extension cord is a bit...stiff

Bill1234

Bill1234

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I recently purchased a 12/3 100ft extension cord. Out of the box, it was great, worked well and preformed flawlessly. Now, my main problem is that it kinks and becomes stiff quickly. Are there any ideas how I can make it easier to coil and work with?
 
Get an extension cord reel from lowes or home depot to wind the extension cord onto
 
Just do as others suggested op

Side Note:

Ahh.. I wanted to get older, but now that I am getting older I don't want to anymore. 3 more years and I'll be 30....:cry::dunno::hotrod2:

Well going to go get my lady :hungry:

Dinner and Movies is always good :props:
 
hernandez.art13 said:
Just do as others suggested op

Side Note:

Ahh.. I wanted to get older, but now that I am getting older I don't want to anymore. 3 more years and I'll be 30....:cry::dunno::hotrod2:
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Art...
Remember that not too long ago we were talking about the main character in
"A Clockwork Orange".

I believe He told his minions: "do not trust anyone over 30".
But then, as my Grandpa used to say:
"the chickens came home to roost".

Note:
Don't forget that I get a year older on the same day you do. ;)

Bob
 
About 15 years ago I was winding a cord up around my arm when a tradesman saw me and freaked out! I haven't wrapped a cord around my arm since! I have also learned that an extension cord over 50ft is absolutely useless, In fact I perfer them even shorter than that.

May I ask how heavy that 12 gauge 100ft. cord is?
 
spiralout462 said:
About 15 years ago I was winding a cord up around my arm when a tradesman saw me and freaked out! I haven't wrapped a cord around my arm since! I have also learned that an extension cord over 50ft is absolutely useless, In fact I perfer them even shorter than that.

May I ask how heavy that 12 gauge 100ft. cord is?
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according to true value, it is just under 8lbs
 
I have a 12 gauge 100ft utilitech contractor grade extension cord that weighs 13lbs, it wasn't cheap but it will last a long time. It's pure copper wire so I always make sure to wrap it following the cords natural twist. I think the stiffness has a lot to do with the material the jacket is made from and if the wire is solid copper or twisted.
 
Shtexas said:
I have a 12 gauge 100ft utilitech contractor grade extension cord that weighs 13lbs, it wasn't cheap but it will last a long time. It's pure copper wire so I always make sure to wrap it following the cords natural twist. I think the stiffness has a lot to do with the material the jacket is made from and if the wire is solid copper or twisted.
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I was eyeing the same one on Craigslist for a while (new in box at a pawn shop) as they dropped the price about every week or so but I missed the opportunity once it finally hit my price point I went there and it was sold. I have other extension cords so it wouldn't have been a prudent purchase for me anyway.
 
Brace1 said:
I was eyeing the same one on Craigslist for a while (new in box at a pawn shop) as they dropped the price about every week or so but I missed the opportunity once it finally hit my price point I went there and it was sold. I have other extension cords so it wouldn't have been a prudent purchase for me anyway.
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im glad I asked for mine as a gift. It provides alot of "power" for big motors and will not break in cold temperatures, Cons I would say are weight and trying to wind up the cord
 
Grab a buddy of hook an end on something. Stretch it all the way out or do it in a couple of times. Pull it fairly tight. Stretch the kinks and curls out of it. We do that everytime we get new cords at work. It makes winding them up much easier and quicker.
 
When coiling it up Dont curl it around your arm or such. Make loops like a cowboy would coiling up a rope.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
 
VP Mark said:
When coiling it up Dont curl it around your arm or such. Make loops like a cowboy would coiling up a rope.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
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^^This. That's how I was taught...spread your arms all the way out and them bring them together. The loops end up being about 3 feet long when hanging in an oval shape.
 
VP Mark said:
When coiling it up Dont curl it around your arm or such. Make loops like a cowboy would coiling up a rope.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using AG Online
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wdmaccord said:
^^This. That's how I was taught...spread your arms all the way out and them bring them together. The loops end up being about 3 feet long when hanging in an oval shape.
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:iagree:100% This is the stuff they should teach kids in school! Just like a good dog or child, a nice cord needs to be "trained"! When properly trained it will last a lifetime and get better with age.
 
Coiling cords was like my job in the Navy. I was an Aircrewman on MH-53Es and we had 100 ft. communication cords(aka "long cords") that were way more delicate than extention cords. I could wind one up with no kinks or figure eights in about 20-30 seconds. If someone ever wrapped one around their arm like an old rope they would get some serious counseling and training. It was an art and I took a lot of pride in how well preserved I could keep the long cords I used. You think a 100ft. extension cord is pricey, try purchasing a 100ft communication cord at Navy pricing.:) Sorry for the rant but, I'm just a little passionate about cords.lol
 
spiralout462 said:
:iagree:100% This is the stuff they should teach kids in school! Just like a good dog or child, a nice cord needs to be "trained"! When properly trained it will last a lifetime and get better with age.
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This is the stuff that Aircrew "kids" are taught in the Navy.LOL It was serious thing for our job, because if you couldn't maintain a 100ft cord that allowed you to communicate with the flight crew, then you were a hazard. Imagine having a couple 100ft cords tangled up in your way in a helicopter and trying to escape in an emergency. Or, having to get back in the helicopter and get off the flight deck of an aircraft carrier while your 100ft cord is stuck in the track of a jet catapult. I am a really geek when it comes to cord management, as you may be able to tell.:)
Cords on reels help manage a long cord but, if the cord is stiff and hasn't been broken in then usually the reel will just keep emphasizing the bends in the cord and can cause a rat's nest in the reel if not careful. The only reel I will ever purchase is one with a nice size diameter and or that is spring loaded with a ratcheting lock out. I prefer hand looping/reeling since it worked for me in the Navy for so many years, and I rarely use all 100ft of a cord anyways.:)
 
spiralout462 said:
About 15 years ago I was winding a cord up around my arm when a tradesman saw me and freaked out! I haven't wrapped a cord around my arm since! I have also learned that an extension cord over 50ft is absolutely useless, In fact I perfer them even shorter than that.

May I ask how heavy that 12 gauge 100ft. cord is?
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I agree, 100' cords have no place in my arsenal
 
Yeah, the only cord I have that I purchased is a 25' with three receptacles. The ones I have longer than that were freebies.:)
 
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