XLR cable reel

L

Lor

Well-known member
I have a 100 feet XLR cable. I need a better way to carry and organized this cable. I was thinking of some sort of reel---like a garden hose reel. Can someone suggest a fairly cheap but good reel for only 100 feet XLR cable?

Thanks for any suggestion.
 
Thanks for the quick response. That reel holds up to 300' and I only need up to 100 feet. I need it to be compact and portable.
 
I need something that looks like this one. However, this one is retractable and it has a built in cable already. A hand crank for retracting is fine with me.
 
Go to your local hardware store and pick up a reel made for an extension cord. Inexpensive, and effective.
 
Alex H. said:
Go to your local hardware store and pick up a reel made for an extension cord. Inexpensive, and effective.
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I have thought of that but I need some way to plug into the reel itself; otherwise it is so hard to use it.
 
In my opinion a single 100 ft xlr cable isn't worth putting on a reel.
It's not THAT unwieldy but put it on a reel and suddenly it is VERY unwieldy to carry around.
 
Alex H. said:
Go to your local hardware store and pick up a reel made for an extension cord. Inexpensive, and effective.
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That is exactly what I did. Wrap the the cable so you have an inner tail to plug which ever end is your "out". Sounds clunky, but very convenient. Plus if you do ever get more XLR's you can store them on the reel and peel off what you need. And when you do this, you are "flat wrapping" your cable.

I think I had paid 8-10 dollars for it. Because if someone ever wraps your cable wrong, or it gets internally twisted due to repeatedly twist wrapping.......you will then be thankful for the suggestion. 100 footers aren't the cheapest things and a pain to untangle, especially if you are under the gun on a set.
 
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Bernard, that's exactly why I'm looking for a reel for even a 100 footer because I hate to untangle that thing especially a one or two man band. Do you have a picture of what you have? I don't see how it will work because the inner tail will be flapping or difficult to reel in the cable in.
 
Second on the inexpensive extension cord reels, worth the hassle just to not have interns or PAs elbow wrapping your cables and ruining them, as most people (even some pro's cant get the concept of over/under cable wrapping) and extending the life of your cables. I have about 10 XLR cables I have had since the 80s and they are still as good as new because they have been treated well.
 
Lor said:
Bernard, that's exactly why I'm looking for a reel for even a 100 footer because I hate to untangle that thing especially a one or two man band. Do you have a picture of what you have? I don't see how it will work because the inner tail will be flapping or difficult to reel in the cable in.
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Most AC extension cord reels have a clip near or on the hub for securing a connector. It shouldn't flop around too much.
 
This is the one I always used (stands 14" or so high):

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I popped a pair of small slits on the side of the reel close to the edge. Enough for a velcro cable strap.

Strapped whichever end of the cable (M or F) so it pointed outwards, yet still inside the reel. Then used the inner cord hook as a start point for wrapping.
 
I think I have that exact one for my extension cord and it's pain in butt to reel it in because the inside or tail will flip around the wheel as I reel the cable in. But yes, that is a cheap way of doing it since I do not want to spend anything that is above $100.
 
Lor said:
I think I have that exact one for my extension cord and it's pain in butt to reel it in because the inside or tail will flip around the wheel as I reel the cable in. But yes, that is a cheap way of doing it since I do not want to spend anything that is above $100.
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Simple solution. Drill a hole through to the center which is hollow. Feed your home end through so just the connector sits beyond the edge (or get fancy and put a panel mount jack there). No flopping when winding.

Have to agree though that it's taking up a lot more space than a coil. Not sure how it would avoid tangles either. If you have tangles it doesn't matter how you coil the cable you are going to have to untangle it first.
 
I keep all my 10m cables plugged end-to-end on the 10m reel(s) and all the 30m cables on the 30m reel(s).
Then I can unreel whichever length I need, unplug it, and use it.
Strike is simply a matter of walking around the stage and grabbing a cable end, plugging it in, and rolling it back up.
I've been doing this for >20 years and it has worked very well for me.
 
Have not used this for XLR cable but it might do the job.

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Noiz2 said:
Simple solution. Drill a hole through to the center which is hollow. Feed your home end through so just the connector sits beyond the edge (or get fancy and put a panel mount jack there). No flopping when winding.

Have to agree though that it's taking up a lot more space than a coil. Not sure how it would avoid tangles either. If you have tangles it doesn't matter how you coil the cable you are going to have to untangle it first.
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Thanks! This sounds like a good idea. I have not thought of putting a hole or use a panel mount jack. Do you know a site where I can get a panel mount jack for something like this? It's an interesting idea. I may try it.
 
Richard Crowley said:
I keep all my 10m cables plugged end-to-end on the 10m reel(s) and all the 30m cables on the 30m reel(s).
Then I can unreel whichever length I need, unplug it, and use it.
Strike is simply a matter of walking around the stage and grabbing a cable end, plugging it in, and rolling it back up.
I've been doing this for >20 years and it has worked very well for me.
Click to expand...

I can see the ease factor just not the tangle mitigation factor. I think it also has a lot to do with where and how you (generic not specific you) work. So I can see it for stage and studio work. Space isn't a big issue and your not lugging it around. Location folks would probably be less enamored because of the storage space and having to lug it around. Also speed may enter into it if you have a crew since your stuck with one at a time on a spool where as in a bin you can have multiple people laying or collecting cable at one time.
 
Lor said:
Thanks! This sounds like a good idea. I have not thought of putting a hole or use a panel mount jack. Do you know a site where I can get a panel mount jack for something like this? It's an interesting idea. I may try it.
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Local electronics store, Radio Shack, Digikey, etc. Lots of online sources.
 
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