Head-Fi.org › Forums › Misc.-Category Forums › DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Discussions › Reduce stress/strain on RCA cables?
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

Reduce stress/strain on RCA cables?

post #1 of 21
2/11/10 at 7:13pm
Thread Starter 
I just finished my first cable! I think it looks pretty good, but I'm curious to know how in the world I'm supposed to use the stress relief screw with these tiny wires.

It's an LOD cable with this wire and these RCAs. I didn't really realize how huge these RCAs are. I'm not using sleeving, just a litz braid.

I looked at the DIY Cable Gallery and saw a few people hot glueing the inside of the RCAs, but is that how everyone does it? That's a lot of glue... plus i'm not sure if I could clean that out if I ever needed to.

Thanks for your help! Oh, a picture example would be wonderful.
Reply
post #2 of 21
2/11/10 at 7:19pm
Use some heatshrink.
Reply
post #3 of 21
2/11/10 at 7:23pm
Perhaps more than one layer of heatshrink. I have seen epoxy used to form a slug that the screw can engage.
Reply
post #4 of 21
2/11/10 at 7:28pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bones13 View Post
Perhaps more than one layer of heatshrink. I have seen epoxy used to form a slug that the screw can engage.
I was thinking something along these lines. Maybe line up the wires and try to extend the screw to the other side with hot glue? Sound difficult to me.

I tried heatshrink... it took 5 layers around a 1/4" piece of tubing to fill the gap. By then it just looked awful.
Reply
post #5 of 21
2/11/10 at 7:30pm
hold the wire in place and use hotglue. you will have a few seconds to make sure the wire is positioned right before it hardens.
Reply
post #6 of 21
2/11/10 at 11:42pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FraGGleR View Post
hold the wire in place and use hotglue. you will have a few seconds to make sure the wire is positioned right before it hardens.
So your saying try to extend the screw? Or fill the whole barrel with hot glue?

Thanks for the suggestions so far by the way.
Reply
post #7 of 21
2/12/10 at 5:34pm
I think he means to fill the whole barrel with glue and you'll have a few seconds to center it
Reply
post #8 of 21
2/12/10 at 5:57pm
just hot glue till there's no room to add more ! and test the cable FIRST
Reply
post #9 of 21
2/12/10 at 11:34pm
I meant to fill in the base of the barrel with hot glue. It will be super secure plus you can get it centered so it looks nice. And as momomomomomomomo said, definitley test your cables first.
Reply
post #10 of 21
2/13/10 at 12:24pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by FraGGleR View Post
I meant to fill in the base of the barrel with hot glue. It will be super secure plus you can get it centered so it looks nice. And as momomomomomomomo said, definitley test your cables first.
Alright, sounds good. I'm still waiting on the ipod connector part, so I'll have to wait until I get it before I glue. I'll be sure to post some pictures of it when I'm done if anyone is interested. Thanks for the help!
Reply
post #11 of 21
2/13/10 at 12:50pm
Posting pictures is required
Reply
post #12 of 21
5/15/10 at 1:52pm
Thread Starter 

Wow, I feel SO bad right now! I totally forgot about this thread. Like me try to redeem myself, this is for your viewing pleasure (I'm not that good with pictures but I think these turned out well):

 

 

IMG_1203.JPG

IMG_1204.JPG

IMG_1205.JPG

IMG_1207.JPG

IMG_1209.JPG

IMG_1211.JPG

IMG_1212.JPG

IMG_1213.JPG

IMG_1214.JPG

IMG_1215.JPG

IMG_1216.JPG

IMG_1217.JPG

 

Edit: I used Pisca and Gmail to upload these, so I'm not sure if everyone will be able to see them if they don't have a Gmail account. And like most other things, click on them and they will get larger.

 

I used Navships 26 and 18AWG wire, Cardas silver solder and those RCAs I found on eBay. I can probably find them again if anyone is really interested. The 26 AWG is ~1ft. long, the 18 AWG is ~6-6.5ft. These are the first an only cables I've ever made, so not hate! And sorry again for forgetting this thread!

 

Double edit: This is what I made them for BTW:

 

IMG_1139.JPG
From Audio Mini-Mod

Edited by -Eclipse- - 5/16/10 at 3:35am
Reply
post #13 of 21
5/16/10 at 7:16am

grommets and clear tubing are your best friend in these situation, cheap and effective yet look extremely professionally done when you heat shrink it.

 

http://forums.vr-zone.com/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_1599.JPG

Reply
post #14 of 21
5/16/10 at 12:06pm

Gar. Those are your strain reliefs? If you ask me, I think you should have built up a few layers of heatshrink first (that extend outside the barrel) and then hot glued it.

 

If only I could get a source on M50 style strain reliefs.

 

ath_m50_2.jpg

Reply
post #15 of 21
5/16/10 at 5:11pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by weibby View Post

grommets and clear tubing are your best friend in these situation, cheap and effective yet look extremely professionally done when you heat shrink it.

 

http://forums.vr-zone.com/photopost/data/500/medium/IMG_1599.JPG

 

Grommets huh? What type are we talking about here? I tried tubing but couldn't get it to stay.


 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Ntropic View Post

Gar. Those are your strain reliefs? If you ask me, I think you should have built up a few layers of heatshrink first (that extend outside the barrel) and then hot glued it.

 

If only I could get a source on M50 style strain reliefs.

 

ath_m50_2.jpg


That thing is beautiful!

Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
Head-Fi.org › Forums › Misc.-Category Forums › DIY (Do-It-Yourself) Discussions › Reduce stress/strain on RCA cables?