Plug-it cord - take apart to fix worn cord?

Julian Tracy · May 11, 2015

Have a plug it cord that's overall in good shape except for a little wear on the rubber sheathing near the strain relief. Anyone had any success in getting these apart to remove a bit of the length to eliminate the worn section?

Darn shame if they can't be fixed in such a fashion - should be a 5min fix easy...

JT

carlb40 · May 11, 2015

I did try to take one apart myself last year, and after googling it. It looked like they might be a once only fit.

I tried searching for a thread by the late WOW on plugit cords, but was unable to find it.

AlexThePalex · May 11, 2015

I have tried this too, but you can't take them apart because they are molded together.

All you can do is cut the plug off and replace it. In Europe we can buy a replacement plug, I do not know if it's available in America.

The cost saving of the replacement plug is only minimal, new cord €22, new plug €16.

carlb40 · May 11, 2015

I don't think the plugs are available in the USA. Pretty sure Wayne got a friend in the uk to send some over for his tutorial.

neeleman · May 11, 2015

Alex said:
I have tried this too, but you can't take them apart because they are molded together.

All you can do is cut the plug off and replace it. In Europe we can buy a replacement plug, I do not know if it's available in America.

The cost saving of the replacement plug is only minimal, new cord €22, new plug €16.

Strange but the separate Plug-it connectors (489685) are discontinued in Europe.
Festool now don't want the customer change the connectors themselves?
Luckily I still have 3 connectors in my special Festool Spare Parts Drawer.
I wear them out on my Plug-it hose and need to change the connector once a year.
Strange that the connector on normal power cords cannot be changed without cutting the cord.

AlexThePalex · May 11, 2015

WUT? [blink] Dis-con-tin-u-ed? That's crap, what, they didn't make enough money yet on those crappy-ever-breaking-plug-it-cords? They have to milk us some more?

Thanks for the heads-up, I'll snag a couple when I see them at a dealer, I'm sure there'll be some around somewhere.

Frank-Jan · May 11, 2015

I just checked the ekat-site, to see if it was in the spare parts list for the plug-it hose... partnumber was 900100, but it says it's no longer available.

Julian Tracy · May 11, 2015

Thanks festool - NOT.

Rip Van Winkle · May 11, 2015

Julian Tracy said:
Thanks festool - NOT.

Milwaukee did the same thing years ago with their Quik-Lok cords.

When the Quik-Lok cords were originally sold, the cord quik-Lok connectors were available as a replacement part. At some point they discontinued the replacement part so you had to buy a whole cord. I believe it is still possible to take the Milwaukee connectors apart to repair a cord if the damage is near the end.

Cheese · May 12, 2015

[member=42462]Rip Van Winkle[/member]
You're right about the Milwaukee cords, however the big difference is that in over 20 years I've never had to replace a single Milwaukee cord because of the Quik-Lok failing, while in the last 7 years I've had to replace 3 Festool cords. And I'm easier on the Festool equipment because it costs 2-3 times more. I can't tell you the number of times I've lowered or raised a Milwaukee drill or Sawzall by the cord when I'm up on a ladder/scaffold.

Julian Tracy · May 12, 2015

... and the Milwaukee cords complete run about $17-18...

Mine just has some worn spots on the rubber cord near the plugit connector. Going to try and cut and super glue some shrink wrap to build up a new "strain relief" to avoid further wear.

Very surprised this thread didn't turn into a "Oh my!!, please don't suggest we do our own electrical cord work!! That should only be done by Festool service dept!" I thought it would, even to the point of having the Festool rep rain down on the discussion.

JT

AlexThePalex · May 12, 2015

Julian Tracy said:
Very surprised this thread didn't turn into a "Oh my!!, please don't suggest we do our own electrical cord work!! That should only be done by Festool service dept!" I thought it would, even to the point of having the Festool rep rain down on the discussion.

Well, apparently the entire point is moot because there is no other option now but to completely replace the cord. [mad]

Btw, I asked the very same question you asked last year and my thread was deleted by the forum administrator for asking something inappropriate (modificaton of a tool in a hazardous way).

Julian Tracy · May 12, 2015

Lions and Tigers and Bears, Oh my!

Laminator · May 19, 2015

The plug it end can be taken apart and put back together, however, there is not much hope of connecting a new wire when you do get it apart. Sure wish the replacement ends were still available as the cords are way too short for my usage as they come from the factory.

If I ever have problems with any of mine, I will opt for the hardwire kit, If such a thing is still available.

If its not, I will hard wire it myself....

Holmz · May 20, 2015

Alex said:
I have tried this too, but you can't take them apart because they are molded together.

All you can do is cut the plug off and replace it. In Europe we can buy a replacement plug, I do not know if it's available in America.

The cost saving of the replacement plug is only minimal, new cord €22, new plug €16.

Do you have the part number?
And are 220v and 110v have different plugs on them at the tool side?
(I need to replace an Eu cord with an Aus one)

AlexThePalex · May 20, 2015

Holmz said:
Do you have the part number?
And are 220v and 110v have different plugs on them at the tool side?
(I need to replace an Eu cord with an Aus one)

Festool 489685 RK Plug It-Plug 240 Volt

I think 240v plugs are the same as the 110v plugs of the thicker variety cord, but I am not sure because I never handled a 110v Festool.

Holmz · May 20, 2015

Thanks [member=5277]Alex[/member] - I'll just assume that all flavours of 220v are the same then.
All the best,
Randal

neeleman · May 20, 2015

Laminator said:
The plug it end can be taken apart and put back together, however, there is not much hope of connecting a new wire when you do get it apart. Sure wish the replacement ends were still available as the cords are way too short for my usage as they come from the factory.

If I ever have problems with any of mine, I will opt for the hardwire kit, If such a thing is still available.

If its not, I will hard wire it myself....

In Europe there are power cords available from 4.0 m, 7.5 m and even 10 m length!
The 4.0 and 7.5 m version are also available in the PUR version which has resistance against aggressive fluids.

Laminator · May 20, 2015

If only I could get the 10m cords in USA!!!

Holmz · May 21, 2015

Laminator said:
If only I could get the 10m cords in USA!!!

I you buy the UK part, I can tell that you then need some SJOOW portable cord.
That is about $0.8 a foot.

Plug-it cord - take apart to fix worn cord?

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