Power tool cords

Post Reply | Watch this Post

In my opinion, the best power cord is a replacement of the original item from the manufacturer, in most cases. There are few cords today that are just a cord and a plug. Most have a molded area for strain relief and there may not even be enough area for an electricians knot inside the tool. Reconnecting a cord to itself with solder and tape usually ends up pretty messy and is an invitation for the wire to part inside the taped area where it then becomes difficult to find. The molded plugs work best for the same reasons as above. The room to tie and electricians knot for strain relief is important. My experience has been that anything other than a molded plug allows the prongs to bend in use and the plug always wants to fall out of the receptacle.

Honestly, my drill's power cord got the outer covering scrapped off in one section and that has 2 layers of the plastic insulating tape on it. So, yes, I repair if it seems sensible too. Since the drill is a Porter-Cable, they have longer cords than most drills and it seems too much of a waste to replace the cord, but I also seem to always be where I want just a few more inches and would not think of cutting the cord back to replace a plug.

Henry in MI