I just did this Mod to my extension Reel . The only difference was I had the Male coming out the Center Spoke to plug into the wall and the Female coming out as the extension on the reel and the reel staying near the wall outlet. Amazing modification and I can't believe it took me this long to discover this. Thank you very much. ALSO I can't believe manufacturers didn't modify their mold to add this hole in their center spoke so we don't have to drill in this MOD. Thanks again .
Thanks for the video. For all the commenters wondering why manufacturers don't make it with a hole, it is because they recommend not using the cord while it is wound up as it could overheat.
THIS WORKS!! I bought a cord roller exactly like this at Lowe’s. Same problem: the design of the roller is flawed in that it doesn’t come with a hole to push the plug through. So, you have to make your own opening. You will need a 2” drill bit for boring holes in wood, or else you’re going to have a little work on your hands. The cord roller is made of tough, thick plastic, and you will have to drill through the plastic reinforcers on the inside of the core of the cord roller to make room for the plug to go through. It helps to shine a flashlight through the opening while you’re drilling so you can see inside it while you’re drilling downward through the core.
Good break down. I believe the bit I used for this was 1-1/2” but sounds like 2” works as well. I have other home improvement tips you might find helpful, like the #1 mistake DIY painters make: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VhsffyVt0cQ.html
Life Saver... I am a DJ doing movies and was tired of wrapping my 100ft 3 end plug each weekend... Works like a charm thank you for posting. Tom East Haven CT
I just bought two of these to mitigate our garage’s cord disasters. As I went to load one, I kept thinking…why isn’t there a hole in the center? This isn’t going to work! So I googled how to spool an extension cord for use and came across this. Instinct was right; confirmed by this helpful vid. Thanks!
Thank you so much! Your video was exactly what I was looking for. I thought it must’ve been me, but you showed me that it was a design flaw and the reel I’ve been frustrated working with for the past five years with a 100 foot cord, is now so much enjoyable to use.
Great video! Thanks for sharing. This made so much sense after watching. Like other people....can't believe manufacturers wouldn't just pop a hole in it to begin with!
You’re welcome. I have other home improvement tips you might find helpful, like the #1 mistake DIY painters make: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VhsffyVt0cQ.html
Dude, if you hadn’t made this video I was about to throw this trash away. Now it works great. You should reference this model in the title for other people looking for this. Lifesaver man.
Good idea. This is a total game changer. I have other home improvement tips you might find helpful, like the #1 mistake DIY painters make: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VhsffyVt0cQ.html
All this time I thought it was me! I thought I was too inept to use my reel properly. Thanks for posting this video. I plan to modify mine later today.
I went ahead and made this modification, I fished the cord end (plug side) thru the holes just like you did. I had replaced the plug before ,so I removed it again and reconnected it for the mod. I also soldered/tinned the wire ends of my cord , as they were stranded, to facilitate a better connection at the plug end. Thanks again for a great video. My 'mod-ed" cord is working great..
You’re welcome. I have other home improvement tips you might find helpful, like the #1 mistake DIY painters make: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VhsffyVt0cQ.html
Vincent Casesa glad you found this useful. Seems like it’s something manufacturers could incorporate for an insignificant additional cost. I’ve found having the female end on the side of the reel is great indoors when I need to move lights or a vacuum room to room. But a male end on the side is useful outdoors allowing me to unroll the length on the cord to use the female end on tools like electric lawn and garden equipment.
I've wanted to do this for ages, but I kept looking at the side of the reel with the handle. Saw your video . . . Doh! . . . Got it done in five minutes. Thank you.
Awesome ty so much. I just bought the exact same set up but was scratching my head on how to make it work …did a quick search and this vid popped up. Great tip 👍🏾
Most amazingly simplistic and helpful DIY suggested modification !!!! Thank you! Hope HDX plastic is good enough to withstand the drilling without cracking.
Thank you for the advice…I didn’t have a bore bit so I had to use the thickest drill bit to make one larger hole. Took me a while to get a large enough hole for the plug to fit through. I give you full credit though for the idea. Thanks pal!!
Resourceful! The extra time was still cheaper than a bore bit so good on ya. Thanks for sharing your experience. I still use mine regularly years later.
Thank you so much for this video! I was at a loss to try to figure out how to run some cable and quickly wind it for band competition and this was great!
With a minimum of tools - like hole saws - I had a great couple of hours using the tools I do have. Wonderful time and works and looks great. I can't imagine how this design ever made it into the factory. Thanks for great instruction and a good time in the back yard.
Love to hear you made the upgrade. If you’re looking for more home improvement tips and tricks I have other videos like the #1 mistake DIY painters make: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VhsffyVt0cQ.html
A word of caution about using cord reels. I am a retired firefighter. Years ago, an electrician/fire buff made us a few cord reels, using steel reels. He gave each one 3 strand, flat cables, 150' long. These were primarily used for portable lighting in burned out buildings, and occasionally smoke ejector fans. Well, apparently our halogen lighting drew too many amps, because the cable that was still wound on the reel began to melt. I had the shitty job of cutting away the fused together cable from the reel, in an attempt to salvage the reel. After 3-4 hours I had the fantastic job of telling the Chief that his buddy the electrician shouldn't be allowed to play with the trucks anymore. He agreed....and the reel was toast....Use appropriate gauge extension cords...
Thank you for sharing your experience. This is a very real concern that I think alot of people overlook to their own detriment, especially when it's space heater season. For what it's worth the cord I used in this is 12 gauge and rated for 15 amps which is why it's twice the price of a comparable thinner wire. amzn.to/33Sx8SO
Great tip. Just bought one of these rollers for the first time, and I thought, hmmm... I bet there's a good tip out there on how to use this. This is what I was hoping to find. I only had a 1" drill bit, but I made it work. 👍
Damn dude I'm glad u shared this hack...I just did this sitting in my garage with the same reel and 100' cord...works like a charm ...I actually have the female side coming off the reel and the male coming thru the center whole as most of my devices have a male plug...I think its easier to pull the cord off the reel that u need and the reel can stay stationary next to the outlet. 👍🏿x1000
I wished I had seen this months ago. I couldn't figure it out and was really getting on my nerves. I guess these are just designed for cord storage and not daily use. Thank you so much Manny!!
Beautiful, dude. 1st time homebuyer putting together a simple shop. Bought one of these today and immediately recognized the design flaw. Maybe I would've figured out the solution on my own (doubtful), but I appreciate the time savings. Cheers!
Great idea ....I also watched a video that you put the ends together and fold it kinda together and put the end loop in the hook and wind it works a treat too
What a BRILLIANT IDEA!!!! The one that I bought has a "holder slot" for the female end, but it would keep hitting the side of the base. . . I thought I was going crazy, my step daughter observed that it was "seriously design flaw". . . Thank you, thank you for the idea here. . .
Its a design flaw for sure. It never made sense to me for many years. I use a couple of these modified reels all the time. Total game changer. Now it’s painless wrapping up extension cords.
I just never figured out how come this reel company maker can still sell this unfinished product. I found myself stupid to have bought this orange plastic product. You have to unroll the whole extension to use it and you have re-enroll it back. It's just useless unless you want to roll an extension cleanly. But your solution is absolutely bright! thank you for this big help. I'm now running in the garage to remove the dust from and transform it as a useful one!
No homo, but I love you. I just said to myself that I am tired of screwing with extension cords and I have two of these wheels. This helps a lot. Thanks!
Game changer for sure. I have other home improvement tips you might find helpful, like the #1 mistake DIY painters make: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VhsffyVt0cQ.html
Kudos. Nobel nomination on the way. After messing with a dysfunctional reel for years I finally became exasperated enough to google "How to set up an extension reel" and was served with your vid. Mine is an identical unit so, not having a hole saw I set about using my drill. Note to anyone else: after you've roughed the hole you can increase it to the necessary diameter by running a large bit in reverse so that it rasps the plastic away without gouging too much out. That's my contribution to the hack. This has been the best thing I've done all day and I feel like I've moved incrementally up the evolutionary scale as a result. So I'm going to toast you with a coffee followed by an icy beer (I hope you like beer). RU-vid university has done it again. Cheers.
Great men all thinking alike. I am from a different continent and I have the same problem. And I came up with the same solution for it too. We're all more alike than we know 🙂
I bought a reel today. After ten minutes of getting nowhere with it, I came in from the shed to find online help. Thank you. I was beginning to think I'd been struck stupid.
You’re welcome. I have other home improvement tips you might find helpful, like the #1 mistake DIY painters make: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-VhsffyVt0cQ.html
You are supposed to find the center of your extension cord and hook that to the plastic hook in the center of the reel. When you wind up the reel, you will have both ends available. Just pull the length you need and reel sits in the center of the operation. I plug my extension cord to itself, lay it out and find the half way point. I put a wrap of bright colored electrical tape to mark the center. You only have to do this once. Hook the center of the cord to plastic clip and roll it up. You now only need to roll up 50 percent of the length of the cord.
It’s nice to see the original design intent. And it lays out well on a driveway in that specific instance. But I can’t imagine using that method to move an extension cord around a job site, in between rooms, as needed. I actually do prefer the approach in my video more. What are your thoughts?
@@notwaitingtolive I love to modify stuff so I'm good with it. However, there are two issues: 1. you now have the full length of cord to wind back up instead just half. 2. I can see you getting almost all the way to the job site and the male plug comes out of the wall..... I have the same reel. The handle snapped off the arm, so I modified mine. I reinforced the back of the arm with plywood and bolted on a big wooden spinner knob. It reels up twice as fast.
You mentioned that there are reels out there that are already modified like the great job you did. Would you mind telling which one(s) you refer to? Many thanks 😊
This pos cost me an hour an half of work and 45 min trying to make it work before I put a hole in it, guess it works if i unplug before winding it. Preciate it. also realized afterwards this is ment for storage.
