Topic: Noobie Cable/Techflex assembly question

[Hypnocracy]

After the last few years of purchasing made up cables from our TS Cable makers (great experiences with their products)...I've purchased 100 ft of Silver Milspec Three conductor braided shield cable and intend to build:

1 - 25ft snaked XLR Stereo extension
1 - 15ft Stereo w/ Straight connections snaked for my ADK TL's

I intend to run the Techflex all the way up and into the XLR boot (no stubbies)...I got that on the starting end I just hot melt glue the Techflex to the milspec cable...apply heat shrink tubing over the Techflex...where my mind loses the concept is on the opposite end...

How do I measure and cut to make sure the Techflex end precisely under the opposite end second XLR boot?

Is there enough stretch that you can pull it taught past the cable end to cut and then relax to do the Hot Melt and Heat Shrink tubing?

What tool is best/least expensive for the hobbyist cable maker to cut Techflex?

[tgakidis]

I always snake the cable/cables first, then cut the flex and hot glue it in place.
I have a pair of kitchen shears (Heavy Duty Scissor) that I use to cut the flex but the cutter on the wire stripper works also.

[tgakidis]

I always snake the cable/cables first, then cut the flex and hot glue it in place.
I have a pair of kitchen shears (Heavy Duty Scissor) that I use to cut the flex but the cutter on the wire stripper works also.

The last thing i do is attach the xlrs once I am happy with the postion of the tech flex.

[DigiGal]

What tool is best/least expensive for the hobbyist cable maker to cut Techflex?

Techflex recommends using a hot knife...

Ghetto Solution; but effective in producing clean techflex cuts:

Pick up a cheap paring knife from a dollar store, then heat the knife blade with a butane torch or other controllable flame and cut the techflex laying on a piece of metal or ceramic tile etc.  Alternately; clamp a bare utility knife blade with a pair of vice-grips, heat the blade and cut the techflex laying on metal or tile etc. 

[aysvideo]

Great discussion.  I've also thought of doing a project like this, but get confused every time I look at lists of Milspec cable.  Can you point me to where you got the cable, and the exact cable you purchased? 

After the last few years of purchasing made up cables from our TS Cable makers (great experiences with their products)...I've purchased 100 ft of Silver Milspec Three conductor braided shield cable and intend to build:

1 - 25ft snaked XLR Stereo extension
1 - 15ft Stereo w/ Straight connections snaked for my ADK TL's

I intend to run the Techflex all the way up and into the XLR boot (no stubbies)...I got that on the starting end I just hot melt glue the Techflex to the milspec cable...apply heat shrink tubing over the Techflex...where my mind loses the concept is on the opposite end...

How do I measure and cut to make sure the Techflex end precisely under the opposite end second XLR boot?

Is there enough stretch that you can pull it taught past the cable end to cut and then relax to do the Hot Melt and Heat Shrink tubing?

What tool is best/least expensive for the hobbyist cable maker to cut Techflex?

[Hypnocracy]

Great discussion.  I've also thought of doing a project like this, but get confused every time I look at lists of Milspec cable.  Can you point me to where you got the cable, and the exact cable you purchased? 

aysvideo I just searched for "Silver Milspec 22AWG" on ebay...I guess I could have got by with the Two conductor and Braided shield but the price was right on the Three conductor.

[fsulloway]

I've got a question about the techflex sizing. It stretches to twice it's diameter right? How do you determine which size to use?

[Church-Audio]

What tool is best/least expensive for the hobbyist cable maker to cut Techflex?

Techflex recommends using a hot knife...

Ghetto Solution; but effective in producing clean techflex cuts:

Pick up a cheap paring knife from a dollar store, then heat the knife blade with a butane torch or other controllable flame and cut the techflex laying on a piece of metal or ceramic tile etc.  Alternately; clamp a bare utility knife blade with a pair of vice-grips, heat the blade and cut the techflex laying on metal or tile etc.

I use a sharp pair of xcelite 1178m nippers works perfect every time.