storing cord

[FredWanaker]

bought 250 feet of paracord to hang some shade cloth over some camellias we have. Sun is too much when combined with 100F+ temps and the right sun angle. What a mess getting the cord unwrapped the way they package it. So afterwards I decided I had to store the excess 100' or so in a way that would not get all tangled again. Storing it in a bucket like waterski rope works but it takes up too much space that way. Looked online for solutions. Then it hit me - common cardboard, the thick stuff some things come in. Cut a piece shaped sort of like an H out of the cardboard and wind up the line on it. Worked perfectly, cost nothing but a minute or two to make. I guess one could make it out of anything rigid they could cut but cardboard was the easiest. Cut a small slot to store the end.

 

[Barnabas]

Cardboard is a great solution. Sometimes I use one of the plastic cord winders for extension cords. Something like this is only $6. https://www.lowes.com/pd/Southwire-...x1INrBa6d6bx2nxQ5hxoCARwQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[PCustoms]

100' of 1/8" cord wraps from hand to my elbow very fast. Then a couple wraps around itself and it's all set.

Edit: pretty decent how to if you have larger/more rope

How to Coil Climbing Rope: 8 Steps (w/ Videos!) - 99Boulders

Learn how to coil climbing rope in 8 steps (w/ step-by-step videos). Two different methods make carrying rope easy.

www.99boulders.com

 

[nadogail]

Whoever invented the Cord Wheel deserves to be Rich

 

[cgrutt]

I wrap all my cords, rope, extension cords, air hoses, Para cord the same way, like a climbing rope. Double up and pull arms length away. Near end wrap the excess around wind cord and pull ends through middle. Hard to explain but works good.

 

[FredWanaker]

I tried that, if the loops confuse spooling it out you will spend a good part of the day unwinding and untangling. The cardboard makes it impossible to get loops confused.

 

[rayra]

I've made similar spindles out of 1/8" pressboard for our christmas lights. STrip about 12" x 4", with the ends cut as deep Vs and with an additional notch at the crotch of the V to nock the cord or plug end in, before winding the cord around and around in the V ends. Keeps things untangled.

 

[Jim greengo]

Good ol 550 cord,haven't used that term in years! Hahaha

 

[CraigStu]

The paracord is small and 100ft of it I think wrapping it around something like the cardboard or the plastic thingy is the best solution. But for anything heavier I just make loops pulling w/ my right hand and hanging them from my left hand. They key is shaking out the rope or wire periodically so that as you twist w/ each loop you don't end up w/ a pigtail mess. When I get to the end I don't do like the climber did w/ a bare end. I do that w/ the last loop of the rope. Wrap it around forming the hangman looking portion and push the end of the loop through the big coil above the hangman part. I pull it tight then I slide the hangman part up to capture my loop tightly. The advantage here is that you end up w/ a coil of rope w/ a loop sticking up from one end that you can throw over a nail to hang the rope somewhere. Otherwise all you can do is throw the rope in a box or bag. Below is part of my basement rope wall.
The red and white rope I did a multi coil for the hangman part. The others you can see it was around twice and through. My 50-100ft extension cords go on reels but all the 25and less get wrapped up just like these ropes.