How do you store your extension cords?

[smedly]

Coiled up and velcro tied in a lateral file cabinet drawer along with other bulky items.
Once I got my ceiling mounted cord reel I hardly ever use the other cords anymore.

 

[portcity]

Post a pic up of your house lit up!

heres a few, last night before teardown so some are out. dont have a video,but they dance to music

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Ok, this thread made me realize how sloppy my extension cords were/are so I took a quick trip over to Harbor Freight and bought a roll of Velcro 35 ft long for only..I think it was $5.99 or $6.99. Cut 1 ft. lengths off for the long cords and about 8" long for the shorter cords. I STILL don't like how they look stuck out in the open like this but as my garage reset goes forward I'll find another place to put them that is out of sight.

Here's what I bought:
<a href="http://s832.photobucket.com/albums/zz242/DaninPasadena/Garage%20Photos/My%20Garage/?action=view&current=ExtensionCordVelcro.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz242/DaninPasadena/Garage%20Photos/My%20Garage/ExtensionCordVelcro.jpg" border="0" alt="Extension Cord Velcro"></a>

Here's how it looks a LITTLE more neat:
<a href="http://s832.photobucket.com/albums/zz242/DaninPasadena/Garage%20Photos/My%20Garage/?action=view&current=ExtensionCordOrganization.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz242/DaninPasadena/Garage%20Photos/My%20Garage/ExtensionCordOrganization.jpg" border="0" alt="Extension Cord Organization"></a>

Sorry for the crappy cell phone pictures.

 

[Wingnut65]

Thanks Dan for the photos. The HF Velcro may work. I'm thinking it may need a stitch or two or some glue to keep the velcro on the cords all the time. I keep loosing the string that I tie mine up with. I may use some of these ides, but behind doors or in forthcoming cabinets.

ahaidet, where did you get these cool ties? They look like they may be more expensive than my ball of strin, but they are neat and can be color coordinated for cord lengths.

Because some tools come with very short cords I purchased several 8 foot 12gauge "work shop" cords as they are called. I tie them up with these velcro wire ties:

I have 2 of these cords stored like this that I keep with my corded power tools.

Thanks for the great input. Keep 'em coming...

jeff

 

[leftyz]

Thanks Dan for the photos. The HF Velcro may work. I'm thinking it may need a stitch or two or some glue to keep the velcro on the cords all the time. I keep loosing the string that I tie mine up with. I may use some of these ides, but behind doors or in forthcoming cabinets.

ahaidet, where did you get these cool ties? They look like they may be more expensive than my ball of strin, but they are neat and can be color coordinated for cord lengths.


Thanks for the great input. Keep 'em coming...

jeff

You can get those at office depot, not really heavy duty, designed for smaller cords...

I use them for my computer and home theater cord management.

http://www.officedepot.com/a/products/311888/VELCRO-Brand-Cord-Management-Straps-8/

 

[nathank]

If anyone wants a smoking deal on those velcro straps, scroll about halfway down this page.

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=105&cp_id=10520

 

[Dan in Pasadena]

Thanks Dan for the photos. The HF Velcro may work. I'm thinking it may need a stitch or two or some glue to keep the velcro on the cords all the time. I keep loosing the string that I tie mine up with. I may use some of these ides, but behind doors or in forthcoming cabinets.

ahaidet, where did you get these cool ties? They look like they may be more expensive than my ball of strin, but they are neat and can be color coordinated for cord lengths.


Thanks for the great input. Keep 'em coming...

jeff

Jeff, I hadn't thought about finding a way to keep the Velcro strips physically on the cord it wrapped. They will stick together so I suppose I could just wrap them around and around the cord when I was actually using the cord. What I bought at HF is almost exactly the same as the bulk rolls shown on the link that nathank provided. Of course the OCD side of my personality likes the color coded strips...though I don't know WHY you'd need to color code long cords from short cords, etc?

Also, I will search for a picture, but HF also had some really big 2" wide padded strips with Velcro on them that had metal hooks that would be good for really, really long/heavy cords. They also show them or hanging bicyclces (for example) upside down from the rafters of your garages.

 

[gahrajmahal]

I think I am going to get one of these once my garage is back together (currently epoxying the floor).

+ 2 for the Wonder Winder. I've had mine about 8 years now with 25 ft. cord inside. Its the first cord I grab. Everyone should have one of these!

 

[Ender-DI]

Love the Cable Cuff. Cheap and easy:

 

[tube_guy]

I normally coil an extension cord up, like a rope, then wrap the loose end a few times around the coil to hold the coil together. Then I pass a bite of the free end through and then around the top portion of the coil. Similar to what's shown in this video.

http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-coil-line-sailing-53442/view/

Nothing extra required to hold the coil together that way and they take up very little space.

 

[rockchucker]

^ I use those sometimes but they are easily broken when piling stuff up or tossing the Cord on the ground.

All of my Cords and Hoses have a 16"-24" piece of soft Poly Rope attached to the Male End of the Cord. Everything gets rolled up with one full arm's length loops. Big loops. Then the Ends get plugged together and the Poly Rope gets tied around the whole thing with a quick release knot.


OK...I will admit it. I am so freakin' **** about my Cords and Hoses I will not even let my workers roll them up for me. All it takes is one time of an idiot rolling up a perfectly "Trained" Hose or Cord to ruin it. No it doesn't ruin it but it makes it a PITA to roll up in a fashionable manner later on down the road.

 

[ahaidet]

Thanks Dan for the photos. The HF Velcro may work. I'm thinking it may need a stitch or two or some glue to keep the velcro on the cords all the time. I keep loosing the string that I tie mine up with. I may use some of these ides, but behind doors or in forthcoming cabinets.

ahaidet, where did you get these cool ties? They look like they may be more expensive than my ball of strin, but they are neat and can be color coordinated for cord lengths.


Thanks for the great input. Keep 'em coming...

jeff

I got mine at Lowes... but Monoprice would be a good choice as well. I have ordered alot of stuff from Monoprice for home theater and computer stuff and they are great.

The ones I use in the garage are not multicolor. I have black and grey ones. Search for One-Wrap straps on Lowes website they have several different sizes and colors available.

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay...542&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=sim&rel=nofollow

50 for $5.. isnt bad. I think I found them in the closet/organization/shelving/ rubbermaid container area.

We use them at work for all our data aquisition equipment and we have miles of cables that we use in some pretty rough situations (think vehicle testing) they hold up very well. I put them on most of my power tools, computer cables, AV equipment, you name it...

 

[BetterDays]

Day to day cords- coiled and hung on the wall.

Christmas cords - "heavy" cords (ie - landscape cords) and power stakes in one bin, "light" cords (indoor extension cords used outside) in another bin

 

[IH82BL8]

I have a 2-car garage with 2 of these hanging from the ceiling. They each have a outlet on them.

 

[mister honey]

These are the best; I have three.

http://www.simplygoodstuff.com/cordpro.html

If you use a higher amperage tool, be sure to uncoil the cord!

I cooked one unit as the cord heated up and melted some insulation.

I later found the disclaimer/warning in the instructions!

Mike

 

[Jack Olsen]

Cordpro video:

http://www.cordpro.com/video.html

 

[whelenfan]

i coil mine and then tie them with old string (usually old boot strings) and then store them in old milk crates.

 

[rartuin270]

i use big mig welding spools.

 

[xJoey Dubsx]

Spare wheels!

 

[logical]

Spare wheels!

Exactly..I used to find all kinds of ways to wrap and tie them up like Christmas present bows but I don't want to have to solve a velcro rubiks cube every time I want to use them. These are some $10 each craigslist ATV alluminum wheels that cleaned up pretty well.

 

[e-tek]

Exactly..I used to find all kinds of ways to wrap and tie them up like Christmas present bows but I don't want to have to solve a velcro rubiks cube every time I want to use them. These are some $10 each craigslist ATV alluminum wheels that cleaned up pretty well.

Me LIKEY!!! Cool for the garage!

 

[mustangmccance]

I like my wonder winder.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00005A1K1/?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have 2 of them and a couple extra attaching bases. For the ones that I use outside I took some old ubolts that I had laying around and welded them into an s shape and the make great big strong hooks.
the one hanging on the hook next to the wonder winder was just hung there until I finished building my cabinet by the door. now it hangs in there.

I also have this retractible one in the wood shop section.

 

[mustangmccance]

I see a couple other people mentioned the wonder winder as well. I should point out to the op that they come with 2 bases so you anchor one of the bases outside near the outlet and the other inside. then you just disconnect it from the base and hook it up outside. it sure makes short work of coiling up a 100 foot cord. I rarely use any other extension cords anymore.

 

[MajorLeeGassole]

Sorry to revive such an old thread, but I was searching for how you keep it knot free. I ran across this video since I finally remembered to look it up. Works great and you can still hang it. I already had to undo it and retie it twice cuz I actually had to use it tonight.

 

[ssathre]

Sorry to revive such an old thread, but I was searching for how you keep it knot free. I ran across this video since I finally remembered to look it up. Works great and you can still hang it. I already had to undo it and retie it twice cuz I actually had to use it tonight.

My dad drilled this into me when I was a kid. it seemed like a lot of work 35 years ago but it's saved 35 years of un tangling messes and it's really not that hard to do. great for storage as well, just hang them from the knotted end or fold them up and throw them in a tote with all the other cords.

 

[cnc-me]

On spring loaded reels.

 

[BBQ&Love]

Most of my cords are #12. I have a couple #14 cords that I got for free and I use them only for lights or my dog clippers. Anything else goes on a #12. I probably have 500' total of #12 cords from my days as a plumbing contractor.

I roll them up in a figure 8 on my arm, then match the loose end to the captive end and wrap the loop around the bundle. The last thing is slipping the end of the loop over the bundle. Nice compact package that will never tangle.

To hang them I typically use a 3/4" pipe flange and a 3/4"x18" pipe ******, mounted on a 2/4 somewhere in my shop. Just slip the cord over the pipe.

When transporting I just throw them in a box, crate, or bucket. Wrapped the way I do they are compact and never tangle.

 

[slickgt1]

I have slot wall. So put in a 12" hook, and hang a bunch of cords on it no problem.

 

[dittle fart around]

Got a 99 cent hose hanger from Harbor Freight mounted near an outlet I leave my extension cords plugged in and pull off what I need. A great way to keep cords untangled is to never buy any thing but 12 gauge round cords.

 

[cashishift]

Saw this at the home show:

http://www.cordpro.com/

I bought 3 of them.. They work GREAT. Although there is one downside.. I bought one and my 3 outlet 12/3 cord head doesn't fit in there.. the entire cord does.. but the head does not. no big deal to me though.

 

[BlindViper]

I have 1 100ft 10ga cord on a garden hose hanger. I have another 100ft 10ga on the wall. I have a 75ft 12 or 14 ga on a reel that has 4 plugs on the center of it. I also have 2 25ft 12ga that have 3way taps on the end. These 2 get rolled up and I use the velcro that they came with.

 

[slickgt1]

I have a 2-car garage with 2 of these hanging from the ceiling. They each have a outlet on them.

I also have 2 of these. 50' each. In the garage, I never use anything else. You pull out what you need, it locks, and it self/spring winds. Absolutely the best extensions I have.

 

[luv2diy]

Sorry to revive such an old thread, but I was searching for how you keep it knot free. I ran across this video since I finally remembered to look it up. Works great and you can still hang it. I already had to undo it and retie it twice cuz I actually had to use it tonight.

THANK YOU!! I remember seeing someone do this years ago and failed to ask how. Been on my mind over the years!

 

[jeffmoss26]

This was my setup the past 5 years at the University of Toledo Student Union. I was in charge of sound and lighting for events, as well as day to day stuff. This was probably the easiest way to keep things organized, every cable type has its own hook (s)

Small cords were coiled up and put in a desk drawer.

This is an old pic, but I made sure everything was coiled over-under. Worked a lot of football and basketball games gripping for video as well as working with some old time sound guys. It really got ingrained in me!!

 

[lilredex]

Like this, then you can hang them on a hook, old wheel....whatever.



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They are known as "Ball Bungees" and are available at tent/market booth vendors. Got mine at PAL.

 

[jeffmoss26]

Oh, I forgot to mention, every cable in our inventory had a blue velro tie on it to wrap the cable up. I had to replace most of them 2-3 times a year cause they got worn out! I wanted to use tie line like the theaters and sound companies use but my boss wanted velcro ties...