the powerup reels from waterworks ... best purchase in a long time ... saves time and effort .. never go back to manual
can you still fit 100mt of hose on the reels
98 metres i managed to get on then catches on the motor
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Can you wipe the hose clean as the reel rewinds without it interfering with its "action" ? ???
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Yes on both reels i have. The cox reel you could have ten people wiping it and it would steel reel ;D ;D
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Thats good to know, How does it affect the battery performance? :)
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Thats good to know, How does it affect the battery performance? :)
The Cox reel would need its own battery TBH.
People rate power up HD. I will know this week.
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I'd be interested in our you find the power reel.
Has the expense been worth it in time and effort saved, has it paid for itself in increased productivity?
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I'd be interested in our you find the power reel.
Has the expense been worth it in time and effort saved, has it paid for itself in increased productivity?
I had the start of rota cuff damage on my reeling arm so considering i am still working pain free i would say a bit fat yes ;)
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I can understand how it helped you, I'm not having problems like that though. My problem is more to do with fatigue (having just turned 60), lifting the reel in & out of the van and then rewinding it. By the end of a heavy day I'm wasted. Also I tend to older employ older guys (50's) as they prove to be more reliable. So I'm wondering how long it would take for the power reel (or similar) to pay for itself in more productivity for my set up? any thoughts?
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Currently have two electric hose reels in my van.
Cox reel full setup costing about £1300-1500
Also had fitted today a
PowerUP HD reel. Costing £500-£600
Obviously both fixed to van. I also have a hose roller system. So van doors are locked up.
After using elec reels. Would NEVER ever go back to manual.
I have three MANUAL Cox reels at a cost of £330 each plus vat plus fitting kits and I still wouldn't reel in manually. Not on your nelly.
For sale ???
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I used the powerup reel for a day and it does save a lot of energy having to do it by hand,it couldn't put up with hot water it kept popping off the reel so I sent it back. He now does a better quality reel which will withstand hot water reeling in and having to bend over IMO is a lot harder work than actually cleaning windows, I feel I've exerted more energy doing this rather than what we are at the job to do.
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Can any one answer a question who uses the black power up the from window cleaning warehouse, I have the manual version and they have a tendancy to unspool or run to fast and get tangled
Does this happen on the electric version or is there slight tension on the reel when walking away from van with hose In hand
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I can understand how it helped you, I'm not having problems like that though. My problem is more to do with fatigue (having just turned 60), lifting the reel in & out of the van and then rewinding it. By the end of a heavy day I'm wasted. Also I tend to older employ older guys (50's) as they prove to be more reliable. So I'm wondering how long it would take for the power reel (or similar) to pay for itself in more productivity for my set up? any thoughts?
We used drills on our existing reels. I reckon it allowed us to do another clean a day. Not through increased speed of winding but more by being less knackered through the day, hence speeding up the cleans themselves. I keep meaning to try it again.
Vin
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Can any one answer a question who uses the black power up the from window cleaning warehouse, I have the manual version and they have a tendancy to unspool or run to fast and get tangled
Does this happen on the electric version or is there slight tension on the reel when walking away from van with hose In hand
He is working on a way to add to do this. Mine has some as it's got a chain and mine goes through rollers. But yeah I can see it unspooling
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@smudger.
If this elec reel does work out ok then yes. All three will be for sale. All mint as mounted in van.
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Thanks cleaver forum name
I'll wait for a little bit more development so there's a bit more tension on the reel out, not worth money at the moment i don't find an issue with reeling in, if I get tired my daughter reels in 😀
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What about reliability? If the motor fails for whatever reason, can they still be hand cranked and if so are they as free wheeling as an normal reel or does the motor inhibit free movement? :)
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What about reliability? If the motor fails for whatever reason, can they still be hand cranked and if so are they as free wheeling as an normal reel or does the motor inhibit free movement? :)
a good quality manual fixed reel in your van will be a hell of a lot easier than taking the reel out on every job.that right there is your problem.its virtually effortless.no need for an expensive motorised one unless your really unfit/suffer from arthritis.
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What about reliability? If the motor fails for whatever reason, can they still be hand cranked and if so are they as free wheeling as an normal reel or does the motor inhibit free movement? :)
Cox reel NO chance. It's direct drive and geared.
PowerUp. Easy peasy. Plonk on handle. Away you go.
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Any chance of seeing some photo's of your set up Clever Forum Name? ( how did you ever get on at school with a name like that?) ;D
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The Cox reel looks to slow though this is the only thing that put me off it,it can't have the gears changed on it either apparently something to do with health and safety,although it's slow it sure does save hand cranking the hose in.
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Any chance of seeing some photo's of your set up Clever Forum Name? ( how did you ever get on at school with a name like that?) ;D
I will need an email address to send em to mate really :)
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Not post them on the forum?
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No because the van has stuff fitted that hasnt been released in the window cleaning market as i am testing "stuff"
Thinking about it, you wont achieve anything from seeing my setup.
(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1460399136_IMG_3052.JPG)
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(http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1460399181_reel.jpg)
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plenty of videos and photos about on the power up HD
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Thanks for that, very impressive!
So are you changing the Cox reels for the latest Power up reels?
I'm also interested in the roller fittings in the van floor, are they sufficient or do you have additional ones fitted on the vans exterior? :)
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Had a power up HD from the start. Got duff joints so needed all the help I could get. Hated winding. Just get up to speed and snag.
Thought it was a little under powered. Plodded on for a year. My mate looked at my set up and got his lad the latest. It was miles faster than mine. Mentioned it to him on Face Book and sent me a new motor to try out. Now works even faster. Good service and I would never go back to winding
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ive had the power up for about 6 months and would never go back to winding in by hand , definetely helps with fatigue , best bit of kit ive bought in years regards alan
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Thanks for that, very impressive!
So are you changing the Cox reels for the latest Power up reels?
I'm also interested in the roller fittings in the van floor, are they sufficient or do you have additional ones fitted on the vans exterior? :)
I will post some photos after the weekend as the whole roller setup is being re done.
Each reel will have 4 sets of rollers so 4 in total per reel.
Yes i will be changing the reels and that elec cox reel will be used as a pressure washing reel (i hope)
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Great, I'll look out for them next week. Thanks. :)