Electrical cord/air hose management?

"BaconSandwich is tasty." (baconsandwich) 02/26/2016 at 15:21 • Filed to: None

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This is something that seems to be bothering me lately: managing electrical cords and air hoses. It seems like every time I want to use an extension cord, it’s tangled, or is in a heap, tangled with other cords/hoses. How do you folks manage your electrical cords and air hoses? Do you have them on reels? Do you always roll them up when you are done? Do you hang them on hooks?

Perhaps even a more wide reaching question: What do you do to keep your work spaces nice and tidy?

Shankems > BaconSandwich is tasty. 02/26/2016 at 15:24

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I buy extension cords that are at least 3 times as long as I need. That way the 2 untangled ends are always long enough!

StudyStudyStudy > BaconSandwich is tasty. 02/26/2016 at 15:27

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Mountaineering rolls, zip ties, spoolable rolls.

If you do a mountaineering roll which you can probably find how to’s (basically grab a length, spread your arms, throw it over the back of your head, repeat) you won’t get tangles.

If something is put away for long time storage, two or three zip ties, if it is going to stay out, also zip ties with spacers between (look up plug wire separators with zip ties).

Air hoses get a spool, or stapled/taped to the wall.

MonkeePuzzle > BaconSandwich is tasty. 02/26/2016 at 15:28

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regular garden hose plastic thingies. they cost only a few dollars, and are good for rope, cords, hoses, cables etc etc. And as pictured in the first picture, was a handy place to hold a new bumper lip for a while

in general, how do I keep my work area clean? I don’t. EVERYTHING gets thrown onto my work table. usually first step to any day spent in the garage is a cathartic cleaning and returning of tools and crap to their right drawers.

BigBlock440 > BaconSandwich is tasty. 02/26/2016 at 15:33

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I don’t always roll mine up, but I always wish I did.

vicali > MonkeePuzzle 02/26/2016 at 15:37

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Agreed, have one for my air lines.. so nice to have them up off the floor and easy to get out.. I’ll get another for extension cords one day..

Sir_Stig: and toxic masculinity ruins the party again. > BaconSandwich is tasty. 02/26/2016 at 16:08

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Wrap them like audio cables, that way they don’t get twisted.

wkiernan > BaconSandwich is tasty. 02/26/2016 at 16:19

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I’ve got a reel for my 100 foot extension cord, but let me tell you, you do not want to plug something that draws 15 amperes into that extension cord while it’s rolled up on the reel, you end up with a really big induction coil that heats up pretty fast. I unroll it all the way off the reel unless I’m plugging in something with a really minimal current load.

BaconSandwich is tasty. > wkiernan 02/26/2016 at 21:33

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I saw something like this, but I wasn’t happy with the price, and it seemed pretty flimsy. I think my longest cord is maybe 30'.

Jayvincent > BaconSandwich is tasty. 02/27/2016 at 10:43

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I have one retractable cord reel, something like this, which is long enough to reach to the opposite garage corner. Medium duty only (16ga), you may or may not be required to plug it into a GFI outlet:

Alert Stamping 3225ATC Tri-Tap Cord Reel by Alert Stamping. $48.98. From the Manufacturer Retractable extension cord reel with 3 circuit breaker protected outlets. 25' SJT 16/3 cord pulls out to desired length and locks, automatically retracts with slight tug on cord. Powder coated steel reel housing. Includes necessary hardware for ceiling or wall mounting. Limited lifetime warranty Product Description Retractable..

If I had a dedicated compressor, I'd probably do the same thing with the air line. Bonus points if you attach them as drop-downs from the ceiling like the pros do.