I finally got torches for my shop and now I either need to build a cart or get a reel for the hoses. I have a pretty small 24x24 shop so I'm thinking putting the tanks in a corrner and using a reel is the way to go to cut down on clutter. I'm looking for a 50' auto rewind reel, northern tool either has their's for $139 or a cox for $239. Is it worth it to get the cox? Any other "good cheap" options? Any reasons not to go with a reel? I'm thinking having them "fixed mounted" will keep down on buddies borrowing them.

Definately put them on a reel. Why would you even need to ask?

I am not real big on keeping OA cylinders inside the shop, I have mine sitting outside and just run the hoses inside when in use.

I am not real big on keeping OA cylinders inside the shop, I have mine sitting outside and just run the hoses inside when in use.

Since your Up in Canada and I'm Guessing it's as nasty as it is here in the UP (0* and snowing tonight) how do the regulators like cold and snow? Also I'm not sure i want cylinders sitting outside in a college neighborhood. Any more experiances with reels? What's good? What's bad?

I like having mine on a cart so I can wheel them out in the driveway or out to my shed if I need em. My garage is about the size you mentioned. I'm using a hand truck with the tanks straped to it. Its smaller and easier to manuver and store than a larger oxy/act cart.

Just my $0.02

Since your Up in Canada and I'm Guessing it's as nasty as it is here in the UP (0* and snowing tonight) how do the regulators like cold and snow? Also I'm not sure i want cylinders sitting outside in a college neighborhood. Any more experiances with reels? What's good? What's bad?

No problems running OA regs outside in the cold, when the temperature is below the freezing point of propane a OA rosebud still works to provide preheat etc.

I live outside of town so having the cylinders sit outside there is not a issue with them growing legs either.

I have a set of chain drive reels on the truck for the OA hoses but I do not think you have any interest in a $1000+ setup, the shop setup just has 75' of hose that I wrap around the handle on the bottle cart.

I was cheap and didn't want to build a car/ no $$ for a reel right now so i straped the tanks to the wall inbetween the 2 doors going into my shop and bought an extra 25' of hose so i have around 35' of torch hose, enough to reach out to the street and everywhere in the shop. I'm definetly hoping to be able to drop some major coin on some reels thing summer. Are cox's the reels to go with?

I've got the Cox reel for my air compressor. It's the chit. The only thing I didn't like about it was the cheezy hose they had on it. I put 50' of Goodyear hose on to replace it.
http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r320/HackFabrication/AirCompressor001.jpg

i put my bottles on a cart, with a jump hose going to the real in the center of my shop, then put 2 quick diconects on the hoses so if i need to move it its still portable, thanks