instructables

Air Hose Reel From Plywood / 360° Swivel

by SEB TECH DIY

In today's woodworking project, I will show you how I built my 360° swivel air hose reel from plywood.
I made this hose reel for my workshop, it currently hold a 50' 3/8 air hose and it also work with a 100' hose.
The reel can swivel 360° so it's easier to go di erent ways in my shop, also easier when reeling the hose.
My lock system can lock the air hose reel in 5 di erent positions.
It is not perfect, but I'm really happy for the V1. I already have some ideas for a Version 2 in the future, but for now I want
to build more tools and more storage for my workshop, so make sure you follow my Youtube channel for more content
and more videos like this one. Thanks for following along, I really appreciate all the support!
Supplies:

- 5/8 plywood ( 2'x4' sheet if more than enough )

- 3/4 Wooden Dowel ( 6' long )
- Wood glue
- Trim Screws ( 1"5/8 trim screws and 1" trim screws )
- Dewalt 50' Air Hose or Any air Hose Up to 100'
- 90° Swivel Air tting
- 1/4 Female to 1/4 Female NPT Fitting
- 1/4 Male to 1/4 Male NPT Fitting
- Coupler and Plug Kit
Disclaimer : As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases you make using my a liate links. It really help me
continue to bring you more free content when you purchase using my a liate link and it doesn't cost you more so it's a
win/win situation.

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 https://youtu.be/JTXa831twEA

Step 1: Plywood Cutting List

Here's the list of all the plywood pieces you will need to cut for this build.

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Step 2: Drawing and Marking Holes Locations

First, before we can even cut both plywood circles, we need to draw and mark the location of the ve 3/4 holes that will
received the 3/4 dowel, this step is very important because we need to nd the center of our circle and that cannot be
done after we enlarge the center hole for the axle.

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Step 3: Cutting the Plywood Circle

At this part, you will need to cut 2 circles out of plywood. In this case, 5/8 thick plywood. I do this using a circle cutting jig
i made from a lexan sheet. I also made a video tutorial on my jig if you want to see it click here :
Alright so to cut that circle, you will need to drill a center hole so you can turn your router jig arond. I drilled a 1/8 hole (
same size as jig holes ) and then i insert a dremel bit (1/8) inside the jig and the hole. Why a dremel bit? Just because it's
easier to remove it, you can grab that stone and pull on it easily, not the case with a drill bit. The diameter of a circle is 2
times its radius so i set up my drill bit at 6" from the router bit, and i cut my both plywood circles.

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Step 4: Making Holes in Both Plywood Circles

Now that our circles are cut, time to make the 5 holes for the 5 dowels that will joint both circles together to make a spool
for our reel.
Once these 5 holes are made with a drill press, I drill the center holes on both pieces. One of them is 5/8 and the other
one is 3/4. Center holes can't be made with my drill press because they are 6" from the edge and my drill press can take 5"
max.

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Step 5: Assembling the Spool

After cutting [5x] 3/4 x 9"¾ dowels, I assemble my spool. I only put some wood glue on each end of the dowels and I
insert them in my plywood circles.
You can see in the picture, I already added a 2¼x2¼ piece of plywood with a 3/4 center hole in it. This is for added
stability later with the center dowel that will also act as an axle so it was easier to glue this piece before adding the 5
dowels in the plywood circles.

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Step 6: Making the Spool Support

We need to assemble the support that will hold the spool. I do this using some wood glue and 4 trim screw on each side
to make sure it's really strong.

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Step 7: Installing the Fitting ( It's Also the Axle )

Ok so the spool will spin around an axle made from a female to female tting on one side, and from a 3/4 dowel on the
other side. Let's start with the tting side.

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I rst screw my 90° air tting elbow to the female/female tting, and I sandwich between these 2 tting the main support
of the spool aka the 2¼ x 9" plywood with a 5/8 hole.
Once it's done, I need to secure the tting in place so it doesn't move around. A couple pieces of scrap wood later,
everything is secure with two screw.
At this step, I was putting the elbow tting upward, but it's a good thing i only used 2 screw for that little plywood
bracket because I have to reverse it so the air tting exit point downward. It's a must so the intake hose can swivel 360
around and don't get stuck in the wall mount support.

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Step 8: Handle and 3/4 Dowel for the Other Axle

So we just installer our tting on one side to make our axle. Now for the other side, I use a 3/4 wood dowel that will be
screw from the spool to the handle. So before inserting this axel dowel, I assemble the handle.
Handle is made from a piece of plywood with a 3/4 hole at each end, paired with a 3 5/8 dowel to make the handle.
Once it's done, let's move to the next step that is assembling the spool on the support! :)

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Step 9: Mounting the Spool on the Support

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I mount the spool on the support, then I secure everything using a 3/4 wooden dowel. I place 2 metal washers on this
dowel, one between the spool and the support, and one between the support and the handle.
I secure the 3/4 dowel inside the spool with a screw, and I do the same for the handle. I can remove the spool if I have to.
On the tting side, I screw a male/male tting with a quick connect tting to secure the spool on the support.

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Step 10: Making the Wall Bracket

I made a wall bracket for my hose reel with some plywood. I assemble all the pieces together then I attach the bracket to
the hose reel using a 1/4 x 2"½ bolt. I put 2 washers between the wall bracket and the reel support.

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Step 11: Locking System

I made a locking system to lock the spool and reel at certain positions. It's a simple mechanism but need to be improved,
maybe in a V2. Watch the video for more details :)

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Step 12: Wall Installation

I mount my air hose reel on a plywood plate because I have no studs in the middle on that wall. That way, it will be strong
enough to hold up to 100' of air hose. Otherwise, I would have screw the bracket right into a wall stud.

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Step 13: Installing the Hose

First, I connect the air intake, this is the hose that will run to the compressor. Second, I reel my 50' air hose onto my reel. I
make sure there is no air leak, and our air hose reel is done! :)

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Step 14: Thanks for Watching My Instructables

Thanks you so much for watching my instructable, make sure you watch my build video on my youtube channel.
I love to make stu and I have several projects for my workshop, be sure you're subscribe so you don't miss anything.

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Thanks to everyone for the support, this project has taken more than 40 hours ( design, making, lming, editing, english
voice over when it's not my native language, making the instructables, publishing to youtube etc etc ) and I try to keep
my build free for everyone and give my plans/measure to everyone so if you want to help me continue my mission, make
sure your subscribe to my channel and keep sharing my projects. Thanks all! :)

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Step 15: Air Fittings

Updated this Instructables with a diagram of all the ttings used in this build. Sorry should have included this earlier. The
90° air swivel is the model MP1038 from campbell hausfeld, unfortunately it's the old version but you can nd the exact
same model on amazon. Check the links in the supplies section of this instructables.
If you have any questions ask me below!

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Great project! What is the size of the 90° air fitting elbow? Also, any suggestion for resources of
the fittings used? Thanks!
You can also buy the swivel fitting from Milton Industries. Part # is s-657. They have four styles:
- 1/4" NPT (s-657)
- 3/8"NPT (s-657-1)
- 1/4" NPT w/ flow control knob (s-657-2)
- 1/4" NPT w/ dial pressure gauge (s-657-3)
They also carry the M-style couplers and plug set (s-711) and M-to-M and F-to-F nipples. You
can buy them on MiltonIndustries.com, or on Amazon.

Link: https://www.miltonindustries.com/search/?q=swivel+fitting
I updated the instructable with an image of all the fittings used and the model for the 90° swivel. I
will be adding some link in the section or the description of my youtube video as i'm not sure if
amazon link are allowed on instructables.

Made this with slightly different measurements. thinner plywood on the reel and thicker on the
arms.

Just used what i had lying around.

I wonder if the swivel fitting used has an equivalent for water. Most discarded garden hose reels
leak from the swivel fitting as the entire thing is made from plastic in cheaper reels. I salvage
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 these and repair and use them if possible, e.g. a snapped off hose couple end replaced with a
joint, etc.
Good idea and Nice projet

very nice! all my encouragement, thank you for sharing.

Wow, this looks so nice. Thanks for sharing such detailed cut lists and plans :D

Thank you! :) I also added the fitting list for this build

Recommend putting this in the Elements Speed Challenge since it incorporates "Air." I think you
will do well.
Thanks for the suggestion, i will try to enter this hope it works! :)

Very nice project ! Thanks for your Instructable, it is well made and easy to follow each step.

Thank you! :)

Great work. Thanks for sharing. God bless.

Thank you! :)

very clean I like it !

Just a quick suggestion for durability : Adding a bearing will prevent the wood from degrading and
loosen !
Yeah, probably i will be working on a V2 of this design. Thanks for the suggestion! :)

I can see several different uses for this eel! Good video!!

Thanks!

Very good idea but I'm thinking of making this for my outside garden hose - a little modification on
the connections and maybe using pressure treated wood might just work - thanks.
Thank you! Yeah make sure you use outdoor materials :)

I need one of these, so I going to try to build one.

Thanks!
Thank you! :)

Would this design work for a water hose?

I saw some water hose reel like this, that's where i got that inspiration for my air hose reel! :)

Actually, you could employ this design by using a collapsible garden hose (e.g. Home Depot
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"Pocket Hose Silver Bullet Expandable Water Hose") or similar fed through an external sillcock
vacuum breaker to assure that the hose drained itself was it was rolled back onto the reel (turn
off the water suppy at sillcock first!).

This would eliminate concerns over the weight of the hydrogen and oxygen ratio involved. But it
would still require transitioning from the much smaller 3/8" air hose fiittings to the 3/4" Standard
hose fittings (which may prove a bit pricey).

You might find it simpler to look for a Rolio - Expandable Hose - Retractable Garden Hose with
Nozzle - 50ft Water Hose (with or without the 9 Function Spray Nozzle) for $30 on the Amazon.

Now, if you're not looking to water an acre of lawn - rather spritzing the plants in your greenhouse
or window garden, you might find 3/8" I.D. tubing at Lowes or Home Depot or Menards or Ace
Harrdware etc would serve. If so facto, then this design might suit you perfectly. Fittings
comparable to those fond at teh business end of a standard size 'garden hose,' however may not
be as easy to find as that Nine Function Spray Nozzel above!

Ove caveat with regard to the (steel?) swivel fitting used here. It will corrode and rust - so, look to
brass, SS or even plastic versions or substitutes.
I don't think that would be a good idea: Water and wood do not mix well, you would have to
completely redesign the fitting/axle to work with FHT/MHT fittings, and you would need to
contend with not only the weight of the hose but also the weight of the water in the hose which
may necessitate a stronger design.
Thanks for the advice!

"At this part, you will need to cut 2 circles out of plywood. In this case, 5/8 thick plywood. I do this
using a circle cutting jig i made from a lexan sheet. I also made a video tutorial on my jig if you
want to see it click here :"

You forgot to include the link for the video tutorial.

Oups, forgot to add : VIDEO WILL BE OUT SOON

I'm currently working on the edit of this video, should be up on my youtube channel in one or two
weeks.

Googol "How to Cut a Circle in Wood - 6 Different Ways"

Nice job, and quite clever! You might want to correct the several instances of misspelled "Axle"
for the sake of professional appearance.
Corrected now, that's the thing when english is not your native language. Never saw that mistake
lol

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"for the sake of professional appearance"

Hmm, I thought we were all amatuers . . .

I assumed it was one of those words like 'colour' that the colonials always trip up over when using
the Queen's English ..... ;-)
I would also like to see a list of air fittings you used. Links to amazon, HD, lowes, or others would
be very helpful. Thanks!
I updated the instructable with an image of all the fittings used and the model for the 90° swivel. I
will be adding some link in the section or the description of my youtube video as i'm not sure if
amazon link are allowed on instructables.

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