How to manage 50 ft. of 4-0 lead cable? Reels?

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What is a good way to manage, store, spool, and manipulate 50 ft of 4-0 lead cable?I actually have two lengths to deal with:  a 40ft piece and a 30 foot piece.  I also have a 25 ft piece of 2-0 extra flex for a whip.  I have Tweeco ends available to mount on all connections, so as to use or not use sections as required.I envisioned a setup like BlackWolf's "FrankenCart" that he built for his PowerMig 350MP, where he has two spools side by side above the powersource, so that he can unfurl the stinger and the work clamp to the length needed, and neatly roll them up again.  Somehow, at the inside end of his reels, he has short leads that he routed underneath his PM350 to the power terminals, and I assume that is where he switches polarity as needed.However, looking into purchasing SYN-Reels, or ReelCraft, or any other manufacturer of welding lead reels is several hundred to two thousand dollars!   That's out of my budget.I did get two air hose reels, with no air hose, from HF for about $30.  My thought was to attach these reels to a separate "cart" that would be my "DC Stick" welder... made up of just two big cable spools, ballasted by a huge inherited surplus of 7018 rod cans in an enclosed shelf underneath.  With my "cart", the spools would be about 2 feet off the ground, as oppossed to 5 feet off the ground.However, the problem with the repurposed air hose reels is... I can't figure out how the lead would wrap around the spools?  I would need 6' at the back end of the cable to plug into my power source (a PowerMig 300).   But when I unspool the cable, those ends will demonstrate an unintended meaning to the word "whip"... as in whipping around with each revolution.   I see why welding reels have a conductive center ring.  I just can't see why that makes them so much more expensive.I'm turning to the welding community for better ideas.   What do you suggest?  How do you manage your leads?Respectfully,Charles Brown
Reply:Do you need cable that heavy.  It wears me out just thinking about it.  If that is all you have then I guess you have to deal with it.  I have had better luck using hanger style cable storage instead of reels on cable that heavy.  Here is a link to a cable/amp size and legnth.Im am sorry because I have no help toward your original questionDan D.http://www.pacificcabling.com/Specia...rage_chart.htm
Reply:Well one thing occurs to me have the cables drop out of the air hose reels and then quick connect to the stubs. So short cable from source to reels. Or perhaps just just the loop over type of reels, as in make a loop and drop it over, make a loop and drop it over etc.Miller thunderbolt 250Decastar 135ERecovering tool-o-holic ESAB OAI have been interested or involved in Electrical, Fire Alarm, Auto, Marine, Welding, Electronics ETC to name a just a few. So YES you can own too many tools.
Reply:Other guys built their own reels. I think Irish fix it was one. Otherwise I just put hanger hooks and wrap the leads that way. Way cheaper and no maintenanceMillermatic 252millermatic 175miller 300 Thunderboltlincoln ranger 250smith torcheslots of bfh'sIf it dont fit get a bigger hammer
Reply:at our shop we have hooks as well and just wrap them up on those. same in the trucks, we put tractor supply style boxes vertical in the back and wrap them up in there on a hook and lock it.Miller ab/p 330Hobart champ 16Miller 140Lincoln Power Mig 255Lincoln SA-250
Reply:Thanks for all the responses so far.   I was trying to reach a step beyond hooks, to minimize handling, but reality is reality, and I appreciate the dosages that you guys deliver.The cable is mine, and for better or for worse, is here to stay.  I purchased it 10 years ago, and it is less cash out of pocket to use it then go out and buy new smaller lead. Originally Posted by dumb as a stumpWell one thing occurs to me have the cables drop out of the air hose reels and then quick connect to the stubs. So short cable from source to reels. Or perhaps just just the loop over type of reels, as in make a loop and drop it over, make a loop and drop it over etc.