geekhack

geekhack Projects => Making Stuff Together! => Topic started by: 4sStylZ on Mon, 14 October 2019, 05:02:31

Title: Custom cables with parachord, choosing the right cable size and others questions
Post by: 4sStylZ on Mon, 14 October 2019, 05:02:31

Hi,

I want to sleeve paracord on a usb cable, if I can make coiled cable all by myself I will be even more happy.

I have some 550 paracord, and a 28AWG usb cable. I cannot put the paracord on the usb cable. The paracord seem’s too thin.
Every video I look mention this size of cable but it seem’s that I miss a point.

Did I need to remove the original plastic sleeve ?
Can I achieve a coiled cable by myself with paracord. What’s the process for this ? For example, did I need to fill the paracord on the cable before I use the heat gun or did I need to put it after it for not damaging the cord ?

Title: Re: Custom cables with parachord, choosing the right cable size and others questions
Post by: fohat.digs on Mon, 14 October 2019, 07:50:39

Would a lacing needle help?

https://www.etsy.com/listing/235142798/lacing-needle-paracord-needle-3-mm?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_c-craft_supplies_and_tools-tools_and_equipment-tools-other&utm_custom1=c80337cf-ba10-430e-90da-35417a293182&utm_content=go_1843970770_72423960671_346364362950_pla-295604191622_c__235142798&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI79aD7OSb5QIVUpJbCh3VLAjoEAkYDSABEgK3KvD_BwE (https://www.etsy.com/listing/235142798/lacing-needle-paracord-needle-3-mm?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_c-craft_supplies_and_tools-tools_and_equipment-tools-other&utm_custom1=c80337cf-ba10-430e-90da-35417a293182&utm_content=go_1843970770_72423960671_346364362950_pla-295604191622_c__235142798&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI79aD7OSb5QIVUpJbCh3VLAjoEAkYDSABEgK3KvD_BwE)

Title: Re: Custom cables with parachord, choosing the right cable size and others questions
Post by: Leslieann on Mon, 14 October 2019, 18:39:59

You really want 750, and even that can be tight (and not real paracord, if that matters)..

Here's the problem, need more power, got backlights, you should have thicker wire and it's easy to exceed what paracord can handle. I ordered some did two cables and called it quits when only my thinnest, lowest powered cables were able to fit through it.

Title: Re: Custom cables with parachord, choosing the right cable size and others questions
Post by: 4sStylZ on Tue, 15 October 2019, 09:18:01

Thank you for your replies,

I don’t know that a better tool can help me. I don’t think so. This is just a question of dimension.
I definitively take the tips of a 750 cord. Too bad that I have many 550 in stock :|

Title: Re: Custom cables with parachord, choosing the right cable size and others questions
Post by: MarbleKeeb on Mon, 28 October 2019, 06:04:40

I had a very similar issue. I ordered a cable sleeve kit somewhere, but it was impossible for me to sleeve the cable. I tried every trick in the book, but I could not get it. I ended removing the plastic Isolation of the cable..

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Custom cables with parachord, choosing the right cable size and others questions
Post by: ihateregister on Sat, 02 November 2019, 16:54:00

Zap Cables is pretty nice:
https://zapcables.com/diy-kits/

There is probably somewhere cheaper... but they do have 550 paracord that fits on their small 3.5 mm thick USB 2.0 4-core cable wire (https://zapcables.com/usb-2-0-cable/), with ground/mylar. They also "TechFlex" double sleeving, which stretches up to 8 mm, and shrinks down to about 4.5 mm or so. (Inner Diameter)

It's not a good idea to remove the outer shell for the entire length because it makes the shielding more likely to tear.

Title: Re: Custom cables with parachord, choosing the right cable size and others questions
Post by: 4sStylZ on Thu, 07 November 2019, 09:28:35

Finally I have buyed 750 and 1250 paracord.

The last one is huge and can deal with the size of my standard cable but I get 24 meters AWG cable from another source and for some reason my cable is now also at the good size to work even with 550.
For others who want a exact reference, this is this one : https://fr.rs-online.com/web/p/cables-multiconducteurs/1115374/?sra=pstk

I also got some proper techflex and did my first custom cable.