Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 12 hours ago
The best part about living in a world where modern appliances only last a few years...is that we get all sorts of leftover cords we get to collect.
Vacuums seem to be one of the appliances we replace a lot in our house (we have long haired German shepherds pops up on the screen), but before I let the trash man run off with mine, I clip the cord. Vacuum cords are great because they’re long, flexible, and already made to handle a lot of voodoo juice.
But before adding a plug to the cut end and trying to use it as an extension for a table saw, you need to know the wire gauge, what the cord was originally powering, and how much juice it can handle before things start getting melty.
Before I cut the cord, I check the appliance label. A good way to remember what this thing came from months or years down the road is to label it with what it used to power and the information printed on the cord.
After cutting the cord, I’ll attach my label to it and it’s ready to store.
This cord is looking pretty good, but if you find one that’s cracked, bends weird, has any cuts in it, looks melty, or is otherwise sketchy… toss it.
Next, we need to look at the plug. If it has two prongs, it stays with two-prong stuff. Three means I’ve got a ground wire to work with...and those are the ones I really want for extension cords.
Now if I am turning this into an extension cord, I add a female plug to the cut side. Black always goes to brass, white goes to silver, and if I've got a ground wire, green goes with green.
If you’re attaching the cord directly to something, remember the plug tells you which wire is which. The small prong is hot, and the large prong is neutral.
So before the trash man runs off with your throwaway appliance, grab the cord… it’s a cheap souvenir from something that probably cost you way too much.
Like step by step projects? Check out the second channel! → @makethingswithrob
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Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
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Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Bill Patterson
D. Lundman
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
The best part about living in a world where modern appliances only last a few years...is that we get all sorts of leftover cords we get to collect.
Vacuums seem to be one of the appliances we replace a lot in our house (we have long haired German shepherds pops up on the screen), but before I let the trash man run off with mine, I clip the cord. Vacuum cords are great because they’re long, flexible, and already made to handle a lot of voodoo juice.
But before adding a plug to the cut end and trying to use it as an extension for a table saw, you need to know the wire gauge, what the cord was originally powering, and how much juice it can handle before things start getting melty.
Before I cut the cord, I check the appliance label. A good way to remember what this thing came from months or years down the road is to label it with what it used to power and the information printed on the cord.
After cutting the cord, I’ll attach my label to it and it’s ready to store.
This cord is looking pretty good, but if you find one that’s cracked, bends weird, has any cuts in it, looks melty, or is otherwise sketchy… toss it.
Next, we need to look at the plug. If it has two prongs, it stays with two-prong stuff. Three means I’ve got a ground wire to work with...and those are the ones I really want for extension cords.
Now if I am turning this into an extension cord, I add a female plug to the cut side. Black always goes to brass, white goes to silver, and if I've got a ground wire, green goes with green.
If you’re attaching the cord directly to something, remember the plug tells you which wire is which. The small prong is hot, and the large prong is neutral.
So before the trash man runs off with your throwaway appliance, grab the cord… it’s a cheap souvenir from something that probably cost you way too much.
Like step by step projects? Check out the second channel! → @makethingswithrob
Buy me a beverage! → buymeacoffee.com/makethings ←
Become a patron! → patreon.com/makethings ←
Huge thank you to my patrons that keep this thing going!
*MAKER TEAM*
Michelle B
Keith Current
Rich Lightfoot
Tutor the Barbarian
Aubrey G.
Nukebert
Sam W.
Aaron Knows DIY
G. Salazar
David B.
Marc B.
Richard B.
Ben. K
Bill Patterson
D. Lundman
Make Things
#MakeThings #mtbitesize
