Suggestions for a cable reel or drum

[mdr]

So I needed a longer extension cable. I ordered 25m of arctic cable and while I thought I ordered 2.5mm² I guess I ordered 4.0mm² as that's what turned up (and paid for it seems). Late night eBay strikes again.

Oh well, bigger is better right?! It's about 10-11mm thick diameter measuring the outer insulation.

Hence I now need a reel/storage for it when not in use. Options? Reel/drum or otherwise. Just a method of coiling it up (no plugs/sockets required - it'll have a 16 amp plug/socket on the ends). The cable has some gravity in it so the reel needs to support that.

I found this one (£24.90 + £8 delivery)...

https://www.thomann.de/gb/millenium_av230_cable_drum.htm?glp=1

Is there anything you'd recommend? Where to look in the UK? Nothing too spendy.

 

[Brad93]

Marcaddy.

mega spendy though

 

[selectedgrub]

It's not wise to use reels unless your going to unroll the whole of your 25mtrs when in use.
A coiled up extension gets unbelievably hot and they have been known to burst into flames.

 

[Gareth J]

Just use a plank if 6x1 with notches in the end. Easier to wind/unwind without going all twisty. Good job you didn't order 50m!

 

[James1979]

It's not wise to use reels unless your going to unroll the whole of your 25mtrs when in use.
A coiled up extension gets unbelievably hot and they have been known to burst into flames.

what he said! Although the alumareel ones that are meant for welding cables on trucks are designed to melt if they get hot through a coiled wire. May be worth thinking about something similar.

 

[gaz1]

i have this for work an older type and many still say wow as its still on its last legs

https://cpc.farnell.com/marcaddy/hdm-285/steel-cable-reel-empty-285mm/dp/PL15676

simplest one to make is this

 

[s410man]

Empty mig wire reel

 

[Robotstar5]

15kg welding wire reel?

 

[hotponyshoes]

I don't think 25m of 4mm will fit on a mig reel?
I keep mine in stacking euro containers but mainly use them on sites (generators at weddings in marquees etc).

In the workshop I have some of these these things

They are for hanging garden hoses on. Don't get the one in that picture as they are as weak as anything but tougher plastic ones are available cheaply.
Easy enough to make yourself, I supply stainless steel ones to vets.
If it's for taking out onto site and you don't want to use a box I have got some big heavyweight plastic drums somewhere. The sort of thing that hydraulic hose is supplied on when new. I can dig one out if you want.

 

[Gareth J]

FYI, there's about 20m of 4mm artic on the picture I posted.

 

[hotponyshoes]

FYI, there's about 20m of 4mm artic on the picture I posted.

That might just about go on a mig spool then?

Mine are all ho7, bit bigger od.

 

[Gareth J]

That might just about go on a mig spool then?

Mine are all ho7, bit bigger od.

Probably, although mig spools might be a bit brittle to use out and about. Have used them in the past for similar, bolted to a wall but they're a bit less vulnerable there.

Unless you're making a cradle too so the lead can be wound/unwound, coiling on something with a relatively small diameter, like a mig spool, sounds like a twisty nightmare.

 

[8ob]

A mate uses an old car wheel rim to wrap his leads on,they live on a hook on the wall when not in use.

Bob

 

[Maker]

Marcaddy.

mega spendy though

That's what I was going to say, my spring return reel is a Marcaddy and it's definitely quality. Unfortunately an empty reel that'll hold that much cable is eighty quid! Next size down looks like this one, price is a bit more palatable (Still expensive!) but it only holds 19 meters of 4mm.

 

[mdr]

It's just for me at home. Bit of stick welding outside down the bottom of the garden hence it will be stretched out when in use.

The old reel (standard B&Q thing) started playing up. I thought I'd "upgrade" to a 2.5mm² cable size as I think that would be better for the welder over 25 metres. My plan was to wind the 2.5mm² on to the old reel and I bet that would have worked. However, as I've said I've ended up with 4.0mm² and it's..well overkill...and also it won't fit on a small reel. I just need a method of keeping it tidy when not in use.

I'm currently using the "looping it thru itself over and over so it looks like a tangled mess but it's actually not able to become a intertwined mass of flex" method or whatever the official name is ...

 

[mdr]

A mate uses an old car wheel rim to wrap his leads on,they live on a hook on the wall when not in use.

Love that idea!

 

[brightspark]

I'm currently using the "looping it thru itself over and over so it looks like a tangled mess but it's actually not able to become a intertwined mass of flex" method or whatever the official name is ...

View attachment 263731
View attachment 263730[/QUOTE]and presumably you unravel it when in use to stop it overheating

 

[mdr]

Yep, stretched out. What amps would you need to put through 4.0mm coiled up to melt it?

 

[brightspark]

Yep, stretched out. What amps would you need to put through 4.0mm coiled up to melt it?

wrapped round a proper reel about 2 kw open it would take up to 30 amps

 

[Lazurus]

coil it up in a bucket or drum