What's A Good Water Hose Nozzle?

B

Bruise Lee

Joined
Aug 4, 2002
Messages
363
I've gone through a lot of these in my lifetime. Mainly I've used them to wash the cars, water the lawn, blast crap off the side of the house or the driveway, etc. I'm sure the same exact stuff all of you have done a thousand times.

Every single one I've used has turned out to be crap. I had the silver pistol style one that leaked and broke. I had a plastic version of the same which leaked and broke. I had a metal one clad in rubber with the rotating turret for different spray settings that leaked and broke.

I had a brass one - the kind that looks kinda like a smaller version of a fire hose - ya, it failed, too. I could go on and on, but you get the idea.

So, does anyone out there have a water hose nozzle they actually like? That will actually last a few years without breaking or leaking? I'm actually willing to spend some money on this purchase, because I'm sick and tired of the crappy things leaking and breaking. I'm also sick and tired of using my thumb in the hose, but at least it's reliable!

About the only requirement other than reliability is the the thing have an adjustable spray pattern.

Bruise
 
I've had good service from my Gilmour nozzle. You can lock it on for extended washing, or when you roll the hose up and don't desire water to be left in the hose. The spray varies by pressure on the grip, from mist to a great pin-point stream. Made in USA, and a lifetime warranty though I've never had to use it.
 
Hi Bruise Lee-

If your solid brass nozzle with no moving parts failed...you must be particularly demanding on garden equipment. Are you sure this couldn't have been fixed with the installation of a new rubber washer for under $0.10 in cost or did you actually break the brass?

~ Blue Jays ~
 
I don't use a hose all that much but I have brass nozzles at least 50 years old .I can't imagine they will ever wear out or break !!
 
I'm guessing that Bruise Lee means something like the nozzle pictured below, which twists to change stream type.

800.jpg


I could be wrong though, and in that case :foot: !
 
Try The Ultimate Hose Nozzle. We use these in the firehouse to wash the rigs. It blasts the dirt and grime off. I also use the stainless steel model at home. I've had my current nozzle for 5 years. :D :thumbup:
 
Bruise said:
Tricon nozzles ! These appeared in the '60's & were the best ever. I saw my first at a truck-stop. It was used in washing semi-'s & trailers. Forceful stream & could be adjusted to water delicate flowers. Material was some type of casting & it took a lot of abuse.


Uncle Alan
Click to expand...
 
Blue Jays said:
If your solid brass nozzle with no moving parts failed...you must be particularly demanding on garden equipment. Are you sure this couldn't have been fixed with the installation of a new rubber washer for under $0.10 in cost or did you actually break the brass?

~ Blue Jays ~
Click to expand...

Mine was like the one GG_Blaisdell pictures - as you can see it did have moving parts. I don't think it would be possible to engineer an adjustable stream water nozzle without some sort of moving parts.

I don't think I'm hard on my equipment - I'm actually a bit surprised to hear that people here have gotten such good service out of their water nozzles.

Ken, that Ultimate Hose Nozzle looks good. Do you use the aluminum version at your firehouse? What made you pick the stainless steel version for your home?

The only bad thing I can think of is I'm not sure I should leave a high quality nozzle like that attached to my outside garden hose. I live in Los Angeles, and it seems like everything that isn't a POS or nailed down gets stolen!

Bruise
 
Bruise,
Forget hose nozzles and use your thumb over the end of the hose end.Infinitely variable spray stream. :rolleyes:
Good advice above.:thumbup:
Doug
 
We use steel at the firehouse. I like the extra heft of the stainless steel model.
 
donovan said:
Ken, can you neck that down to a mist for watering flowers?

Jack
Click to expand...

You can get a solid stream which has great reach and blasting power as well as a gentle slow shower to water your petunias.
 
K.V. Collucci said:
Try The Ultimate Hose Nozzle. We use these in the firehouse to wash the rigs. It blasts the dirt and grime off. I also use the stainless steel model at home. I've had my current nozzle for 5 years. :D :thumbup:
Click to expand...

I hate that thing. The whackers at my firehouse stuck it on the garden hose we use for washing the rigs. Having to use 2 hands to adjust the stream is just a pain in the ass.
 
victory said:
I hate that thing. The whackers at my firehouse stuck it on the garden hose we use for washing the rigs. Having to use 2 hands to adjust the stream is just a pain in the ass.
Click to expand...

Well, you are entitled to your opinion. I like the fact that I can wash 90% of the grime off of the rig before I scrub it. Having to adjust the stream is no big deal. I do it with an Elkhart fire nozzle so it's no problem for me.
 
victory said:
I hate that thing. The whackers at my firehouse stuck it on the garden hose we use for washing the rigs. Having to use 2 hands to adjust the stream is just a pain in the ass.
Click to expand...
What's a good nozzle you can adjust the stream with using only one hand? I guess the pistol type you can kind of consider one hand adjustable. But, how long can you keep your hand frozen in one position in relation to the lever you have to squeeze? It takes two hands on those to twist the brass screw and flip the metal wire to lock the lever in place.

Bruise
 
Bruise Lee said:
What's a good nozzle you can adjust the stream with using only one hand? I guess the pistol type you can kind of consider one hand adjustable. But, how long can you keep your hand frozen in one position in relation to the lever you have to squeeze? It takes two hands on those to twist the brass screw and flip the metal wire to lock the lever in place.

Bruise
Click to expand...


These are pistol shaped,easy adjust & are one handed operating . They have a lock to hold the stream after you adjust it.

Great back then & should continue to be.

Uncle [ stone ager ] Alan:D
 
I have the Ultimate Hose Nozzle in aluminum and I love it! I've had it for almost two years and I have no regrets. I can always get a powerful stream of water from it, or a big soaking "shower" as well. It's got much better flow than the pistol-style nozzles. I bought a second one to leave in my car trunk so I can use it anywhere. :p

Last week I noticed the nozzle started leaking a bit when "shut off". I took it apart with a hex key (as in the instructions), cleaned out the gunk inside, re-greased with some Radio Shack General Purpose Lube (with teflon), and it's as good as new again. :D
 
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