Ext Cord Storage? - No Reels, Balls or Cranks

Clik · Jun 19, 2013

Any inovative ways to store extension cords without using reels, cranking baskets or that overpriced ball thingy? :willy_nil

zkling · Jun 19, 2013

Wrap around arm, then fold in half and wrap around middle. :dunno:

Are you looking for something portable or something to bolt to the wall in the shop?

EDIT, you could always do the no tangle loop thing. If nothing else it makes for a great conversation piece.

http://www.patandjerry.com/2011/07/no-tangle-extension-cord-storage.html

rdsk8ter · Jun 19, 2013

Ive seen some stuff in my ventures where people cut a 3 gallon bucket and make a wind up rig but I cant find it now. I would love to see ideas here too

kursplat · Jun 19, 2013

i'm wondering what you don't like about how your doing it now

crazytrain · Jun 19, 2013

This is how I do it,

then just hang on a nail or hook on the wall.

Jawn · Jun 19, 2013

Without a reel, this is how I coil hoses and cords.

...then just hang it on a hook.

VHF · Jun 19, 2013

I keep my 100' heavy duty #12 cord in a 5-gallon plastic bucket with a 1.25" hole drilled in the side near the bottom. I feed out about 3' of cord with the male end through the hole to plug into the wall. I then grab the female end and walk away from the bucket pulling out the cord as I go.

To put it away I just stand over the bucket pulling in the cord and let it coil up in the bucket in whatever way makes it happy.

Putting a rock in the bucket keeps it from tipping over while pulling out the cord, although makes the whole thing heavier!

Thumper68 · Jun 19, 2013

VHF said:
I keep my 100' heavy duty #12 cord in a 5-gallon plastic bucket with a 1.25" hole drilled in the side near the bottom. I feed out about 3' of cord with the male end through the hole to plug into the wall. I then grab the female end and walk away from the bucket pulling out the cord as I go.

To put it away I just stand over the bucket pulling in the cord and let it coil up in the bucket in whatever way makes it happy.

Putting a rock in the bucket keeps it from tipping over while pulling out the cord, although makes the whole thing heavier!

^^^^^ this minus the hole near the bottom, my hole is by the top, this way water doesn't get in.

Contractor friend uses painted buckets for the different length cords so he can grab the right length cord for the job.

Ryf · Jun 19, 2013

mount cheap water hose reels on the wall, started doing this for my welder extension cord, and I like it alot, way less twisting, might not portable enough for smaller cords, but if you had one cord dedicated to be by the door of your shop I doubt you'd regret it much.

Clik · Jun 19, 2013

Ryf said:
mount cheap water hose reels on the wall, started doing this for my welder extension cord, and I like it alot, way less twisting, might not portable enough for smaller cords, but if you had one cord dedicated to be by the door of your shop I doubt you'd regret it much.

So Ryf,

I suppose you have to pull the whole 100' off and then walk back to the reel to plug it in since there's no swivel.

Ryf · Jun 19, 2013

Clik said:
So Ryf,

I suppose you have to pull the whole 100' off and then walk back to the reel to plug it in since there's no swivel.

nopers, I have the male end hanging out of the bottom back, the reel was just to the side and above the outlet (much like your hoses would be close to your valve), so it was mostly used in place and uncoil only what you need. i liked it because it didn't put as sharp a pressure on the wire, since its 8 gauge (and more like 40 ft) it doesn't like being(nor should it be) sharply bent. with the new shop it will all be put back up, and already have two for my in shop "daily use" extension cord as well.

spotco2 · Jun 20, 2013

I just use a bucket.

djjsr · Jun 20, 2013

Garden hose hangers. Metal or plastic, cheap, available anywhere and they work.

x047x · Jun 20, 2013

I saw this idea on one of my neighbors homes and loved it. I have a spare VW wheel which I'll probably use for this purpose (I know it's a hose, but hey you get the point):

Zick · Jun 20, 2013

I've got a few of the Cordpro's. Their not very expensive ~$15 and they work pretty slick!

http://www.cordpro.com/
http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=25140&site=ROCKLER&filter=cordpro

deter · Jun 20, 2013

I wind them up by hand (the right way) and hang them on big coat hooks on the man-door to the garage. Always handy and ready to go. I've got 8 cords hanging on that door. I will post pics if I remember

JJThrasher · Jun 20, 2013

x047x said:
I saw this idea on one of my neighbors homes and loved it. I have a spare VW wheel which I'll probably use for this purpose (I know it's a hose, but hey you get the point):

My school uses rims for hose reels. I've never thought of it for cords. If you go to a junkyard you can probably get a bent wheel for close to scrap price.

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

wkearney99 · Jun 21, 2013

Zick said:
I've got a few of the Cordpro's. Their not very expensive ~$15 and they work pretty slick! http://www.cordpro.com/

+1 on the cordpro. I've got several of them for various hoses and cords on the boat.

Clik · Jun 22, 2013

Thanks for the pics and suggestions guys. I'm not much on gizmos, so, I'll probably go the old wheel rim route, although I'm thinking two wheels so that I can figure eight the cord. That way it pulls off without twisting or kinking. Yeah I know I can do the reverse hand thing but that's slow and any potential "shop help" would never put it back right.

wkearney99 · Jun 22, 2013

I suppose it depends on whether want something fixed in place or storable. The cordrpo clamshell design is PERFECT for storage. The whole cord or hose stows inside the clamshells. Leaving just the smooth outer shell and tough handle. And you only unspool as much as you need.

Rodhotz · Jun 22, 2013

Use a rim and cut it in half and the cord will come off no problem.

Ext Cord Storage? - No Reels, Balls or Cranks

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