This is a follow up on the recent thread on how to roll up cords. Besides that hot debate (circular roll vs. figure-8 vs. crochet with 12ga. wire), there is the fact that no matter how many cords, 3-ways and power strips are on the job…something always needs to be plugged in when all the outlets are full (like the classic scene in the movie Money Pit).
This leads to making the tough choice…what do I unplug now that I won’t need in five minutes time? And now that I have decided to unplug the RA grinder…which of these 14 black cords belongs to said grinder.
My solution is this: Colored Electrical Tape.
Since all of the marketing dogs have marked their territories with brand-linked colors, I start there.
Red: Milwaukee
Orange: Ridgid
Yellow: Dewalt
Green: Hitachi
Blue: Makita
Indigo: Bosch
Violet: Just kidding, that would be gay…not that there’s anything wrong with that.
I just wrap some colored elec. tape at the cord ends and put another stripe about halfway up the cord.
If you have several tools of the same brand, you can use different numbers of stripes for different tools or use initials with a sharpie.
Pretty simple and easy to do and can save some frustration,
I also run three air hoses from a manifold and I color code both ends of each hose (Orange for my Paslode 16ga., Green for the Hitachi 18ga., and Yellow for the Bostitch 23ga.)
If I need to let someone else hook into the manifold I can say “use the Yellow port” if I still want to use the other guns.
Replies
I think I got all of those colors in extension cords.
Plus some.
Different colored extension cords do help keep things straight.I meant color coding the tool cords (since they are all black), so you know which tool cord goes with the various tools in use (when all those black cords converge at a power strip).
It's a good idea.
I wonder if Bosch wants to be an indigo?
I like the idea of different color cords and hoses for each length in common use.For instance:Blue for 25'
Red for 50'
Yellow for 100'
BTW, I'm just kidding. Well sorta. But I read these threads and just shake my head about how nice it must be to work by yourself like that and be able to effectively micro-manage the jobsite. I'm as anal as they come, but when you're running a crew you gotta give a little and take a little judiciously. (Are judicious and delicious really spelled so similarly? I never knew.)View Image
Who me?--Anal?Okay. Guilty as charged.I supose I like ideas like this, because they are so cheap and easy to do...and can pay off in time and frustration saved.I try to be efficient and organized so I get more work done...make more $$$...at least that is the plan.
I supose I like ideas like this, because they are so cheap and easy to do...and can pay off in time and frustration saved.
I try to be efficient and organized so I get more work done...make more $$$...at least that is the plan.
Don't read my wrong dude.... I'm on board 100% with you and I'd do the exact same thing if I thought I could make it happen. But with a full crew, a system where "this" cord always goes with "that" tool is impossible. I'm truly envious that you can set up your site this way because that is exactly how my mind works too. No sarcasm intended.View Image
Better watch it or frenchy will sell you a lift with a generator mounted on the forks. Then add one of the controls like they have one the electric golf bag carts to follow you around..
.
A-holes. Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
I know what you mean. I bought a bunch of new cords a year or so back...OK Guys - these 25' purple one are going to stay clean for inside use only. Use the blue flex cold weather ones for outside in the mud.That way we will keep from getting muddy cords in somebodies house.Yeah
Sure
Right!
Wanna know how well that sunk in?;)Actually not too bad but had to remind them once a day for a week or two by unplugging them if they had the wrong one.
some things they are great at, but others just don't sink in without re-inforcement.One thing I have seen but not done is to use a can of spray paint to hit stripes on a cord when it is rolled up. Great identifier when you are on a site with half a doxen subs running cords all over. You can tell if your cord is growing legs from way up on the roof.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I like efficiency too, esp. since I am not necessarily the most efficient guy around. Anything that helps is worth trying.
This thing about the cords all being black has bugged me for awhile. I'd thought of tagging them in some way but never did. Your idea of coding them by tool colour is so simple it is brilliant. Good thing I don't worship any one brand of tools. ;)
I usually just let my guys make a big nasty bowl of spaghetti out of the 400' of hose and 400' of cord we roll out every day. Then I unplug EVERYBODY and plug in what i need and walk away.
Seems like a good system.
HAH!
"I usually just let my guys make a big nasty bowl of spaghetti out of the 400' of hose and 400' of cord we roll out every day. Then I unplug EVERYBODY and plug in what i need and walk away."I worked for a GC as a laborer in high school that would do exactly that! Then yell at me "fix it!!" so I'd have untangle the mess and scramble to give everybody power and air as they were all yelling "WTF"? Looking around the corner at me knee deep in cords...good times!__________________________
Judo Chop!
You would like the Ridgid tools.
They have a lighted end to tell you if power is getting to the tool, and a picture of the tool, so you know which to unplug.
I think they all have that anyway.
http://www.ridgid.com/fuego/
Wow...why doesn't everyone do that!?Then what would I do with my colored electrical tape? :o)
I love it ! Good call.
Reminds me of a "Dear Abby" letter many years ago. Lady wrote in, got her ear drops mixed up with her eye drops, put the wrong stuff in her eye, and it burned like crazy. Her suggestion, why don't they put a picture of the body part on the bottle ? You know, a drawing of an ear for the ear drops, a sketch of an eye on the eye drops.
Abby said, what about the hemorroid medicine ?
; > )
Greg
>>>This is a follow up on the recent thread on how to roll up cords.
Dang. I missed that thread. Could you quote it? I'm a cord winding keener.
Thanks,
Scott.
Always remember those first immortal words that Adam said to Eve, “You’d better stand back, I don’t know how big this thing’s going to get.â€