TDeal

Update: I had tried the swivel fitting from Rockler but it didn't fit the fitting on my hose. I found a swivel at Woodcraft that seems to have solved the problem. I also picked up a more flexible hose at Woodcraft that is easier to handle and hang on the boom than the shop vac hose that I was using. It's working out well, now. More convenient that the roll around shop vac cart I was using.

I have previously used a reel from FastCap (picture attached) for my shop vacuum hose. It works OK and allows me to reach all areas of my 20x30 shop, but is kind of a hassle dragging the hose around without going over things like the router table, assembly table, etc. That is compounded by the fact that the (flexible but stiff) hose wants to do a "spiral twist" as it comes off the reel. I recently made an 8 foot boom and relocated the hose to it, having about 8 -10 feet of hose coiled onto the end of the boom. That is a little more convenient, but still the twist issue is a problem. I ordered a swivel from Rockler hoping it - between the hose and the nozzle would help, but the fittings don't mesh. Any suggestions, or a source for a more flexible 2 1/2" diameter hose that (ideally) doesn't have the twist issue would be appreciated. Additional info - my shop vac is mounted to a cart with a ClearVue CV06 Mini cyclone which I have used to roll around as needed. That worked, but due to space constraints that isn't very convenient. (Right now just trying the boom, I have the hose still one length from the nozzle all the way back to the vacuum. Should I decide to make it permanent I suppose I might add a swivel at the end of the boom to allow the hose to twist as it uncoils, which may help some.) I have a dust collector with 4" hose that I move from machine to machine for the "heavy lifting."

Thank you for membership, and the forum. I'm enjoying a little more woodworking here in North Carolina since retiring from GE after 37 years. I actually started woodworking back in 1975 after my Dad gave me a radial saw for Christmas 1974. He was a very good woodworker working out of a very small basement shop specializing in grandfather, wall (schoolhouse), mantle (carriage and Eli Terry) clocks, but he also managed to turn a couple of bedroom suits out of that tiny shop. He worked for Southern Railway and eventually the Brotherhood of Railway Carmen, so he did a lot of traveling and sold to or gave away a lot of his (and my) clocks to acquaintances he made across the country. I made my first grandfather clock in 1975 followed by several that were sold or given away. Kids came along, my Dad died and my woodworking took a backseat. In 2006 I built a small shop and have spent more time in it since retiring in 2013. I continue to learn from websites such as Kev's and from other woodworkers. Although I prefer small projects like bandsaw boxes, Scrollsaw work, turned twig pots, etc. I occasionally do larger work. I'm currently working on a coffee table, end table and (soon) a farmhouse style dining table for my son who just moved into a new house. (Both our sons are in law enforcement). I look forward to learning and sharing - thanks again!