Coil Extension Cords Like a Roadie Using the Over-Under Method
No one understands the value of a properly wound cable more than concert roadies and film crew professionals who reel and unwrap hundreds of feet of cable every day. Here’s the method they use to get their shows on time.
The pointing technique shown above and below is best for long ropes and as an alternative to wrapping the rope around your elbow and arm. Fold the cord so your thumbs point in one direction, then alternate and complete the reel with your lower thumb pointing towards you.
This method eliminates unnecessary twisting of the cord and allows the cord to roll in its natural state (as if it were wound in the factory). It also allows you to quickly straighten a cord or cable by throwing the reel away from you or simply pulling on one end.
This Old House also favors the overlapping method and they added a great ferrule to keep the cord tied together. Wrap a long piece of string around one end of the extension cord next to the fork, and after twisting the cord, tie the entire spool in a bow.
They also suggest keeping your wound cords in a 5 gallon bucket so they don’t come loose. You can also dispense the coil directly from the bucket, but by making a hole on the side of the bucket near the bottom, and pulling the male end of the plug through the hole to insert it into the wall. Then, pull the required cord straight out of the bucket.
The chain link method is another effective winding method that eliminates knots, but it adds more twists and bends to your cord and is not very compact to store. Check out our tips for winding smaller cables while you do it.