What do ya think

[digr]

I don't know about the rest of you but I hate extension cords. This is a idea for a 220 volt hand reel. Before I go to all the trouble to make one I would like some opinions please. I would make it big enough to take about 50' of cord. You would have to have a pig tail to use from the outlet to the reel and take it off before unwinding or winding the cord.

[Jeff]

Looks like a good idea.
Build it and show us how it turns out

[Tom Zachman]

What are you leaning towards; small spool with lots of wraps or medium spool with about 10 wraps?

[Pile Buck]

I agree, looks like you’re onto something there.
Here is a picture of the best reel I’ve ever been around, it’s shop built. Will take a very long cord also.

[Bolt]

That should work just fine. I run a similar setup on my service truck for my welding leads, argon hose, oxy acetylene hose, air hose, and a 12/3 SJ cord, for either 120 or 240.

So you have the shaft going through the bearings and out past the braket, with your plug on the end of that? You could also just mount a plug on the side of the reel and plug in there. Could do it on the other (handle) side. The only problem I see here, if you are running high amperage loads it is best to roll off all the cord and then use it.

I always like your drawings, tell me again what program you use?

[digr]

Originally Posted by Tom Zachman

What are you leaning towards; small spool with lots of wraps or medium spool with about 10 wraps?

I would think the spool would have to be about 12" plus in dia. with about a 4" dia hub.

[digr]

Originally Posted by Pile Buck

I agree, looks like you’re onto something there.
Here is a picture of the best reel I’ve ever been around, it’s shop built. Will take a very long cord also.

wow now that is a reel!!

[Tom Zachman]

A 4" hub is pretty tight for large conductor cable... Also Bolt is right about that coil adding inductance to the alternating current flow.

[digr]

Originally Posted by Tom Zachman

A 4" hub is pretty tight for large conductor cable... Also Bolt is right about that coil adding inductance to the alternating current flow.

OK bigger is always better what size do you think? I do agree that the cord should be all the way out if used for a long time with steady welding.

[digr]

Originally Posted by Bolt

That should work just fine. I run a similar setup on my service truck for my welding leads, argon hose, oxy acetylene hose, air hose, and a 12/3 SJ cord, for either 120 or 240.

So you have the shaft going through the bearings and out past the braket, with your plug on the end of that? You could also just mount a plug on the side of the reel and plug in there. Could do it on the other (handle) side. The only problem I see here, if you are running high amperage loads it is best to roll off all the cord and then use it.

I always like your drawings, tell me again what program you use?

I thought about mounting the plug on the handle side but was afraid it would be knuckle buster. The drawing program is called "Smartdraw" and how about some pics of your reels?