A Real Cord Reel

[Tarheelgarage]

http://standardus.com/stdshop/electric-light-reels/

Reelcraft and General Manufacturing both make nice products (steel or plastic, depending on your preference).

The conversation about flourescent vs incandescent hits home, however..We just sold a guy a Rotary MACH 4 Portable Lift (74,000 lbs capacity, REALLY cool) for his truck repair facility and he dropped his incandescent on the floor under the vehicle he was working on. Unfortunately, the truck had a fuel leak and the puddle caught fire and burned down his shop! Insurance is arguing that incandescent lights don't belong in a vehicle maintenance facility (OSHA doesn't approve apparently) so they are fighting paying the bill for the replacement.

Some of the LED lights that are out are pretty good, I think he'll buy those next time..

Finally, someone who understands that incandescent drop lights are a fire hazard and do not below in a shop

Our shop does not permit the use of any incandescent drops lights in the shopfloor area. Partly due to what happend to a local Caddy dealer about 20 years ago: A 2 year old Caddy, on a lift, developed a fuel leak which hit the incandescent bulb and started a fire which burned the place to the ground in just a matter of minutes.

 

[eugz]

i want one! very cool, wonder if i could convert to 240 volt for australia

 

[Chukster]

Couple years ago Northern Tool had a 'special' on cord-reels; inexpensively made, blue plastic case, with tri-tap like bugnout shows; I bought it for less than 50 bucks, as an early father's day present to myself Had always wanted one since I moved into a house with a two-car garage. It does the job, but the return spring is a little weak so doesn't always rewind well. Heavy sigh; really wish now I had invested a few more dollars. :-(

 

[qwaszxpolkmncvb]

Ha! Exact reel hanging in my garage. Still used all the time...

and under the same "they don't make em like they used to" catagory is our garage door opener. Mfg in 1977 according to the sticker inside the remotes. Both origional remotes just recently died about 6 months ago. But the opener is still used daily in our garage and works perfectly. Not to bad for 35 years old! lol!

I just sealed the deal on a Sears opener just like that tonight. Can't wait to get it home tomorrow evening. I repair garage doors and openers for a living and I can tell you the difference in manufacturing quality is night and day compared to newer models. I'm super excited about having it. My door is a old heavy gauge sectional with stretch springs so I'll definitely converting to torsion springs. I've also enjoyed reading about the drop lights. Definitely something I'll be getting soon and a great idea.

 

[Matt M PA]

I have two of the Craftsman reels on the back wall of my garage. I've had one of them so long that I don't remember when I got it.

I've cut the three outlet plug off both and replaced it with a heady duty single outlet. It's rare I need three on the end of the extension and I found the three outlet seemed to get n the way.

 

[PECVD2]

Picked up this Cordomatic 900 today for $3. I love the look and had been looking for one since Ryan first posted this a few years back. Thanks Ryan and GJ for making me aware of this great tool with a cool retro look.

 

[ARCTIC_RAGTOP]

Finally, someone who understands that incandescent drop lights are a fire hazard and do not below in a shop

Our shop does not permit the use of any incandescent drops lights in the shopfloor area. Partly due to what happend to a local Caddy dealer about 20 years ago: A 2 year old Caddy, on a lift, developed a fuel leak which hit the incandescent bulb and started a fire which burned the place to the ground in just a matter of minutes.

Been there done that - will never see an incandescent light in my shop. The old fuel line near trouble light story.

 

[sberry]

I agree, these old suckers should be plugged in to gfci.

 

[PECVD2]

Been there done that - wimost home centers see an incandescent light in my shop. The old fuel line near trouble light story.

Great point but
Just in case you haven't heard

There are amazing 5K/75Watt LED bulbs available at most home centers to alleviate any concerns and provide bright white light and are incredibly robust

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I've been happy with my Craftsman for years now. I haven't experienced any of the 'mishaps' you see in the plastic ball ad.

I've got the exact same Craftsman reel with the triple outlet end piece and it's been great. I've had it for roughly five years now and can't imagine life without it. While I'd certainly love a nice Reelcraft I just can't justify the prices I've seen (new or used).

-Brian

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I've been happy with my Craftsman for years now. I haven't experienced any of the 'mishaps' you see in the plastic ball ad.

I have the same Craftsman reel, but with an incandescant service light on the end. it has low grade plastic cord that doesn't rewind well unless it's hot out. I may restring it with SJOOW some day. My Uncle gave it to me when I bought the house, so I can't bear to just replace it.

Tommy

 

[Mark in Indiana]

All,
I just stumbled on this thread.

Here is a picture of my Appleton Electric drop light. I installed it after bringing it home, a few years ago.

The rest of the pictures are of an Appleton AE22 Reelite explosion proof cord reel. I just finished rewiring it, and have been using it.

Both are old and VERY HEAVY DUTY.
Does anyone know how old they are?
Thanks in advance.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

All,
I just stumbled on this thread.

Here is a picture of my Appleton Electric drop light. I installed it after bringing it home, a few years ago.

The rest of the pictures are of an Appleton AE22 Reelite explosion proof cord reel. I just finished rewiring it, and have been using it.

Both are old and VERY HEAVY DUTY.
Does anyone know how old they are?
Thanks in advance.

Very cool. No idea on the age. Just FYI, whomever was using the Reelite before you must not have been really using it in a hazardous location. True explosion proof equipment is all hardwired, no standard plugs are allowed.

Tommy

 

[Mark in Indiana]

Very cool. No idea on the age. Just FYI, whomever was using the Reelite before you must not have been really using it in a hazardous location. True explosion proof equipment is all hardwired, no plugs are allowed.

Tommy

You're correct. I bought it at an estate auction. The supply side was hard wired. The cord on the reel was 16 gauge, had a cord end that looked from the 1950s, and had bad insulation. I replaced the cord on the reel with 39' of 14-3 cord and installed a 6' length of 12-3 cord for the supply side so it could be plugged in and used at an average garage. I just used it yesterday to power a saw.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

h

You're correct. I bought it at an estate auction. The supply side was hard wired. The cord on the reel was 16 gauge, had a cord end that looked from the 1950s, and had bad insulation. I replaced the cord on the reel with 39' of 14-3 cord and installed a 6' length of 12-3 cord for the supply side so it could be plugged in and used at an average garage. I just used it yesterday to power a saw.

It's a cool piece, for sure. I have a Crouse-Hinds/Northern Electric explosionproof telephone I rescued from the trash at the Pharma company I worked for. Eventually I want to run a phone line out to the garage and hook it up.

This isn't mine, but it's almost identical:




Tommy

 

[ssdave]

I got one from a yard sale this summer:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=573386&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1470539710

 

[L5wolvesf]

I would love to see pics of the insides, particularly the rewind mech. I have one that needs to be fixed or rewired and not sure how to get it apart without it unspringing (yeah its a word . . . now) on me and all over. Thanks

 

[Mark in Indiana]

I would love to see pics of the insides, particularly the rewind mech. I have one that needs to be fixed or rewired and not sure how to get it apart without it unspringing (yeah its a word . . . now) on me and all over. Thanks

L5,
Which reel are you asking about?

 

[poppinjohnnies]

I have a real bad case of reel envy!

 

[eastbaysubaru]

I have the same Craftsman reel, but with an incandescant service light on the end. it has low grade plastic cord that doesn't rewind well unless it's hot out. I may restring it with SJOOW some day. My Uncle gave it to me when I bought the house, so I can't bear to just replace it.

Tommy

I have the same one as well and it's been great. It's nice having the triple outlet. Living in California I haven't had issues with the cord being too stiff though I could see that being an issue in colder climates.

-Brian

 

[L5wolvesf]

I would love to see pics of the insides, particularly the rewind mech. I have one that needs to be fixed or rewired and not sure how to get it apart without it unspringing (yeah its a word . . . now) on me and all over. Thanks

A Bayco Model 851, 125v, 6.4 amp, 800 watts

Thank you

 

[wes73]

So yesterday I gave you the latest in expensive plastic technology and cord reels. Today, I give you old ****... I mean, vintage cord reels that have stood the test of ti...
To read the rest of this blog entry from The Garage Journal, click here.

I have that exact same cord reel at the cabin. I had it laying around the garage for awhile and finally took it up last year.

 

[bimmer1980]

I'm in the process of wiring up this Appleton cord reel. It is a really nice cord reel. Nice and heavy duty.

I got it on craigslist for $15! I did have to cut the cord off and wire on a new female end....due to the cord being frayed around the cord stop. The original Hubbell Quad end had one of the bakelite outlets cracked, so that assembly was replace with a single cord plug.

I'm ready for the wiring to be done so I can use it!!

An air hose reel is going to go right next to it..... that is the next step.....

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I just picked up a Cordomatic 900. The female end is missing but the rest of the cord looks good. Should it be ok to just replace the 3 wire female end or does everyone think I should just replace the entire cord?

 

[Stuart in MN]

I'd just replace the plug, replacing the entire cord on those things will be a fair amount of work.

 

[Tgbrendoni]

Just saw one for sale, seller asking $18. Decided to pass as it was scratched like somebody dragged it along the floor. :shake head:

Still need to mount the one I bought last year, a hefty one. My eyes popped when I saw one recently on a fire truck:

 

[Zeeman]

Are any of you Cordomatic guys still keeping up with this thread? I finally got my Cordomatic 800 to work electrically, but it does not retract well. Any suggestions on the exact way to tighten the spring? Thanks.

 

[iamrfixit]

I've got four of these reels made by Conductix, they're heavy duty industrial reels. A friend and I bought quite a few of them from a guy at a local swap meet over the course of several years. The vendor worked at the place they were made. He picked up the warranty returns or ship damaged units and repaired them. Paid around $100 each, they retail for many times that. Use two in my shop and two in the garage at my house. Been using them for probably 20 years. Couple of them have 50' of 12 ga cable, one has about 30' of 10 ga, the one with the trouble light has about 50' of 14 ga. Use them every day and I'd be lost without them. Also have a couple of these same brand as air hose reels.