How Pros Wrap Extension Cords, Cables & Hoses

Are you wrapping your cords, cables and hoses the hard way? There's a better way! Two, actually! Check out the way pros wrap their extension cords, cables and hoses with these two easy-to-follow techniques. #diy #lifehacks #hack

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[jamesbudlong]

After seeing your video I just went to my garden, grabbed the first 25 meter cable I could get hold of and tried the over/under method. Works perfectly! I had to become 61 years old to learn this, but from now on I will use it for the rest of my life. A big THANK YOU from Germany!💯

[brucemarshall]

I have been using the loop/counterloop technique for 50 years and I learned it in a recording studio much as you were mentioning. It’s by far the best technique and it’s actually quite fast once you’ve mastered the counterloop process.

There was one thing that you didn’t mention though. When you have an extension cord that has been wound in the same direction like a spring for years and years and you cannot use the new technique until you undo the damage from previous wrappings.

You have to stretch the cord out on the ground and unwind all of those kinks until it’s a straight cord. You have to remove all of those springlike windings, or your efforts will be useless.

There’s one other thing that deserves honorable mention here. When you buy a new extension cord, imagine in the factory how they process it. They put the cord on some sort of reel and wind it onto the reel for shipment.

If you think about it, that process is exactly the same as wrapping a previously used cord between your hand and your elbow since each wrap is in the same direction.

There is no difference between a brand new cord, and one that has been improperly wound in the past.

It’s a bit of a pain, but the proper way to open a brand new extension cord out of the package is to literally unwind it. Reverse the process that was used in manufacturing. It’ll take several minutes because it’s awkward and you don’t have tools and you just have to do it by hand

However, once you’re finished, you have a perfectly straight cord without any twists. Now when you use the loop/counter process your cord will stay in the same condition as long as your own it.

Take my word for it. This is a fabulous technique once you’ve learned it. It doesn’t take any longer than wrapping it around your elbow but your life will be immeasurably easier by using this technique.

Good luck.

[vargr]

I've been wrapping extention cords by holding the plug in one hand then wrap downward for 45 years. Served me well that whole time. Been a carpenter 40 of those years, Ranger 5 years.

[TheAMVDJ]

Ok, this is definitely proof our phones are listening to us. I was doing yardwork with my brother and after using the extension cord we talked about the best way to wrap it up and didn't know what to do. I come home, hop on youtube, this is the first video I see...And no, I do not watch construction/carpentry videos ever on youtube so any like-minded videos I ever watch would be a far stretch

[darylSKYTZOwillis]

I have been doing that for years, probably because I used to like having quick deploy 50’ mic cables. (Me audio engineer 😉). I have also occasionally used the crochet / chain method for cords. Nice of you to teach these tricks to others. 👍🏼

[stevenz]

Now, do you have a trick for wrapping strings of Christmas lights ! 🤣

[zangcheye]

Just to say that as a long time concert, event, and documentary videographer, this is amazing. I knew there must be a better way but in the heat of the moment, on stage and back stage, you don't think you need it until you do, but then it's too late and just go with what you've always done.

[msmeyersmd]

The most informative and useful video I've ever seen on YouTube.
Hands Down.
I'm 64 years old and have a lot of education and varied experiences in my life.
I am stunned that I've never heard of either of these methods.
Every Christmas the neighbors look over at me pulling 100ft and 50ft cords all tossed in a box.
The I stomp around, cursing under my breath and look like a crazy moronic clown.
For an hour or so. Think of how much time this could have saved me in 64 years.
Not to mention being grumpy and missing out on the joy of putting up Christmas lights.

[coralcrown]

Nice! I've been contracting since I was twelve, my teacher always called that second method the "contractor's braid." I thought it was so unique until a recent trip to a horse ranch where I saw a bunch of ropes done up in the same manner. I love seeing trade skills and tips like these being shared, just wholesome and positive.

[rborroto]

Thanks for sharing. I learned this over/under technique many years ago in college, in my media/film production courses. I still use it to this day, with electrical cords and hoses to avoid any tangled mess. Every once in awhile the opposing loops can create a knot, especially with cable (not with a hose) if you're not careful unwinding it.

[MrBoubource]

Watched this video a few months ago, went back to it when I had to roll a pneumatic tube, it worked wonderfully. Now I just have to not forget the over-under !

[Enigma-Sapiens]

Forty years ago, I had a boss who was in the Air Force, they taught him the over & under wrap and he taught it to me.
It's so simple to do I don't know why it hasn't caught on everywhere in all that time.
Hopefully, your efforts will spread the technique all over the world, thank you!

[miaoling]

Your video explained everything so well! I struggled to learn the chain technique from other videos, but yours did the trick. Thank you!

So, now the chain technique is BY FAR my favorite. The advantage you pointed out (can pay out just enough cable instead of unraveling the whole thing) is HUGE, but there's more:
* Each winding takes up 2 arm spans' length, vs 1 for over/under or simple loops, so it's literally 2 times faster
* While winding, can let excess wire sit on the ground, no need to carry entire weight on hand, and won't run out of space on hand either. My 100 ft cable weighs several pounds so this is a big plus too!

And to pay it forward, I have my own hacks to contribute:

* Mark the midpoint with contrasting tape (more durable than marker) → locate midpoint instantly, no need to track it down from the ends. Also, thieves are less likely to steal extension cords with tape from job sites because they look damaged (mind blown? Me too, when I first heard of this). Someone mentioned making a knot, but that'll stress out the internal wires; the tape won't.
* Cut a small slit near one end of the Velcro strap, but not all the way to the end, just enough to fit the plug. That gives you a loop that you can insert one end of the cable into. Then the Velcro will stay on the cable when not in use; you don't have to manually stick it back on as in the video. You can insert either the male or female end into the loop, but I prefer the male end because when the cable is in use, the male end stays on the outlet and out of my way, whereas the female end is attached to my tool, so if the strap goes there it'll be dangling on my side the whole time. Once you're done chaining, plug the male end into the female, grab that pair of plugs, the loop right next to it, and the midpoint, and Velcro the 3 together. Now the chain won't accidentally undo itself. The Velcro'ed part is also easy to find and grab in a pile, since both the midpoint (wrapped in tape!) and the plug are in contrasting colors.
* In my area, Romaine lettuce is sold wrapped in a bright green Velcro strap. That strap is PERFECT for extension cords and shop organizing in general. It already has a loop at the end to insert cable ends into. The bright green is super easy to find. And it's free! And you're saving it from the landfill!

[glundgren]

We were trained to roll cords as an apprentice. We were held accountable for all the tools of the trade. We learned to support the journeymen that we trained under. We were trained to do better and take pride in our role as team members. These turned out to be life skills that continue to serve me very well.

[nobom]

thank you so much!! I just started as a audio/visual tech and the first thing my boss told me was to learn cable management i.e. coiling cables. Logically speaking the over-under technique didn't make sense to me, because i'd thought wrapping the cables in counter direction would tangle it more. But after seeing your unravel the cord I realized that the counter coiling is keeping the cables in a un-wound position, and thats why its not tangling. Great video!

[Greg_Buckingham]

You know you’re an adult when you see a video like this and go this will be useful”

[ilenisaatio]

Well this has to be one of the most useful videos I've ever seen. I wish I had known these 30 years ago. Could've avoided a lot of needless frustration. Thank you!

[sfxtd]

The over/under technique is great and I use it regularly, but it is much easier if you make your loops toward you rather than away from you as shown. At the beginning, hold the connector facing away from you and make the first loop toward you at the top. The second loop is then reversed by turning the top of the loop inward between the standing part and the first loop, then repeat the alternating loops. The result is the same as shown, but the awkward flip of the cable over the back of the wrist is eliminated.

[attilakovacs]

Well I COIL (not wrap) cables for a living (I'm a lighting tech) and there's a few things I feel like missing: 1: under over really is the best way in my opinion although the reason you want to make sure the plugs end up by their correct sides of the reel is because if you pull them thru all the loops you end up with as many knots as loops you have. Pretty much the only downside, you just need to be careful. The other thing I feel like missing is the explanation of why the under over is superior. It is because the only way to put a cable into a spiral shape is to twist it continuously in one direction. But by using under over you alternate the direction you're twisting the cable so it stays completely straight. Also neither I or any other professional I have ever come across in my 20+ career would ever use the "chain" method on any cable, it is good for climbing rope though if you store it for a longer amount of time.

[yxdqdpo]

One more thing about the over-under technique: It doesn't damage cables. One of the reasons you want to use it with, for instance, microphone cables is that the outer wire layer of the cable is a braid. If you just wind it like on your forearm, you are putting all the tiny wires in the braid under tension, increasing with each wind. This leads to breaking the individual wires and eventually ruining the cable's ground effectiveness. If you do the over-under technique, you will be tensioning the braid one direction on one loop, and then the other direction on the next loop. Each loop counteracts the tension of the previous one instead of multiplying it. Cables last longer. This applies to any cable with a braided outer layer, from a 50-headed grounded snake to your USB charging cable.