SleevingI personally like techflex sleeving and you can buy it from
cableorganizer.com by the foot.
as for size I usually go for the smallest 1/8" when I want to show the color below the techflex for double wrapped.
If you are not doing multiple layer get a larger diameter like 1/4" so the original cable color does not show through.
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Braided Sleeving-
Shrink Wrap-techflex can sometimes be found on ebay for a good price as well
- I have had very good luck dealing with furyletters. If you buy multiple items request combined shipping and he will get back to you within a day. This is his ebay store
FURRYLETTERSI aslo like to use paracord as the base material for my cables, but beware not all 550 is created equal. I have gotten many different size paracord in the mail. So best bet is to go to your local malita store(army surplus) and try theres first. A lot of the brands I have gotten in the mail have been to small.
Shrinkwrapdon't cheap out! The cheap shrink wrap tends to be real thin and will look crapy after a short period of time or come lose. Also order many different sizes because most places tend to mess up the order. I have found 3 to 1 works pretty good for me and is plenty think. Mess around with the weird stuff, sometimes you will get a pleasant surprise.
CablesThe easiest way to do this is to buy normal cables. Find a cable you like and buy it that simple. They are cheap and then you will not have to solder the mini-b side of the cable.
*this is done for the ease of the tutorial so that you do not have to solder the mini-b connector. If you feel like a challenge buy all the parts separately How to prep the cable:1. use the heat gun to heat up each end of the cable focusing on the seem of the plastic on the connector. Then use a scalpel to cut down the seam (be careful!). now that you have ripped all that dumb plastic rubber **** off you should have just the metal connectors one the cable.
2. Cut the the big end off. Leave about an inch or two on the the usb-A side and cut it off.
3. take the USB-A side you cut off and get out a small screwdriver to pry apart the metal housing and set it aside for later
How to sleeve the cable:Paracord
1. Cut a piece of paracord a foot longer then your cable.
2. pull out the inner strands.
3. cut the ends neat and burn em with a lighter so they don't fray.
4. cut the end of your cable thats cut off neatly and melt it. if you don't do this wires will pop out and the paracord will never go on.
5. inch the paracord on.
6. once it is on all the way and you have tightened it leave an inch or two of the cable exposed and put electrical tape on the end of the paracord to hold it in place.
Techflex1. don't cut it to size you will fail just start feeding it on and cut it once the cable is sleeved.
2. trim the techflex around usb mini-b side
3. shrinkwrap the USB-miniB side
Solder1. bring back the usb-A plug you cut off and disassembled
2. desolder the wires still connected to the usb-A connector
3. strip the cable you sleeved (remember the inche you left out of sleeve)
4. tin the four wires
5. solder them to the USB-A connector
6. remove the electrical tape holding the paracord in place and pull the sleeving taught.
7. remove excess techflex
8. shrink wrap the USB-A side
Thats it! I think if I remember anything else I will post it later and update with pics sooner or later