Topic: how much to strip from starquad?

[1st set only]

how much should i strip off from the ends of the star quad to make my mic cables?

[leegeddy]

how much should i strip off from the ends of the star quad to make my mic cables?

3/4" is plenty.

marc

[1st set only]

I think ill try an inch my fingers can be fumbly

[BCostigan]

I usually do an inch and trim them down before soldering to about 3/4".

I hate taking apart the ground

[John R]

be careful not to take too much off, you want to give the strain relief something to bite onto.

jr

[keepongoin]

If you take off too much, you can always trim back the tinned together shielding.  If you don't take off enough and you tin the shielding, you will be SOL for pulling more of the shielding apart, and you will have to start over.

I made it too short on the first end I did and had to do it over, and since then take about an inch off and trim them so they fit, just to be safe.  Just make sure to trim them back, so you get the insulation as support, as JohnR said.

[keepongoin]

the fat cables are nice, but saving to buy new mics would probably be better than throwing down for pricey cables, IMHO.

I carry a 10ft pair and a 20ft pair.  The 20s are nice, as if the opportunity to run split omnis in a large room presents itself, I am prepared.

[Marc Nutter]

Hi Keepongoin and all,

You'll probably notice that the twisted pairs are twisted around each other and also around themselves.  Try to maintain the twists up to the soldering point as much as possible.  

The double twist is actually the primary source of noise rejection in in Star Quad wiring.

Have Fun!!!

Marc

[leegeddy]

...from Canare.com

Because the shield density on Canare Cable is very high, it is somewhat difficult to push back the braid and pull the inner conductors through. Instead, we strongly recommend unbraiding the shield by "combing" it out with a pointed tool, beginning at the end of the cable.



3/4" is plenty of cut for me.

marc

[Sean Gallemore]

I wish I would have unbraided the sheild.  All the copper just kind of bunched up the bottom and that was that

[keepongoin]

marc -
i strip that much off and cut them back to get the proper length so that they stay  twisted.  i just like to have a little extra to work with when unbraiding the shielding.  some times, when starting to unbraid the shielding, I end up ripping some of it off, and having extra below allows me to keep on working without starting over.

[Gordon]

+t keepongoin    :afro:

[John R]

marc -
i strip that much off and cut them back to get the proper length so that they stay  twisted.  i just like to have a little extra to work with when unbraiding the shielding.  some times, when starting to unbraid the shielding, I end up ripping some of it off, and having extra below allows me to keep on working without starting over.

That sounds like a good way to go.  I wouldn't worry too much about a bit of the shield getting damaged but it is nice to avoid if at all possible.  However, it should not compromise the ground or shielding capability. As no audio signal is actually travelling on it, there's even less to worry about.

Marc

[tim in jersey]

I hate taking apart the ground

Amen. I use the "combing" method as mentioned above, and it still blows.