Want to cut and make my own patch cables

[Rycebag]

Hey guys how hard is it really to make my own cables. I have some extra canare
Gs-6 cable left over and some switch craft ends and everybody keeps telling me they won't do it. I went to guitar center a long time ago and they actually did the instrument cables for me but when I went back to ask if they could do the patch cables they said they don't do that. Also how hard would it be to fix one of the cables as I think one of the ends are messed up cause there's no volume and it buzzes insanely.

 

[rufus.K]

Incredibly easy. I do it as part of my job. I can walk you through it if you like.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

It's every easy to do them yourself. All you need to do is tin the wire & the connector before attaching.

Neutrik are the best, or so everyone says.

 

[rufus.K]

If you're going to do it with the switchcraft ends and gs-6 cable you already have, it's very straight foreword. Do you have decent wire strippers, a soldering device, and solder? Additionally some heat shrink tubing or electrical tape can be used .
Are you going to re-use old ends?

 

[Rycebag]

If you're going to do it with the switchcraft ends and gs-6 cable you already have, it's very straight foreword. Do you have decent wire strippers, a soldering device, and solder? Additionally some heat shrink tubing or electrical tape can be used .
Are you going to re-use old ends?

I basically have none of the tools. I have ten extra new ends and they all come with that little clear plastic looking piece in the pic I posted. is that the shrink?

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I think that clear plastic goes inside the connector to keep the center conductor from contacting the shell of the connector.

 

[rufus.K]

I basically have none of the tools. I have ten extra new ends and they all come with that little clear plastic looking piece in the pic I posted. is that the shrink?

No, that's an insulator

 

[Rycebag]

so what's the supply list that I am going to need? haha.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I'd like to add that you can color code them using techflex. It's just braided sleeving that goes over the cable & you put some heat shrink over the ends to make it look neat.

 

[Killed_by_Death]

I had a difficult time getting 1/2" shrink tubing to close in on the cable properly, but I was only using a hair dryer on the hottest setting.
I had better luck with 3/8" heat shrink.

wire stripper
soldering iron
solder
something to hold the connector while you're soldering to it
(I use a big plastic spring clamp I bought at Lowe's for about $3)

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Oh, you might also need some copper wicking, it's used to get solder off of stuff when you make mistakes.

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[thewildest]

A "for begginers" soldering kit like this one (Link Removed)

The most precise, temperature controllable ones are better but to start doing your own I would start with this

Try soldering a few other things (2 wires together, etc until you get something nice going on)

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Almost forgot about rosin too.

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[Killed_by_Death]

A "for begginers" soldering kit like this one (Link Removed)

That's a nice little kit for less than $10. I spent over $30 putting my kit together.

 

[rufus.K]

Absolute basics, just a soldering pencil, solder, and wire stripper. These are tools you can use forever, so the better the soldering pencil and strippers (to a point) the better. You'll have an easier time with something to hold what you're working on. I use shrink tube to color code the cables, but it's and extra and not required

 

[rufus.K]

A "for begginers" soldering kit like this one (Link Removed)
That's a great kit, however it doesn't include strippers

The most precise, temperature controllable ones are better but to start doing your own I would start with this

Try soldering a few other things (2 wires together, etc until you get something nice going on)

 

[rufus.K]

I've been meaning to change the ends on this knotted up beast for some time, I'll do it hand post it here

 

[rufus.K]

Yes and yes

 

[rufus.K]

Here are strippers, some bits of white and black shrink, and some scissors

 

[Killed_by_Death]

Here is my kit. The only thing not pictured here is the hair dryer & my wire cutters. I also have a better set of wire strippers around here somewhere.

Heat shrink tubing - in the bag
the clamp
wicking & wire strippers
brush for flux
solder & flux
solder sucker (desoldering pump)
the iron & it's tiny little stand (at the bottom right)