Electric Power tools flex - but not much

Mar 28, 2006 14 Replies

Why are electric power tools fitted with the amuzingly named "flex". Flex my



****. It's so stiff I could make coat-hangers from it. I guess there is some safety reason - somewhere. (Prescot doesn't have shares in it does he :-) )

(Ok I'll call it cable if you like)


Try it again in Summer. My cabinet saw squeaks in this weather, when I tilt the motor over and the cable tries to flex.

Ooh! A slacker's dream. Why didn't I think of that. :-)

Good, flexible cable is expensive, power tools are usually a very cutthroat market, hence they save on anything they can, I always try to get 'self coiling' stuff, especially for drills and grinders, usually I have to find and fit it, and remember to get a decent length cable, some new machine cables are ludicrously short, although things I have bought recently have been ok for length of cable, but as you say, the cable is very stiff.

mrcheerful;

It varies a lot depending on the quality of the tool. Most of my cheaper tools have nasty, short, stiff cables. Most of my better ones (DeWalt and Makita) have long (3-5m), rubbery cable.

Grunff wrote: Most of my better ones

Are they Chineese then?

Could well be - Makita are made in China.

Your a rice one you are!

Best flex is still TRS (rubber). But look at the cost compared to PVC at somewhere like the TLC site. It's about 3 times the price.

Add Bosch green to the list (at least on the SDS from Argos).

MBQ

I simply have replaced the flex on many of my tools with quality (HO5RN ? IIRC) true rubber flex. I can also make the flex a bit longer so eliminating the need for an extension lead sometimes.

That's a very useful thing to do, especially if you're going up with a power tool.

Same here. Nothing annoys more than a supplied flex which doesn't allow the tool to reach half way across a room.

Avoiding having to hook the extension lead reel on to the ladder/steps.

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