Retractable extension cord reels

[D45]

What are some good retractable extension cord reels?

I am sure the $500 reels are nice and all, but I need 2-3 for my shop and don't want to spend a ton, but don't want junk either

Harbor Freight, Northern Tool, Sears............?

Thanks

 

[MFolks]

http://www.rockler.com/search/go?w=extension cord reel&asug=&sli_uuid=&sli_sid= Is another place to look.

 

[ggoss]

I have one of the Harbor Freight ones (I think #66832, which has a triple tap and is yellow and metal), which I really like. It does have a 10A (or 15A?) circuit breaker on it though, so be aware of that (I can't really run my table saw on it, but for everything else, it's been great).

 

[bdamico]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=15889593

 

[WVBrady]

http://www.rockler.com/search/go?w=extension cord reel&asug=&sli_uuid=&sli_sid= Is another place to look.

I have the Rockler 12 ga. one and am quite satisfied with it. I read the reviews and saw that some people said that the return spring was weak. Mine is not; I do pick the cord up instead of letting it drag on the floor, but I do not have to push it back in. This is with residential use.

 

[bob from indiana]

Whatevet you do avoid Hubble! We built a shop at work and bought some. They are JUNK. They are rated comercial but we have had 8 of 14 fail so far. The cord ends will not hold a plug at all. Our jobber was in with the Hubble rep and he sent us some three outlet plug in adapters. This was their solution to a $200 cord reel being defective. Before we used cheap reels from Mcmaster-carr. They lasted several years and gave us good service.

 

[72Anthony]

I've had the Craftsman Professional 30' cord reel for about 7 or 8 years. It is the one with the black body and yellow 3 outlet cord.

I have no complaints, but it gets light use. When pulling out the cable it lays out pretty flat, the spring is strong when retracting the cable and the cable has never gotten caught up.

I would like to have a Reelcraft or Cox if I find a good deal, but I could live with two or three of these in the new shop.

 

[92integra]

i have no comment on the electrical cord ones but after using the auto retracting style of air hose i hate them. i would personally perfer a regular old hand crank style myself

 

[67carl]

I got this one at HD and it's been fantastic. Use it often and have had no problems. Very handy.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bayco-30...ractable-Reel-with-3-Outlets-FL-800/202195558

I put an "eye" screw (not sure name is correct) into a joist, clipped a carabiner to the reel and the eye hook. Good to go.

 

[shooting4life]

I picked this guy up for $100 on CL, so much nicer than stuff you find at HD/Sears. I would look for something of higher quality used

 

[paranoid56]

I've had the Craftsman Professional 30' cord reel for about 7 or 8 years. It is the one with the black body and yellow 3 outlet cord.

I have no complaints, but it gets light use. When pulling out the cable it lays out pretty flat, the spring is strong when retracting the cable and the cable has never gotten caught up.

I would like to have a Reelcraft or Cox if I find a good deal, but I could live with two or three of these in the new shop.

i have this one too, but i have found that the 3 outlet plug *****. will not hold any plug in anymore. after about a year of use, it *****. I need to cut that end off and replace it.

however, the spring and cord itself has worked great, no issues with those.

 

[Dave in Mass]

I got this one at HD and it's been fantastic. Use it often and have had no problems. Very handy.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bayco-30...ractable-Reel-with-3-Outlets-FL-800/202195558

I put an "eye" screw (not sure name is correct) into a joist, clipped a carabiner to the reel and the eye hook. Good to go.

I have two of these in my garage. Probably not commercial quality but they work great and are so handy when you just need to do soemthing quick....

 

[rmsg0040]

also look out for retractable extension reel lights, you could cut the light off and add a plug

 

[ggoss]

I got this one at HD and it's been fantastic. Use it often and have had no problems. Very handy.

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Bayco-30...ractable-Reel-with-3-Outlets-FL-800/202195558

I put an "eye" screw (not sure name is correct) into a joist, clipped a carabiner to the reel and the eye hook. Good to go.

Funny, that looks exactly like the HF one that I have.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

Walmart has them for $25 over with extension cords / drop lights. I was surprised to find them there and the unit is definitely light, but perfectly serviceable. I'm using this for a handy overhead outlet for droplights, grinder, etc. Nothing heavy duty and it's fine for my needs. I am thinking of adding a second one in the other garage bay. I keep forgetting the thing is up there but when I do, it sure is handy!

 

[Hpozzuoli]

HF hanging from my ceiling. No issues and works great. I don't remember the price. It has 3 outlets on the cord. All 3 prong.

 

[John in OH]

I've had the Craftsman Professional 30' cord reel for about 7 or 8 years. It is the one with the black body and yellow 3 outlet cord.

I have no complaints, but it gets light use. When pulling out the cable it lays out pretty flat, the spring is strong when retracting the cable and the cable has never gotten caught up.

I would like to have a Reelcraft or Cox if I find a good deal, but I could live with two or three of these in the new shop.

I've also got two of these Cman reels mounted on the ceiling of my shop and, so far, am quite satisfied. I also bought a Reelcraft unit that is also quite nice but is in a totally different league than the Cmans. There are several pics in my build thread at Post #117: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=98038&page=6

There's also a previous thread discussing reels that you may find helpful:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=189733

 

[Tejaas]

i have this one too, but i have found that the 3 outlet plug *****. will not hold any plug in anymore. after about a year of use, it *****. I need to cut that end off and replace it.



however, the spring and cord itself has worked great, no issues with those.

Slide an awl through each of the two prongs on the male plug your going to plug into the 3 way outlet!

Tightens the connection back up better than new!




~Tejaas~

WTB: Snap-On Orange Hard Handle SDD6 & SSDP63 in Very Good Condition!

 

[PFSard]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/search.php?searchid=15889593

I'm erroring out when I try this link. Do you know what the title of the thread is?

 

[srmofo]

also look out for retractable extension reel lights, you could cut the light off and add a plug

just make sure its not a fluorescent work light. Most of the ones Ive seen have the transformer on the outlet side so they can run smaller gauge wire out to the business end. Now the old ones are a different story but many of those already had an outlet on them just under the lamp

 

[sberry]

There can be problems with this. Not much of an issue in the sense that the operator is sposed to realize he is using a 16 cord. You see these on occasion with a reel and a quad, they are sposed to have a breaker on it if the load is unknown or ideally a 14 or better wire.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I'm surprised it hasn't come up yet, but remember that uniball motorized retractable commercial reel that was mentioned here on the forum last year? Saw it in several catalogs for a while, but now seems to have vanished entirely from public view. Not sure if it's still out there or not, but I do remember it was very expensive for what it offered.

 

[tsbrewers]

I think it is still out there, and gets great reviews, just too expensive and kinda awkward.

 

[FunkyfullWidth]

I looked around a little while ago for a few to hang from the ceiling. I'd rather have a single outlet end.

Do you guys ever have a need for 3 plug cord end??

 

[shooting4life]

I looked around a little while ago for a few to hang from the ceiling. I'd rather have a single outlet end.

Do you guys ever have a need for 3 plug cord end??

I set up my mobile work benches with a double gang box and a lead to plug into my electric reel or other outlet and then plug my tools into the gang box. I very rarely only use one tool if I am working on a project and doing it this way cuts down on multiple wires going to the reel. That and my reel is 25 feet and the lead is another 25 so I can get out to the end of my driveway with my mobile work bench.

 

[D45]

Bumping this up..........Menards has these on sale, and they fit inside their 15% OFF bags

http://www.menards.com/main/electri...le-tap-retractable-reel/p-1860975-c-13968.htm

Currently on sale for $29.99 plus another 15% off

•30' 14-3-gauge cord
•13 amps max

 

[srmofo]

Bumping this up..........Menards has these on sale, and they fit inside their 15% OFF bags

http://www.menards.com/main/electri...le-tap-retractable-reel/p-1860975-c-13968.htm

Currently on sale for $29.99 plus another 15% off

•30' 14-3-gauge cord
•13 amps max

Yup, I picked one up at that price. Coincidentally enough the ball gizmo that someone above was talking about is also on sale. I didnt pay much attention to it, but it was around $250 IIRC. They also have the 16 gauge reel as well for $21 if thats more your style

For me the the purpose of the 3 tap plug is not so you can run 3 things at once. Its so you can plug 3 things in at once. Ive noticed more times than I can count I will be switch an extension cord between the miter saw, circular saw, and router when working a project.