Budget buster--klutzy hubby

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Last Thursday, we dropped a ton of $$ at Home Depot...New kitchen sink, faucets, fittings, (the strainers for the sink were $45 each!) and while we were there, a new electric hedge trimmer.
Well, this afternoon DH was going to town with the clipper on all the bushes and shrubs and HE CUT RIGHT THROUGH THE CORD!!
Unless it can be removed and replaced, it looks like goodbye to the clipper...

Although, totally OT, I have to give DH kudos for being honest. While he was putting the stuff in the trunk I was examining the receipt and realized that the kid at the register had not charged us for the sink! DH immediately took it back into the store and showed the receipt to our check-out guy. He was sooooo happy that we came back! Manager then took 10% off the price because, as she said, we coulda had it for free!
He's honest as the day is long, just a little clumsy!

 

[gracie1]

Last Thursday, we dropped a ton of $$ at Home Depot...New kitchen sink, faucets, fittings, (the strainers for the sink were $45 each!) and while we were there, a new electric hedge trimmer.
Well, this afternoon DH was going to town with the clipper on all the bushes and shrubs and HE CUT RIGHT THROUGH THE CORD!!
Unless it can be removed and replaced, it looks like goodbye to the clipper...

Although, totally OT, I have to give DH kudos for being honest. While he was putting the stuff in the trunk I was examining the receipt and realized that the kid at the register had not charged us for the sink! DH immediately took it back into the store and showed the receipt to our check-out guy. He was sooooo happy that we came back! Manager then took 10% off the price because, as she said, we coulda had it for free!
He's honest as the day is long, just a little clumsy!

I could just imagine your face when he told you he cut through the cord on his brand new trimmers

 

[hercamore]

An electrician can put a new cord on for you.

It's a good thing he didn't get shocked!

herc

 

[NotUrsula]

Go give klutzo a hug, because he's still alive. My uncle died by electrocution in exactly that way; all it took was a little dew on the grass.

An electrician can put a new cord on the trimmer. Call a place that advertises lamp repair.

 

[mward73]

Glad he's ok! I got the shock of a lifetime when I did the same thing a few years ago. It literally knocked me on my butt. Give the electrician a call - they fixed mine

 

[Planogirl]

My DH is that way! The worst is when he ruined our living room ceiling when he was in the attic by first stepping through a spot and then later almost falling completely through in another place.

 

[mom*three]

I laughed at your post because less than a week ago, I cut through my hedge trimmer cord, also. I just fixed it the other day, and it is very easy to do. Here's how, if you want to know:
Unplug it. Strip the ends of the wires on both sides of the cut (use a wire stripper or a sharp knife), twist the wires back together (matching the colors), cap them with wire caps, and then wrap the whole repair area by winding a few layers of electrical tape over it. Sure, you end up with a taped lump in the cord, but it works good as new and only cost a few bucks to repair. My brother says instead of using wire caps, you can just cover each of the twisted wires completely with the electrical tape, but I think using the wire caps would be safer.
Anyway, good luck getting your hedge trimmer functioning again.

 

[NotUrsula]

I laughed at your post because less than a week ago, I cut through my hedge trimmer cord, also. I just fixed it the other day, and it is very easy to do. Here's how, if you want to know:
Unplug it. Strip the ends of the wires on both sides of the cut (use a wire stripper or a sharp knife), twist the wires back together (matching the colors), cap them with wire caps, and then wrap the whole repair area by winding a few layers of electrical tape over it. Sure, you end up with a taped lump in the cord, but it works good as new and only cost a few bucks to repair. My brother says instead of using wire caps, you can just cover each of the twisted wires completely with the electrical tape, but I think using the wire caps would be safer.
Anyway, good luck getting your hedge trimmer functioning again.

DO NOT DO THIS WITH YARD EQUIPMENT!!!! Remember that dead uncle I mentioned? The reason that he died was that he had done this with the cord (and FTR, he was a licensed electrician, but a very frugal man.) I said that he had cut the trimmer cord, but actually he had cut it previously (and gotten badly shocked); the electrocution happened when the repaired cord got wet with dew on the grass.

Anytime that you are working outdoors around vegetation, there is always a chance that there will be a bit of water around somewhere, and a tape seal is just not really watertight. My cousins lost their father because he didn't want to completely replace a $5 power cord.

Corded garden equipment is no longer safe any time there is a break in the waterproof insulation on the cord. Get the entire cord properly replaced -- your life is worth that much.

 

[daleswife]

An electrician can put a new cord on for you.

It's a good thing he didn't get shocked!

herc

YES YES YES....It is very good he didnt get shocked....AND the cord is not a problem. My DH cut an extension cord that was plugged into a hedge trimmer THREE TIMES in ONE DAY!!!! He is the mechanical type so he fixed the cord all three times...

 

[surfergirl602]

exactly why we don't get any yar appliances that have cords! I'm glad he didn't get hurt... that's very dangerous! My husband cut through the cord of his saw once, and was able to just splice it back together and fix it, but an electrician should be able to put a new one on there or fix it for cheaper than buying a new one.