Hello sailor!.....(or Airman)

[Debs.]

No, it`s not 'THAT' kind of post!

I remember, many-moons ago (whilst living in the U.S), I had an elderly buddy whom was an airframe mechanic in the Air Force (Mather, AFB).....his home workshop fascinated me; I`d never seen so many airpowered and sheetmetal tools......I think I had 'tool envy'!

Anyhoo.....
I was thinking about something I saw there: he stored his extension cables and airlines into what I can only describe as interlocking omega-loops or whorls as against conventional coiling......these loops/whorls held together for hanging storage, but came apart with just a sharp-tug and without twisting or the subsequently released hose/cable trying to become a helix.
Sadly, my dear-old buddy passed away several years ago.....Oh, how I wish I`d asked him how he did it; I`d love to be able to learn the skill.

Anyone know?......is that a common, nautical rope or aviation cable storage method?

This is the closest technique I`ve found; but it`s not quite the same:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaEv9wm6gy0

 

[peterd51]

Hi,

that looks a bit excessive though, it's still a pretty big lump of cable to store.

When you hold a cable in one hand and start to coil it with the other hand, each time you add a coil it puts one 'twist' into the cable. A way around this is to alternate the twists....

tricky to explain but you put the odd numbered loops on with your hand on the 'outside' and the even numbered loops with your hand on the 'inside'. Once you get used to it it's a left flick for one loop and a right flick for the next, etc.

Uncoiling is simple, you pull the end that you started with and it runs out with no twists.

Regards
Peter

 

[chunkolini]

I wrap all my power tools in a figure eight pattern as I hate it when the coil up on themselves.
Takes a while to become habit but it does avoid a horrible mess of tangles cables when using multiple tools. I have noticed a few of mates doing it as well so it must work.

Chunko'.

 

[Hitch]

What annoys me is people that wind them tight around the tool. Like trying to use a telephone all day

That youtube link looks like hard work

 

[Iain Westland]

bet he is good at crochet

if he did that with my mic leads he would get a slap!! All cable comes off a drum, it has a natural wind. Find that and it wont tangle. Seen rolls of mic leads thrown across a stage no problems.

 

[the snooper]

bet he is good at crochet

if he did that with my mic leads he would get a slap!!

yep same here you wouldnt fit much into a flight case that way and how much time would it add at the end of the night doing every cable can easily end up with 30 cables coming from the desk not to mention mains and speakers leads

 

[souljah]

Hi,

that looks a bit excessive though, it's still a pretty big lump of cable to store.

When you hold a cable in one hand and start to coil it with the other hand, each time you add a coil it puts one 'twist' into the cable. A way around this is to alternate the twists....

tricky to explain but you put the odd numbered loops on with your hand on the 'outside' and the even numbered loops with your hand on the 'inside'. Once you get used to it it's a left flick for one loop and a right flick for the next, etc.

Uncoiling is simple, you pull the end that you started with and it runs out with no twists.


Regards
Peter

thats how we do our climbing ropes ,,,,

 

[R Kraft]

Here is a video, the air hose is at the end,:http://www.finehomebuilding.com/how-to/video/3-ways-to-wrap-extension-cords-and-air-hoses.aspx
Robert

 

[Bsmith]

Anyhoo.....
I was thinking about something I saw there: he stored his extension cables and airlines into what I can only describe as interlocking omega-loops or whorls as against conventional coiling......these loops/whorls held together for hanging storage, but came apart with just a sharp-tug and without twisting or the subsequently released hose/cable trying to become a helix.


Anyhoo Debs??? I would have expected that way of speaking/spelling from Scotland, but from Wales?
Interesting post, tidying cables and hoses is such a pain, but they invite all sorts of accidents if left lying around.

 

[Robotstar5]

All cable comes off a drum, it has a natural wind. Find that and it wont tangle.

I always coil cables / hoses using the natural "lay", just remember to unroll them instead of just pulling the coils apart or you end up with tangles.

 

[Debs.]

Anyhoo Debs???
I would have expected that way of speaking/spelling from Scotland, but from Wales?

Whom says I`m actually Welsh!

 

[Debs.]

Thankyou for the replies and video clips, guys; I`m off to practice the various winding techniques now.......I`ve got so many cables, hoses and ropes, it`ll surely be so much tidier in my workshop from now on.

I really do like the American "daisy-chain" way, as in hanging cable/hose storage, it leaves the two ends-together, ready for use in shortened form or fully extended.

 

[Bsmith]

Whom says I`m actually Welsh!

Ehmmm, I don't think anyone suggested you were welsh Debs I was just intrigued by the word coming from the Wales area. (and if you believe me you'll believe anything). (",).