The DIY Cable Thread

[JFace]

After doing a general search on cables, I found very sparse information from people who have made their own. Most topics are concerned with solderless cable kits.

I decided to start this thread for compiling information on making your own instrument and patch cables. Such topics of discussion could be:

Bulk Cable
-Brands of raw cable
-Low capacitance
-Shielding
-Durability
-Least expensive place to find it

Connectors
-Brand of connectors
-Easy to work with
-Signal loss
-Least expensive place to find it

Solder
-Composition
-Easy to work with
-Least expensive place to find it

Technique
-Soldering iron/tip/wattage preference
-Wire cutting tools
-Pictures/schematics

Positive and negative experiences would be very valuable to know what works, and what doesn't.

Thanks!

 

[JFace]

I'll get it started. Link Removed I've found with connectors made by Neutrik and Switchcraft.

Link Removed carries Pro co wire that seems pretty good quality.

 

[scotch]

'scribed

 

[JFace]

Canare GS-6 cable at $0.75 a foot Link Removed along with free shipping.

 

[MagicMan_841]

I use Digi-Flex cable bought by the foot at a local electronics store with either Switchcraft (from Small Bear) or Neutrik jacks (local store). Needs a little soldering but I'm getting pretty handy at it.

 

[ogrossman]

Negative experience #1: Forgetting to put the connector housing on the cable before soldering the second connector.

Negative experience #2: Putting the connector housing on the cable backwards before soldering the second connector.

Negative experience #3: Making the solder joint of the shield to the ground tab too bulky so the connector housing won't screw on.

Negative experience #4: Building a cable that's 3 inches too short.

Negative experience #5: Building a cable with cheap connectors and putting in all that time and effort only to have the thing break within the first month of use.

 

[JFace]

Negative experience #1: Forgetting to put the connector housing on the cable before soldering the second connector.

Negative experience #2: Putting the connector housing on the cable backwards before soldering the second connector.

Negative experience #3: Making the solder joint of the shield to the ground tab too bulky so the connector housing won't screw on.

Negative experience #4: Building a cable that's 3 inches too short.

Negative experience #5: Building a cable with cheap connectors and putting in all that time and effort only to have the thing break within the first month of use.

Wow, I can see myself making any and all of these mistakes without much thought put into it. Thanks.

 

[kent1113]

Thinking that electrical tape is just as good as shrinkwrap. It ain't.

 

[JFace]

Thinking that electrical tape is just as good as shrinkwrap. It ain't.

Is wrapping heat shrink over the connections a standard, or would the metal casing suffice?

 

[rcubed]

Thinking that electrical tape is just as good as shrinkwrap. It ain't.

Yep. I'd recommend getting a supply of shrink tubing if you are going to be soldering up your own cables. You don't want wires shorting out. Just use a hair dryer to shrink it if you don't have a heat gun.

 

[UncleFluffy]

I recommend an additional outer shell of adhesive-lined heatshrink if you want bulletproof cables.

 

[ogrossman]

Thinking that electrical tape is just as good as shrinkwrap. It ain't.

Negative experience #6: Forgetting to thread the shrink wrap on the wire before soldering it.

Negative experience #7: Leaving the shrink wrap too close to the joint and inadvertently shrinking it with the heat of soldering.

 

[ogrossman]

Negative experience #8: Leaving a sharp wire end sticking out of the solder joint that pokes through the shrink wrap.

 

[MagicMan_841]

Negative experience #8: Leaving a sharp wire end sticking out of the solder joint that pokes through the shrink wrap.

And into your finger. Ow.

 

[TheFantod]

Just made a bunch of custom patch cables using Canare cable (got it cheap from online) and G&H Plugs (from Ebay).

In the future, I might choose a different cable, for one reason. The outer wiring in Canare cable isn't wrapped, but "woven." It's a bit of a pain to "unweave" it. I mean it's not the end of the world, but it's time consuming to do it without ripping off too much cable. In the future I may use Mogami. I've read good things.

T

 

[scotch]

Just made a bunch of custom patch cables using Canare cable (got it cheap from online) and G&H Plugs (from Ebay).

In the future, I might choose a different cable, for one reason. The outer wiring in Canare cable isn't wrapped, but "woven." It's a bit of a pain to "unweave" it. I mean it's not the end of the world, but it's time consuming to do it without ripping off too much cable. In the future I may use Mogami. I've read good things.

T

That weaving provides a better % overall shield. I think it's worth the extra effort to get a clean shield from it...

 

[scotch]

Anybody have a good source for heat-shrink tubing that fits the Canare well? It's slightly smaller diameter than most of the other brands...

 

[ogrossman]

...It's a bit of a pain to "unweave" it...

You can also solder a short pigtail between the ground tab and the braided shield if you're careful not to melt through the insulation.

 

[UncleFluffy]

Just made a bunch of custom patch cables using Canare cable (got it cheap from online) and G&H Plugs (from Ebay).

In the future, I might choose a different cable, for one reason. The outer wiring in Canare cable isn't wrapped, but "woven." It's a bit of a pain to "unweave" it. I mean it's not the end of the world, but it's time consuming to do it without ripping off too much cable. In the future I may use Mogami. I've read good things.

T

For woven braid, the trick is to open up one of the holes in the weave with the end of a pencil or similar, then pull the inner core up and out through the hole. No need to unweave.

 

[Thor]

Hooking up the caboose to the DIY cable train.