Metal braiding for cables?

Fortigurn · 26th July 2001, 12:31 AM

I've seen that brilliant looking chrome type braiding used on engines. Is there anything similar you could purchase and use as cable wrap?

RaD · 26th July 2001, 12:36 AM

you can actually buy that in kits which includes the slimmer sheath for heater hoses. this might be a dimension you can work with dude. it also comes in 3 colours I believe, red, blue and chrome.

RaD

Fortigurn · 26th July 2001, 8:21 AM

Cool! Where can I get it from? This sounds like the kind of thing I want.

RaD · 26th July 2001, 10:54 AM

Okay I just rang a friend who owns a shop and this is the "rough" costs -

red, blue, stainless (heater hose size) - $5 ft
*blue complete kit (all sizes from tiny to rad. hose) - $80
*12 ft chrome (heater hosesize) - $30

* these ones are there right now, everything else can be ordered easily bud. He's offered me some free samples so I'll see if I can borrow a digi camera and get some snaps, dont hold me to this one tho

RaD

Fortigurn · 26th July 2001, 11:38 AM

Quote:

red, blue, stainless (heater hose size) - $5 ft
*blue complete kit (all sizes from tiny to rad. hose) - $80
*12 ft chrome (heater hosesize) - $30

RaD

Terrific, thanks mate! What size would you reccomend for IDE cables? Stainless sounds great BTW.

RaD · 26th July 2001, 11:49 AM

well Im no expert, but if you were to round your cables I'd go with the heater hose size. if you used the radiator size it would be to large and bulky.

Im not sure how you would complete the ends tho as they are small round ends and IDE cables finish in a thin wide rectangle.

Im going into the shop in the next few hours so I'll see what the smaller sizes are like that make up the "kit" packages. They go down to vacumn hose size. I'll also see if the smaller ones can be bought seperately and by the foot as well.

Think I might even get the "actual" sizes instaed of using car part examples too LOL

Just had another thought, when you round your cables you could run multiple cables in one "heater size" sheath and just make exit points along the sheath (for each HDD, floppy, cd rom). Again Im not sure how you would finish the holes or ends yet.

I'll try and get as much info and pics (if possible) and get back to u dude.

RaD

Fortigurn · 26th July 2001, 12:05 PM

Quote:

well Im no expert, but if you were to round your cables I'd go with the heater hose size. if you used the radiator size it would be to large and bulky.

Yep, sounds good to me.

Quote:

Im not sure how you would complete the ends tho as they are small round ends and IDE cables finish in a thin wide rectangle.

I've been thinking about this for a coupla weeks.
I'm thinking that maybe I can fold the IDE connector parallel with the cable and thread it down the hose - what do you think?

Quote:

Im going into the shop in the next few hours so I'll see what the smaller sizes are like that make up the "kit" packages.
They go down to vacumn hose size. I'll also see if the smaller ones can be bought seperately and by the foot as well.

Beauty. This might start something, if it works.

Quote:

Just had another thought, when you round your cables you could run multiple cables in one "heater size" sheath and just make exit points along the sheath (for each HDD, floppy, cd rom). Again Im not sure how you would finish the holes or ends yet.

Yeah, that's another possibility. Finishing the holes (or even just making the exit points!), would depend on the strength of this stuff.

Quote:

I'll try and get as much info and pics (if possible) and get back to u dude.

RaD

Good onya!

RaD · 26th July 2001, 6:19 PM

I've been busy

apologies if these pics go everywhere

this is the blue plastic kit, includes the smallest to radiator sizes (didnt get sizes sorry dude, mate was out) about $90

these are the colours of the plastic hose

and again

the bottom one is actual braid steel, the black is plastic that has a velcro sleeve end-to-end, the right is shiny chrome-like plastic

this is all of them as a scale pic with the pen, notice the large blue one inside-out, it stretches, that type could be handy in a slim size that will shape itself, you can also see the black velcro one better

and this is just a complete engine bay kit of chrome steel

hope that helps in some way, you can use it to work out colours at least and then see what sizes we can get get in what material

didnt get anymore pricing either as my mate wasnt there, but can find out anytime

RaD

Fortigurn · 26th July 2001, 6:44 PM

You little ripper! Mate, some great pix there - thanks a lot!

Ok, I have to say I really like the flexible velcro hose (incredibly intelligent idea), but I'm absolutely sold on the braided steel.

Just took an ATA-66 cable, folded it and then doubled the IDE header back on the cable... looks like you'd need a good 20mm diameter hose in order to squeeze the cable and header through.

Is that a go with the braided steel? Looks like the heater hose size might be wide enough.

BTW, I like your camera!

Revenge · 26th July 2001, 6:59 PM

I have used that braided sleeve stuff heaps of times as a sheath for wiring harnesses, works great. It expands if you sort of bunch it up a bit lengthways, the stuff for heater hoses would be ideal for a couple of IDE cables.

And to finish the ends I suggest getting some heatshrink tubing from somewhere like Jaycar shrinks down and hides the cut ends of the sleeve really well.

Looks great, but I would still think twice before shielding electrical cables of any type in a metal braid. The though of conductive "snakes" wriggling around near my motherboard aint to comforting.

RaD · 26th July 2001, 7:06 PM

I'd agree about the use of the braided steel dude. And I forgot to mention that we also came up with the heatshrink idea this arvo as well. found a shop with all the colours under the rainbow suposedly.

If you still want the chrome look then there is the chrome plastic variant. It does look kinda cheap but would be a lot less trouble.

RaD

Fortigurn · 27th July 2001, 10:33 AM

Heh! Well, there goes another good idea... hadn't stopped to think about the whole 'metal-braid-near-electronic-components' thing... Looks like that black velcro braid might be the go.

RaD · 27th July 2001, 11:25 AM

I'll ring him and find out what sizes and colours it's offered in dude

RaD

RaD · 27th July 2001, 3:20 PM

Okay here goes, the velcro sheath is available in black black and black but you can custom order black

It comes in the following sizes -

3/8' , 1/2' , 5/8' , 1"1/4

For some reason it comes by the foot but is priced by the metre, go figure. But for the 5/8' is $25 a metre. Bit pricey but I guess the velcro makes up a large percentage of the cost. He said if we ordered like 10metres it would get slightly cheaper, but so it should. So unless others want to jump on the bandwagon its 25 a metre bud.

ps. suposedly it only varies by a $1 or $2 between all the sizes.

RaD

Fortigurn · 27th July 2001, 7:28 PM

Yike! Ah well, there goes another good idea... $25/metre is just a little too expensive...

26th July 2001, 12:31 AM	#1
Fortigurn Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: taipei.tw Posts: 11,979	Metal braiding for cables? I've seen that brilliant looking chrome type braiding used on engines. Is there anything similar you could purchase and use as cable wrap?

26th July 2001, 6:59 PM	#10
Revenge Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Blaxland NSW Posts: 9,666	I have used that braided sleeve stuff heaps of times as a sheath for wiring harnesses, works great. It expands if you sort of bunch it up a bit lengthways, the stuff for heater hoses would be ideal for a couple of IDE cables. And to finish the ends I suggest getting some heatshrink tubing from somewhere like Jaycar shrinks down and hides the cut ends of the sleeve really well. Looks great, but I would still think twice before shielding electrical cables of any type in a metal braid. The though of conductive "snakes" wriggling around near my motherboard aint to comforting. __________________ Voting for Tony Abbott because you don't like Julia Gillard, is like eating shit because you don't like spinach.

26th July 2001, 12:36 AM	#2
RaD Admin OC&H / Games Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gold Coast Oz Posts: 2,722	you can actually buy that in kits which includes the slimmer sheath for heater hoses. this might be a dimension you can work with dude. it also comes in 3 colours I believe, red, blue and chrome. RaD

26th July 2001, 8:21 AM	#3
Fortigurn Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: taipei.tw Posts: 11,979	Cool! Where can I get it from? This sounds like the kind of thing I want.

26th July 2001, 10:54 AM	#4
RaD Admin OC&H / Games Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gold Coast Oz Posts: 2,722	Okay I just rang a friend who owns a shop and this is the "rough" costs - red, blue, stainless (heater hose size) - $5 ft blue complete kit (all sizes from tiny to rad. hose) - $80 12 ft chrome (heater hosesize) - $30 * these ones are there right now, everything else can be ordered easily bud. He's offered me some free samples so I'll see if I can borrow a digi camera and get some snaps, dont hold me to this one tho RaD

26th July 2001, 11:49 AM	#6
RaD Admin OC&H / Games Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gold Coast Oz Posts: 2,722	well Im no expert, but if you were to round your cables I'd go with the heater hose size. if you used the radiator size it would be to large and bulky. Im not sure how you would complete the ends tho as they are small round ends and IDE cables finish in a thin wide rectangle. Im going into the shop in the next few hours so I'll see what the smaller sizes are like that make up the "kit" packages. They go down to vacumn hose size. I'll also see if the smaller ones can be bought seperately and by the foot as well. Think I might even get the "actual" sizes instaed of using car part examples too LOL Just had another thought, when you round your cables you could run multiple cables in one "heater size" sheath and just make exit points along the sheath (for each HDD, floppy, cd rom). Again Im not sure how you would finish the holes or ends yet. I'll try and get as much info and pics (if possible) and get back to u dude. RaD

26th July 2001, 6:19 PM	#8
RaD Admin OC&H / Games Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gold Coast Oz Posts: 2,722	I've been busy apologies if these pics go everywhere this is the blue plastic kit, includes the smallest to radiator sizes (didnt get sizes sorry dude, mate was out) about $90 these are the colours of the plastic hose and again the bottom one is actual braid steel, the black is plastic that has a velcro sleeve end-to-end, the right is shiny chrome-like plastic this is all of them as a scale pic with the pen, notice the large blue one inside-out, it stretches, that type could be handy in a slim size that will shape itself, you can also see the black velcro one better and this is just a complete engine bay kit of chrome steel hope that helps in some way, you can use it to work out colours at least and then see what sizes we can get get in what material didnt get anymore pricing either as my mate wasnt there, but can find out anytime RaD

26th July 2001, 6:44 PM	#9
Fortigurn Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: taipei.tw Posts: 11,979	You little ripper! Mate, some great pix there - thanks a lot! Ok, I have to say I really like the flexible velcro hose (incredibly intelligent idea), but I'm absolutely sold on the braided steel. Just took an ATA-66 cable, folded it and then doubled the IDE header back on the cable... looks like you'd need a good 20mm diameter hose in order to squeeze the cable and header through. Is that a go with the braided steel? Looks like the heater hose size might be wide enough. BTW, I like your camera!

26th July 2001, 7:06 PM	#11
RaD Admin OC&H / Games Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gold Coast Oz Posts: 2,722	I'd agree about the use of the braided steel dude. And I forgot to mention that we also came up with the heatshrink idea this arvo as well. found a shop with all the colours under the rainbow suposedly. If you still want the chrome look then there is the chrome plastic variant. It does look kinda cheap but would be a lot less trouble. RaD

27th July 2001, 10:33 AM	#12
Fortigurn Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: taipei.tw Posts: 11,979	Heh! Well, there goes another good idea... hadn't stopped to think about the whole 'metal-braid-near-electronic-components' thing... Looks like that black velcro braid might be the go.

27th July 2001, 11:25 AM	#13
RaD Admin OC&H / Games Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gold Coast Oz Posts: 2,722	I'll ring him and find out what sizes and colours it's offered in dude RaD

27th July 2001, 3:20 PM	#14
RaD Admin OC&H / Games Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Gold Coast Oz Posts: 2,722	Okay here goes, the velcro sheath is available in black black and black but you can custom order black It comes in the following sizes - 3/8' , 1/2' , 5/8' , 1"1/4 For some reason it comes by the foot but is priced by the metre, go figure. But for the 5/8' is $25 a metre. Bit pricey but I guess the velcro makes up a large percentage of the cost. He said if we ordered like 10metres it would get slightly cheaper, but so it should. So unless others want to jump on the bandwagon its 25 a metre bud. ps. suposedly it only varies by a $1 or $2 between all the sizes. RaD

27th July 2001, 7:28 PM	#15
Fortigurn Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: taipei.tw Posts: 11,979	Yike! Ah well, there goes another good idea... $25/metre is just a little too expensive...