Extension Cords and Rocket Lamps!

Only the old timers will recognize the sound bite at the end! 😃👍

[@jmegown52302]

Love your version of the Rocket Lamp! 👍👍👍

[@caseycrookham3647]

Thanks for the Fireball XL5 5heme music at the end! Great kid show of the 60's.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Casey- Outstanding! You were the first to recognize that theme! Awesome!

[@tramtoby]

I made this analogy as an apprentice electrician 40 years ago to my engineer, voltage is pressure, current is the flow, same as a hose pipe, he told me not to be stupid, you never mix water with electricity. Makes me laugh now thinking about it.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

Sounds engineerish. Had an engineer on a dam job to take compaction and whatnot and a mechanics helper asked him what the difference was between engineer boots and cowboy boots. Cowboy boots had the manure on the outside. He about shut the job down.

[@joemoach832]

Good information on extension cords. Great job too on the steampunk lamp. Very Buck Rogers.

[@MadDog6945]

The dude that built that lamp has $200 into it. It’s obviously a labor of love, and it inspires me to do something similar. I doubt mine will be as good, but it looks like a really fun project.

[@MadDog6945]

Man do I feel stupid. I paused the video when you were appreciating the lamp, seconds before the ‘made in China’ revelation. I’m demoralized. To hell with reliplicating it.

[@MadDog6945]

John, maybe your next Scoutcrafter challenge should be a lamp.

[@1D10CRACY]

LOL I saw that lamp on Facebook for sale, I saved the picture and told the Wife... "Some day I'll make one.". Guess we think a like. Your version looks a lot better!

[@ScoutCrafter]

I'm so glad you didn't fall into the same trap I did... The one I saw advertised was indeed metal... Fool me once shame on you, fool me twice shame on me! =D

[@alanmullock381]

Fine looking steampunk lamp John,much nicer than bought one!👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😎😎😎😎

[@paintnamer6403]

Fireball was one of my childhood memories, great ending.

[@patrickomalley7460]

Looking go great job thanks John 🔌

[@davidgibson9866]

Man….that turned out nice 👍🏻 I like it 😃

[@Traderjoe]

I love that lamp!

[@michelecrown2426]

Your home made rocket lamp is the bomb.

[@philparker1666]

Love your made lamp Scoutcrafter 👍

[@mikejones5358]

Your lamp looks great and will last forever

[@foundit6088]

Wow that lamp looks awesome! Never saw one of those before. I hate to waste anything but I’d have to get rid of that plastic one. Every time I would look at it it would bug me, haha

[@richardross7219]

If you want it done right, you have to do it yourself. Good Luck, Rick

[@scotthaddad563]

Another great topic! Here is a suggestion: Never loan out an electric tool to your neighbor! I made that mistake once and after asking if my neighbor would want a proper extension cord. He said that he had the proper cord after me emphatically telling him of the importance. When I got my 110 volt welder back, all it would do is pop the breaker. DOH!

[@OldSneelock]

I tell them to bring what they need welded over and I will weld it. Saves all the hard feelings.

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@OldSneelock Woir4ks the same with chainsaws and wives. I SHOULOD'VE LOANED THE 'WIFE' AND KEPT THE SAW!

[@patjohnson3100]

Very valuable advice, except I would add that it applies to all tools and books.

[@mrblauer1]

You sure can Rock it. My dad taught me about electrical extension cords, so I did a double take when I saw the cord he used to plug in his car's heater had poorly place electrical tape on it with a bit of wire poking out. He told me some one was stealing the car's electric cords at his assisted living apartment; this one stayed right where he put it.

[@lotsabirds]

GREAT lamp!!!

[@nemo4907]

In aviation, we use the EXTREME spectrum. One day a generator harness 5 runs of 15ft 4/0ga to one big cannon plug. Next day 30ga and 32ga alumel and chromel wires for fire suppression circuits.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Wow!!!!!! Talk about expensive wire!!!!!!!!! I would love to visit the scrap bin there! LOL

[@buddynewman8949]

Beautiful job on the lamp!!!

[@bigvicsworkshop]

Hi John! I Love projects like that! Looks fantastic! And great info in the cords...the water hose comparison really helps get the point across!👍Thanks for sharing!

[@ItsAlwaysRusty]

Great ending...

[@mikecurtis2585]

Great Light looks nice. Thanks 😊🙏

[@thefirefighterwaylifefight2030]

Amazing Video as always brotha.... We call that Friction Loss in our Fire Hose... The smaller the diameter like you said the more Friction Loss in the line... That equalals less (GPM) Gallons Per Minute of Water out the end of the Line.... Good Stuff

[@adude7050]

Great video Really like he rocket lamp idea

[@peterjames2580]

Love steam punk and rockets!

[@LoStivale]

Awesome rocket lamp.

[@billlink7116]

Nice job on the lamp.

[@kathieharine5982]

The steampunk lamp you made is the real deal. Super!

[@johnburgess6572]

And Bob's your uncle hahahaha I cant forget it from a few shows ago. LOVE the rocket lamp

[@shopcatt643]

That really turned out awesome

[@357magdad]

The rocket lamp is awesome!

[@jpsimon206]

Another argument for buying the best extension cord possible is that you're not ever losing money. If you use it for 20 years and it wears out, the price of copper will have risen enough that scrapping it will probably yield the same amount that you paid for it.

[@frro28]

"The cat's payamas"! Luv it.

[@mercuryrising9174]

I keep forgetting I think a good topic to start august would be shop fan maintenance.. It's crazy hot this year's and ide guess that aspect gets overlooked frequently.. I appreciate the extension cord overview.. very good information. I've had some horrible extension cords!! And it pisses me off !!! My grandfather used to make those homemade extension cords I think they a phenomenal I still have one of his and use it all the time. I've wanted to make a super industrial one but like you stated a few episodes ago the materials have went sky high!!! I priced all the parts few months ago and would have been over 100$ for what I wanted to make my idea was the metal anti abrasion sleeves off both ends and water proof 6 plug box with with integrated fuse box the whole works!!! But the price stopped that plan completely!!!!

[@zipshed]

Cool lamp its great!

[@johnkelley9877]

The lamp you made is so much better looking that the one from China. Thanks for sharing this and the extension cord information.

[@57WillysCJ]

I only use 12 and 10 ga. extensions outside unless it is something with a small draw. Back when I was doing roofing for a few folks I bought a lot of air hose. I must have 250 feet of air hose. I would put the air compressor as close to the outlet and get distance with hoses. That initial start on an air compressor has a lot of draw. As to the light, nicely done. Think of it this way, sometimes you get something so disappointing it makes you do what you should have done to begin with. It gives you a jumpstart. That is how Packard Motors started. James complained to Winton that the car Winton built was not good. Winton told James Packard " if you think you can do better build your own." He did any many remember Packard but few Winton.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Philip- You are so right! Compressors and AC units draw the most! I have one of those dreaded pancake compressors and that draws every bit of 15 amps on start up!!!!

[@GuntersGarage]

That lamp Rocks!! Im also a fan of home made extension cords. At work the carpenters and other contractors are always throwing cords away and for a while I would grab them out of the dumpsters to make shorter ones from the good parts of the cord. I reached a point where I had extension cords running out of my ears, lol.

[@stephenbadamo130]

Great idea to install a dimmer! 🚀

[@carldelawter8900]

In my house, everything is in the process of being on a circuit breaker, surge protected power strip, switched gang boxes for the workbench, GFIs, or AFIs. Nothing left powered not in use. Florida is unreal with the superstrike lightning hits. House has been hit 8 times in 45 yrs. Grounding & bonded circuits checked also. Surge protected service box. Original owner & myself have both been shocked by lightning flowing thru an aluminum window frame to a ground. 🤯

[@nicknicoletti9778]

Your lamp came out so much better than the one you impulse bought. I have to admit the pics you looked at surly looked like real metal to me. Anyway you have a super quality built one now. Excellent job!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hi Nick! I studied those pics hard and read the entire description... They never mentioned plastic. China... =D

[@gimble1]

Damn it ...now I gotta make one!

[@mrclockman1950]

How do you wire up a gang box? Great lamp, good lesson on extension cords. Thanks for the video.

[@tonylenge424]

Wow allot of info! Great tutorial, really useful and much appreciated. I think the rocket needs bigger flames! Thanks

[@big_steven2226]

Also if you do use a lot of chord make sure it’s not coiled up if you are putting a heavy load on it. It will overheat as well

[@highdownmartin]

I have three extension leads that I made from 150’ of rubber covered cable that was used to take power to a chicken shed. £2 at a car boot sale , many years back. Very heavy gauge multi strand wire at least 25A. No voltage drop or overheating for me!

[@glengrossnickle4985]

That light is amazing. Yours of course. I have over the years made lots of cords. At the hospital we were always getting new equipment in to replace out dated. Being in maintenance it was quite often my job to trash the old things. Lots of pig tails and plugs I saved because it was being trashed. Most was hospital grade. I still have a couple but my stash is getting low. Stay safe and healthy my friend. Thanks

[@bobjoncas2814]

...lookin' good, nice one, keep safe..

[@rossandersen942]

Another great one. I would love to see how to repair a nicked cord in a future video. Thx

[@joeheilm]

I have ruined an extention cord or two since i got the forklift...lol. it will smash a cord into a pancake 🤯🙈. I love the rocket lamp! Cheers

[@ScoutCrafter]

LOL- Joe, When I was at work sometimes a bus would run over the head of a drop light and they would throw the entire assembly in the trash... Guess who used to cut the head off and keep the cord! =D

[@capocollect8861]

Great information

[@ricksolari9570]

Awesome!

[@hamsterman2008]

Leon Musk just announced that he will be flying a Steampunk Rocket to Mars . Luv that lamp Dude !

[@Reggyontheroad]

Looking good

[@lotsatrains]

I just saw that lamp a couple of weeks ago and was considering buying it but now Im glad I didn’t I like yours so much better thanks for showing us the real deal!

[@kenny8351]

That lamp is really cool. Nice job!

[@jpsimon206]

Your lamp came out way better! I do think you should find a sprocket or a gear to be the base. Something bare metal to provide reflection to the flickering bulbs

[@ScoutCrafter]

I wanted to make a moon looking base!

[@jpsimon206]

@@ScoutCrafter ooh that's a much better idea. It would be easy to source a 3D printed one but yuck to plasticky. Where are you going to find a vintage representation of the moon? maybe cut a section of the globe?

[@mrbenmall]

Thanks for the extension cord info. Yes, I'm quite certain the cord I've been using is too thin for the leaf blower. Great job on the steampunk rocket light.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hi Ben! What a great topic for discussion! John from Scotland brought up a great point for Friday's video! Thanks again!

[@patjohnson3100]

That is a very useful video on electricity. I knew heavier gauge was better, but I'll bet I've fallen for the thicker jacket ruse that hides 14 gauge wire when you want something heavier. I'm going to check what I have. In the garage. Great steampunk lamp. Yours is unique in the world because it is handmade out of real metal. Much better than Chinese plastic. Very valuable video.

[@mikefoley360]

Much better than the China thing, no surprise.... Very Dan Dare in style

[@robertmerk2168]

I hope you returned that lamp. They were deceptive. I think the lamp that they had pictured was actually metal.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Robert- That is how they get you! The return postage for that package would be $25- "Fool me once shame on you, Fool me twice shame on me!" =D Thanks!

[@MadDog6945]

Just my opinion, but I threw out all of my wife’s skinny extension chords when we got married. I bought a half dozen 12 gauge chords in various lengths to replace them. Seems to me that you can’t go wrong with the heavier gauge, and I find that I use the 10’ chords a few times a week to run power tools or my smoker or to run a battery charger. Sometimes shorter is better.

[@ScoutCrafter]

John- Those big beefy cords are so nice- A bit pricy but you can't put a price on peace of mind! Thanks!

[@alexstools]

Great project. When you first showed the lamp, before you said anything, I thought why didn't you make it yourself. I would've expected you to have all the materials kicking around 😂 I'm thinking about putting a toilet together for my car. Don't want it to minimal but can't take anything either. Plus I notice in a car everything rusts up fast. Might be nice to see what you've got with you in the truck for tools to go. Nice break of the week!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Alex! A toilet? In the car? 😂👍

[@alexstools]

@@ScoutCrafter 😂 a toolset 😰

[@OldSneelock]

Spell check? 😁😎

[@alexstools]

@@OldSneelock Auto-correct.... 😿

[@scott.c9587]

I love the lamp and I built one.

[@johncavanaugh6481]

Cool. My daughter is going to college next year majoring in Aerospace Engineering, I need to make one of these for her.

[@gator83261]

Cool lamp!

[@johnmclaurin]

Scout, I did exactly the same thing, ordered it and when it came in I was pissed big time….think I will make my own also….great video!

[@ScoutCrafter]

John They got us both!!!! =D Fool me once shame on you, Fool me twice shame on me!!!

[@christopherdwyer]

I got suckered on the same plastic lamp. Cool video.

[@OldSneelock]

Another thing to be carefull of is older houses were sometimes wired with #14 gauge wire instead of the modrrn #12 gauge. #14 is okay for a 15 amp load, but can overheat under a 20 amp load. Plugging a gang box into such an outlet, even with #12 cord feeding the gangbox, can cause the house wiring to overload and may start a fire

[@ScoutCrafter]

Good point Dave. The only devise I have that draws 15 amps is a pancake compressor on start up... For much of todays devises 15 amps is a lot! Running two major units at once is always a no no! =D

[@OldSneelock]

@@ScoutCrafter I had many run ins with overloading circuits. Cubicals are wired for a couple outlets. A computer, monitor, and printer fills 3 if the 4 recepts. Then the ladies put in a heater summer and winter. Add in a coffee maker, damn Kurig anyway, and a toaster runs it right up over the 20 amp breaker that feeds the whole row of 4 cubes. If 3 heaters come on at the same time all the computers go out. The denizens of the cube farm soon learn to reset the breaker on their own. Soon the wires begin to fail at connectons and start arcing. Simple solution right, just put in more outlets. No matter how many you install there will be one more plug than there are outlets. It's like saying, "I can't be out of money I still have checks!"

[@upsidedowndog1256]

I love your new lamp! I will have to look for an explosion proof lamp now.

[@ROD59]

John, fantastic video, have you noticed that things are not as simple as we think there's cord gauge versus amperage , medium duty use, heavy use, extremely heavy,ultra heavy use then oil resistance fluids, weather resistance , different colors for different industries and let's not even start on the plugs and connectors ,straight blades , locking blades ,lol .Ben is going to be really confuse lol

[@johnpossum556]

In a lamp being tossed I found 3 Phillips 1700K 3.5 Watt lights and one would be perfect for this project as they make even new things look old and antiquey. I am kind of surprised you brought up the UL tag without mentioning the UL knot. They have an official strain relief knot that is ideal for old projects before strain relievers were probably even invented.

[@stevef8993]

I guarantee that cord you found in the garbage was cut by a hedge trimmer. Lol. You covered all electrical aspects of the extension cord very well. Great job! That rocket lamp is so cool, especially with the flickering lamps. Too bad it was plastic but your metal one is much better

[@ScoutCrafter]

Steve- When I was younger I cut my extension cord at least every few seasons with my hedge trimmer! LOL

[@OldSneelock]

Using a handy box for the end of an extension cord ish"t allowed by OHSHA. When you grab the box the knockouts can fold in under your fingers and short out the terminals on the side of the receptacle. 😁😎

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I put that in the same category as a metal bodied drill motor and such others. John's plastic gang box is a good idea.

[@OldSneelock]

@@lewiemcneely9143 It is mostly because the knockouts are only attached on one side by a thin strip. I had to replace one that hsd been installed on a hoist pendant control. The operator used it to pull the hoist on the monorail. Gripping it he bent the slugs in and shorted it out. Afterwards I read the OHSHA Manual and found the rule banning them. 😁😎

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@OldSneelock 10'4. I know they aren't held on by much.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Those electrical box extension cords were the rage 30 years ago... Today there are so many cheap alternatives... I bought two different styles a month ago for about $11 each! =D

[@lewiemcneely9143]

@@ScoutCrafter I sometimes make mine but they're just singles. I'm too senile to run 2 things at a time!

[@tooladdict7463]

Fantastic job on the light John are real beauty well done buddy PS thanks for the great video I enjoyed that one :-)

[@MashBill]

Copper work hardens, so repeated hard bends in the same location can cause the copper to get "brittle" and break.

[@euphoria_7477]

well, you kinda know what you're talking about, keep up the learning brother.

[@larryborkstrom3580]

Cool lamp

[@MrJruta]

That is so cool!!! Off I go to Home Depot ...

[@scott.c9587]

Nice lamp

[@norherman]

Buck Rogers lamp! The future is now.

[@jpsimon206]

One of my favorite tools on Earth is the cord reel from a meile vacuum cleaner. Super high-end German vacuum that my neighbor bought and it crapped out after a year. When I took it apart it had the most brilliant little cable reel with 50 ft of excellent SJO cord. I think vacuums are almost always SJO, not sure though. For some reason, this little spool is a third of the size of any cable reel and it never tangles or sticks or anything. I spent years trying to figure out why nobody was marketing these on their own.

[@ScoutCrafter]

Interesting history on that cable it was a certain gauge designed especially for vacuums and spilled over to other appliances. I think 18AWG

[@restorationvintage9579]

Well done! ;-) I wish you many more interesting projects).

[@illestofdemall13]

Great video as usual and that lamp is really cool regardless of its country of manufacture. Lol

[@ScoutCrafter]

Kris- I studied the pics of the advertisement hard and it was definitely cast iron... When I got the box it was so light I thought it was empty! LOL

[@illestofdemall13]

@@ScoutCrafter I've been fooled before too. Lol

[@janderson8401]

I don’t think that putting a sharp bend in an extension cord or placing a heavy object on one actually slows the flow of electricity. However doing things like that can damage both the wire and the insulation. My late father in law, who started his apprenticeship as an electrician in 1940, left us several extension cords that he had made up many years ago that are still as good as new.

[@ScoutCrafter]

I think you are right, the problem is heat build up that eventually destroys the insulation and then the problems really begin! =D

[@negotiableaffections]

A fantastic build, John - even the plastic one looks, kinda, nice [it inspired your version] but that really is the cat's jim-jams. Btw re: extension cords, [not sure if you mentioned it] If you use an ext-cord whilst its still coiled, THEN it becomes an induction coil and will definitely heat up, risking fire or shock. This emphasises your comment about length, if you don't need miles of cord don't use a long one, still wound!

[@ScoutCrafter]

Hi Keith- We will discuss that very subject on Friday! Thanks!!!!!

[@scifimodelshop]

going to sit down with the grandson and build this, be a slow build for sure and that is okay as he have to come over more to get it done right

[@johnclough6588]

A further point re the coil effect, if your extension cord comes on a wind up reel, the reellabel may give 2 different ratings for max power. One for not unwound and the other (generally higher)for an unwound reel. John Clough

[@jpsimon206]

You should take the old plastic one and use it as a finial for your flagpole

[@ScoutCrafter]

LMAO!!!!!!

[@plasteringwithAinz]

Awh the dredded Chinese deception, I mean looks good but still plastic fantastic. Hey why don't you do a video on the best things you have restored that you have found "on the kerb" or "free to a good home". As always love the videos waiting for Friday TGIF.

[@barryfarnsworth3360]

Hello from uk.

[@not2fast4u2c]

The cheap lamp looks neat but yours is better

[@rok1341]

Pinocchio was looking at it in awe ,what with him being a boy after all.

[@kadmaster]

I always make my own extension cords..Interesting thing is everyone can make Short Tester from extension cords...with just one plier and bulb...

[@willdennis2722]

You have quite an imagination and are driven by that! I wonder if your wife/girlfriend has the same. If not she must e a saint ! Keep em coming always enjoy and learn something!

[@greghomestead8366]

At the end of the video when the engine startup sound came on, I expected to hear........ Atomic batteries to power. Turbines to speed. Remember the TV show where they said that? Have a Jesus filled day everyone Greg in Michigan

[@ScoutCrafter]

Greg- the Original Batman! 😃👍.

[@metrofarmer913]

John, John, John.

[@rawbacon]

That's funny I was just looking at one of those Rocket Lamps on eBay (suggested I wasn't actually searching for one) for $22.95 with free shipping, I thought no way it can be made from real parts so I looked at the material and it said plastic.....................I have a trim router with a beefy looking cord that the cord went bad on, when I got it apart the actual copper wire was just a few strands.

[@deweysellers1452]

what he didn't tell you is that the cord wire 16SJ is a standard jacket cord or a SSJ is a thicker jacket. they make others but a SSJ is used when cutting the cord by using the tool is likely.