Extension cord storage-pro tips

[jrsavoie]

What DGersic said^

Give away all your cheap Big Box Store SJT extensions. Buy 100' of 16-3 SOOW, chop it into four 25' lengths. Put Leviton Python 15A Edisons (or equivalent) on both ends and coil, over-under. Velcro tie or trick line piggin strings. If you're working on a crew, demand they wrap over-under.

I throw 16-3 away. I try to only buy 12-3 or 10-3 extension cords.

Many years ago I made hand reels starting with 10" aluminum pipe for my welding lead, extension cords and torch hose.

You can wind up a bunch of cord, very quickly

 

[niget2002]

I have seen people do this weird braid with extension cords but never learned it myself.

We grew up doing this with water ski ropes. It worked really well and the ropes would unbraid themselves as the handle was let out.

 

[PoorUB]

What DGersic said^

Give away all your cheap Big Box Store SJT extensions. Buy 100' of 16-3 SOOW, chop it into four 25' lengths. Put Leviton Python 15A Edisons (or equivalent) on both ends and coil, over-under. Velcro tie or trick line piggin strings. If you're working on a crew, demand they wrap over-under.

16-3?? I won't buy a 16 guage cord. Too small for use with real power tools. I have one I bought 40 years ago and it is still in good condition as it never gets used. I bought it for a block heater for my truck when I lived in an apartemnt. Good enough for that. All my cords are 12-3.

 

[mslim]

Yeah I like 12-3 too. On mobile video shoots the 16 would handle what we needed. I don't have much need for 12-3 around the house with my ac power tools. If I've got a long run I'll use 12-3.

Main point I was trying to make was to stay away from sjt and molded plugs and roll your own.

 

[Dig Doug]

If you ever fall out of an airplane - make sure to drop one end of your extension cord…. It will get hung up on something!

That Never Fails !

lol

 

[CraigStu]

If you ever fall out of an airplane - make sure to drop one end of your extension cord…. It will get hung up on something!

That Never Fails !

lol

I just did that yesterday. Walling off a small room in the basement. Have an extension word w/ a multi outlet so there were 3 tools plugged into. Went to remove one of the tools and it's cord was different color than the others so easy to unplugg the correct one. Started tugging on the cord to get it out of the area and dang. The cord had wrapped around a 12 inch by 1/2 inch bit in the drill. Cleared that and tugged more and the 3ft piece of steel 1.5x1.5 angle that was propped in the corner fell over. Dang, if I wanted a cord wrapped around either one I could never in a million years make it happen, but it sure did fine on it's own. Last fall I was reeling up my 100ft outdoor cord on the orange reel. I had checked to make sure it was free because 40ft or so was around back of the house. I had made sure it wouldn't snag on the down spout and it pulled just fine around the corner but 3 more feet and it stopped. Dang if there wasn't one of those little root ends (I guess) sticking out of the ground about 2.5 inches but hidden in the grass. Couldn't make it do that in another million years.

 

[Sumboodie]

I use cordless tools, no extension cords, hardly ever need a cord.

Battery charger, block heater, diesel fired heater, lights, etc., etc.

 

[Sumboodie]

If you ever fall out of an airplane - make sure to drop one end of your extension cord…. It will get hung up on something!

That Never Fails !

lol

Usually it's about 4ft too short or 40 ft too long.

And a real joy trying to.put away a cord in the cold. Like trying to coil up a 2x4.
I usually end up raging and hucking it inside to thaw out.
"Arctic grade" my ***. When you can grab a 25ft cord at one end and the other end lifts up like it was a pipe, that's not arctic grade!

 

[whitesco]

I have seen people do this weird braid with extension cords but never learned it myself.

My dad taught me what I think you're talking about, or something similar. Not quite as nice as a braid but basically a ball of interconnected loops and when it's done you just pull on the end and it neatly unravels as much as you need.
Funny story about that: once in my mis-spent youth (say 16/17 ish) I was doing some community service for a speeding ticket which involved washing cleaning out (vacuuming) police cars. The drop cord was a wreck when I got it, so when I was done my already-burgeoning OCD flared up and I did the weave/loop ball thing. The cop was PISSED, he thought I had deliberately knotted the cord up so he said "OK smart***, now untangle that cord before you go. The look on his face when I smugly pulled the female end loose was worth the entire day of work I'd done for them.

 

[Garcky]

I like to coil them into a 5-gal. bucket. Easy to carry and easy to pull out.

 

[Farmerjonathan]

My dad was left handed, I am right handed, we always fought wrapping each other's extension cords or hoses up as it was reverse what it normally was rolled/wrapped/coiled up as.

 

[Jackfre]

I’m in the process of closing my shop as we move mid-Feb. Over the last few years the cords I go-to are the 6, 10 and 25’ers. My many 50’s are fine and heavy gauge, but management is as this thread points out problematic. Get shorter cords that fit the space you are working in.

 

[Garcky]

My dad was left handed, I am right handed, we always fought wrapping each other's extension cords or hoses up as it was reverse what it normally was rolled/wrapped/coiled up as.

Yup. they do take a "set" when they are coiled, and resist being coiled in the opposite direction.

 

[PoorUB]

Yup. they do take a "set" when they are coiled, and resist being coiled in the opposite direction.

That "set" is caused from how the cord is twisted when manufactured.

 

[jpaw]

I coil mine in milk crates. Like a 5gal bucket but I find them much easier to manage. And a piece of cardboard between each cord makes it easy to see and grab which one you need.

 

[cpttuna]

I have three extension cords i use with my generator. I have them wrapped and tied to the generator. It is easy to grab one one of them if I'm in a hurry and need an extension cord. I make it difficult to get one of them to ensure they are available when the generator is used.

 

[Mike65]

I also use the 5 gal bucket idea in my garage/shop for 2 long cords.

 

[PhantomEB]

One of each specified lengths, 6’, 12‘, 20’, and my gf’s 100. The 20 is in the back corner over the pressure washer, with the 220 cords. The 100 can fk off and live in the shed. The 6 and 12 get moved here and there and just hung on something thats available at the time.

 

[bb29510]

extenstion cords, water hose, air hose,, just prove gods sick sense of humor, just drag one across the yard and see

 

[67carl]

Wish I'd seen this thread when it was started. I finally got fed up dealing with multiple cords while working in the backyard so I got this today. 75 ft of 12 gauge wire and 4 receptacles. I'll give it a go tomorrow.