Garden hose brass fittings and connectors

[Watchman]

We use the garden hose a lot - to wash cars, to (gently) wash the dog and our boots after a walk, and the kids use it for fun (even though Spring hasn't really taken much of a hold yet).

I've been consistently disappointed with the Hozelock branded kit, even though it's probably the best of the plastic goods out there. We are quite hard on our hose gear - we all drop it onto hard surfaces, it stands out in the direct sunshine, and on the occasions when we have a properly cold snap it just cracks. And the straw that broke the camel's back was when I drove over the spray gun - yeah, even Hozelock can't survive 2.5 tonnes.

So, I bought a load of cheap brass fittings from Ebay and Amazon (incredibly cheap, if I may say). So far it seems pretty decent. I had to use my plumbing wrenches to properly screw the hose connectors tight because the knurled rings don't give quite as much leverage as the finger-cut-outs of the plastic stuff, however it has survived our abuse for a few months with hardly a scratch.

It's not very compatible with the plastic stuff though. Mostly the connections between brass and plastic leak, or they fail to lock-on altogether but that's OK because I've replaced nearly all of the plastic kit with brass equivalents. But I am missing a few items like a decent sprinkler (more for the kids' and dog's fun that for actually watering the garden) and one of those rotating multi-spray guns.

Anyone got any recommendations? I've seen a few of the spray guns with brass connectors and plastic bodies which I don't want.

[8-P]

I bought Gardena hose fitments and got rid of all my other stuff, Hozelock included which I dont think is that great. The Gardena stuff is more expensive, but has a lot more metal in it than plastic and its all good so far. B and Q sell it or did.

http://www.gardena.com/uk/water-management/hose-co...

I also hate the yellow look, the yellow tap connector has gone, I now have grey.

Its German, which sometimes means better quality too.

[Watchman]

Ooh, that kit does look nice. Available on Amazon too and it doesn't seem any more expensive than Hozelock.

I think I've found a mostly-metal spray gun. Doesn't come with a quick release connector but I have a few spares (this brass stuff is pennies) so I've just ordered one.

[S6PNJ]

Watchman said:

....this brass stuff is pennies...

Where are you buying from please?

[Watchman]

eBay and Amazon

[ladderino]

Agree. Got rid of the plastic stuff, and thought I'd just plump with this to see if it was any good -
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Brass-Garden-Hose-S...

Didn't need the hose, but believe at the time it was cheaper to get this than the connectors separately.

All still going strong after 3 years, the plastic connectors would typically last a year at best.

[stevensdrs]

I'm using brass fittings on some of my stuff. I think I got them from Aldi or Lidl, and yes they are cheap but effective. I haven't experienced any leaking between brass and plastic fittings.

[Watchman]

ladderino said:

Agree. Got rid of the plastic stuff, and thought I'd just plump with this to see if it was any good -
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Brass-Garden-Hose-S...

Didn't need the hose, but believe at the time it was cheaper to get this than the connectors separately.

All still going strong after 3 years, the plastic connectors would typically last a year at best.

That's the kit I just bought off Ebay for about a pound less - English supplier. I think lots of suppliers are badging the same kit as their own.

I bought a couple of extra female "water stop" connectors from China so I expect they'll be with me in a month, and I also bought six extra male connectors, half with inner and half with outer threads for various other applications. Each was less than £1.

I also ordered a standard spray gun made from brass for a fiver, and then I saw that multi-spray gun so I ordered that too.

I just need a fancy sprinkler now for the kids and dog to play with. Something that's not too powerful and maybe something they can "dodge" as they play.

[Twig62]

ladderino said:

Agree. Got rid of the plastic stuff, and thought I'd just plump with this to see if it was any good -
http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Brass-Garden-Hose-S...

Didn't need the hose, but believe at the time it was cheaper to get this than the connectors separately.

All still going strong after 3 years, the plastic connectors would typically last a year at best.

Wilkinsons sell a similar set for £7.00

[swisstoni]

Hoselock themselves do a more expensive range of connectors with more metal in them and generally better spec.
Have proved pretty robust and reliable.
I've used the brass stuff in the past and have been annoyed with the poor fit.

[8-P]

I had an all metal gun, it didn't survive being left outside all winter. I don't leave any hose guns outside in winter now

[fido]

8-P said:

I had an all metal gun, it didn't survive being left outside all winter. I don't leave any hose guns outside in winter now

That, keep all the gubbins inside during winter - problem solved. You wouldn't leave your £200 pressure washer outside, for the same reason.

Edited by fido on Sunday 19th March 22:16

[Watchman]

fido said:

That, keep all the gubbins inside during winter - problem solved. You wouldn't leave your £200 pressure washer outside, for the same reason.

Edited by fido on Sunday 19th March 22:16

Right.


But this is 5 quid of stuff - so not really comparable.

[Watchman]

swisstoni said:

Hoselock themselves do a more expensive range of connectors with more metal in them and generally better spec.
Have proved pretty robust and reliable.
I've used the brass stuff in the past and have been annoyed with the poor fit.

I bought a couple of the Hozelock metal connectors but they didn't last as long as the plastic ones. The one connected to the tap leaked from the off, and the "water stop" one at the other end broke because we throw stuff around.

The brass stuff fits perfectly to other brass stuff but not to the plastic. It either leaks or springs apart. To connect the brass connectors to the hose itself, you have to really wind the up with tools. Bare hands can't get anything like the required leverage.

[wolfracesonic]

I'm about to order some hose bits 'n pieces and have decided to go for the Geka fittings: You have to use Jubilee clips initially but once they're on, they're on. Fed up with crappy Hozelock type stuff


(

[Watchman]

I looked at those too but i wasn't sure if get the small range of products i wanted. The way they latch together looks properly industrial. Let us know how you get on with them.

[mostlyharmless]

The brass stuff is cheaper at Toolstation and they sell bits individually too.

http://www.toolstation.com/search?searchstr=brass+...

[wolfracesonic]

Watchman said:

I looked at those too but i wasn't sure if get the small range of products i wanted. The way they latch together looks properly industrial. Let us know how you get on with them.

I have used them before and they are pretty bullet proof: They may not be ideal if you're constantly swapping fittings/hose guns etc and you do have to let the pressure out of the hose to disconnect them but other than that not many drawbacks, even the rubber washers are replaceable.

[dmsims]