Electrical cord storage

[Sigarms]

Yesterday I went down to my MIL's to pressure wash her vinyl siding garage and carport. My FIL has been gone now for close to 2 years. Looking for some tools in his garage to help with his old pressure washer, I came across this one electrical cord. I have to admit, I thought is was kind of odd looking, but knowing my FIL, there was a specific reason why he did this and not just because it looks interesting. Anyone store cord like this, and why? He spent 30 years as a power lineman, and he always had his reasons.

 

[Spike56]

Yesterday I went down to my MIL's to pressure wash her vinyl siding garage and carport. My FIL has been gone now for close to 2 years. Looking for some tools in his garage to help with his old pressure washer, I came across this one electrical cord. I have to admit, I thought is was kind of odd looking, but knowing my FIL, there was a specific reason why he did this and not just because it looks interesting. Anyone store cord like this, and why? He spent 30 years as a power lineman, and he always had his reasons.

View attachment 768409

That is interesting indeed. I would like to know also. Seems that would take a lot more patience than I have to do that to the cord and the other extension cord is wrapped like I would do it ?

 

[workinonit]

All of mine are laced like that when I get done using them. It keeps them from tangling. I use 25 foot Fluke test leads in my work and all of them are laced like that as well. It's something my dad showed me and once it's passed on it seems to stick. I let someone I knew use a drop cord and he called me and said it took him 30 minutes to get the thing untangled. I laughed my ass off.

 

[Sigarms]

On a side note, my FIL always impressed me. His "tool shop" which is a complete mess now since he's been gone, because some other family helped cleaning out the garage by taking "stuff" they wanted (little too much to handle for my older MIL to keep up with). This was after he moved everything from Vermont to NC (he must have let stuff go because his tool shop in Vermont was twice the size of the wall in this pic). Everything had a place, and after you used it, it went back into it's place. I knew going down he'd have the tools, and I did need a screwdriver and wrench, and I put them back exactly where I got them LOL I hate to say it, but I'm not so disciplined.

 

[Sigarms]

I let someone I knew use a drop cord and he called me and said it took him 30 minutes to get the thing untangled. I laughed my ass off.

And that is EXACTLY why I didn't touch it, even though I wanted to. I didn't think about getting it untangled, but would have no clue how to get it back like that.

 

[Spike56]

All of mine are laced like that when I get done using them. It keeps them from tangling. I use 25 foot Fluke test leads in my work and all of them are laced like that as well. It's something my dad showed me and once it's passed on it seems to stick. I let someone I knew use a drop cord and he called me and said it took him 30 minutes to get the thing untangled. I laughed my ass off.

Ok, I will bite.... Untangled, I could see that. But (my brain is not yet functioning well this morning) when you go to use the cord, looks like a pain to get it straight ? I use those extension cord reels... no issues. I am intrigued however.

 

[Sigarms]

That is interesting indeed. I would like to know also. Seems that would take a lot more patience than I have to do that to the cord and the other extension cord is wrapped like I would do it ?

My line of thinking is the other extension cord is smaller in length. The one wrapped "interesting" is much longer.

One of those times I wished he was around to ask.

 

[scootr]

I worked construction before cordless everything. Needless to say we used lots of electrical and air hoses. The 'chain' method is simple. Fold the cord in half. Make a loop and reach down the cord about 2ft and pull a loop through a loop. This video

At home I abandoned this method for the lariat method = one twist per loop which keeps the cord from knotting up

 

[BackRoad]

It is just a series of loops...much like grain and seed bags are done, where pulling the right string makes it unthread almost like a zipper.

It's ideal for longer cords and ropes.

Done properly, you can just keep pulling the end of the cord and the entire length will unwind without tangles.

Very easy once you see it done.

 

[Sigarms]

Very easy once you see it done.

After watching the video by scootr (thank you by the way) it was very easy to untangle.

I just felt like a idiot looking at it hanging there afraid to try and figure it out figuring I'd never get it back to looking like that LOL

 

[woody]

I was showed that a long time ago and it just didn't catch on with me but you can just pull out what you need and then put it all back. Now that I'm older and my arms are not as strong as they once was I may have to revisit that on some of my longer cords.

 

[Tinhack]

I wrap mine up on spools. They have a handle on the ID and a knob on the OD of the spool. I have a 50' 10ga and 100' 14ga I keep on spools. The 25 footers are short enough to hand wrap in a coil if you leave a free end. Saves time and work.

 

[DGZRT]

Awesome!! By learning this I can keep my stealing Neighbor ( which is my Brother) from using my cords and never returning them . It will confuse the Hell out him . I can’t wait to try it !!!!!!

 

[workinonit]

Yea, you just pull one end. It just has to be the correct end.

 

[kf4uda]

Over the years I have seen people Use that technique with cords and even showed me. It just never seemed to fit me. I guess I am more this kind of guy:

HDX 150 ft. 16/3 Extension Cord Storage Reel with Stand HD-100PDQ - The Home Depot

This affordable HDX Cord Storage Reel with Stand allows you to mount your tv with multiple turns and bends, without buying another complete kit.

www.homedepot.com

 

[scootr]

To unwind we just dropped the starting loop over the ball hitch on the truck and walked out with the live ends. Worked good when we had several 100 ft cords and hoses tossed into the back of a pickup along with many other tools. Not needed around the house.

 

[Oaktree]

It is just a series of loops...much like grain and seed bags are done, where pulling the right string makes it unthread almost like a zipper.

It's ideal for longer cords and ropes.

Done properly, you can just keep pulling the end of the cord and the entire length will unwind without tangles.

Very easy once you see it done.

I saw an article online recently about storing extension cords, and something similar to that was mentioned. Looked like more trouble than it was worth, I just stick to the coil-on-my-elbow method and store 'em in a milk crate. Only rarely do I have one tangle when uncoiling it.

 

[neverfailyou]

Over the years I have seen people Use that technique with cords and even showed me. It just never seemed to fit me. I guess I am more this kind of guy:

HDX 150 ft. 16/3 Extension Cord Storage Reel with Stand HD-100PDQ - The Home Depot

This affordable HDX Cord Storage Reel with Stand allows you to mount your tv with multiple turns and bends, without buying another complete kit.

www.homedepot.com

I acquired and continue to use a couple of these many years ago…. But they weren’t $14+ (or the inflation equivalent). For that kind of today’s cost… I’d learn, practice and use the Daisy chain. Just the “frugal guy” in me posting. But with being retired and with battery-powered everything, I hardly use use extension cords.

Sorry for the side track!

 

[Sigarms]

I acquired and continue to use a couple of these many years ago…. But they weren’t $14+ (or the inflation equivalent). For that kind of today’s cost… I’d learn, practice and use the Daisy chain. Just the “frugal guy” in me posting. But with being retired and with battery-powered everything, I hardly use use extension cords.

Sorry for the side track!

Not a side track at all.

One trait my FIL shared with my own father is they were both very frugal and if they didn't need it, they didn't buy it.

Like one poster here, I do use the plastic milk cartons for storage though.

 

[2manyrocks]

Your FIL must have been someone that was careful in his work judging by his organization of his tools. That's a family picture to keep because it tells us something useful about how he lived.