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Gear / Technical Help => Cables => Topic started by: aysvideo on March 15, 2015, 02:29:58 PM
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Here's a question for all you cable makers out there. Is there a good, easy way, when working with Techflex to 1) keep the ends from getting frayed, and 2) keep the ends in place, so that when you apply the finishing touches to the cable, i.e., heat shrink and the connectors, the Techflex stays put?
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I wrap the open end with a little tape to keep from fraying.
Once in place I apply some hot glue to hold it in place then apply the heat shrink.
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Looks like you could cut the ends with a hot knife and that would seal them from fraying? There's a blade type attachment for the old style pistol grip weller soldering irons or you could buy one of the hot knife kits from harbor freight tools. To keep the sides from sticking, might need to insert a wooden dowel in the techflex and cut around it.
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If you cut the ends with a hot knife prior to snaking your cables it will not expand.
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I've built hundreds of cables in the last 2 years using looming and Ted is right about the hot knife, I quit using it for same reason. But, I didn't want to deal with the fray using tape, so I started using a lighter.
As soon as I cut the looming, I quickly heat the end with the lighter from the side of the flame for a second or two, then I take my finger and gently tap on the end while the melted looming cools, and I end up with a slightly open tapered end, like a funnel.
That makes it easy to "catapillar" the looming over whatever wire you are working with. Another trick, I don't cut the reel end until after I have pulled the looming over the wire and pulled it tightly to lock in the grip of it, then cut the end at the reel. Then I repeat the lighter trick.
Good luck !!