Self-made Cables - Anyone want to explain?

[Devine]

Hello-

* * I'm considering attempting this with parts from partsexpress.com *Has anyone tried this, and if so, what kind of quality are we talking about? *What's the "oxygen-free" blah-blah they always print on the cable? *You can explain that in painful detail; I'm a chem major.

Thanks.

-Devin

[Screamin]

Reprinted from www.sciencenet.org.uk :

"There are two sorts of oxygen-free copper:

1) Oxygen-free high conductivity copper is produced by remelting "cathode copper" (electrolytically refined copper) in an oxygen free atmosphere, often a hydrogen-containing atmosphere. This is the best copper for electrical conductors, but it is mechanically weak. The cathode copper may be preferred for electrical applications if any strength is needed.

2) Phosphorus-containing oxygen-free copper is strong but doesn't conduct well. It welds well so is used for structural rather than electrical uses."

[bluenote]

its easy to do...i make all my own cables from there parts....get their catalog though, its easier to find stuff in it than the website.....they sell a cable there that is double shielded and larger than the cables sold today....way better than that vai endorsed cable and totally silent......there are 2 types of 1/4 inch tips to get...one is the normal kind and the other has a spring loaded shield which keeps the guitar quiet when you unplug from a amp without turning down the volume knob....i use a combination of both depending on what the cable is for....

they are easy to make, as long as you know how to solder....best way is to take apart one of your other cables and just copy it...but its pretty easy to figure out on your own

also, get some shrink tubing from them as well....you can then shrink wrap all your cables for longer life

also, make your own speaker cables

[Mr Orange]

George L's cables.
They rule.

[7 Dying Trees]

Yeah, make your own cables. It works out cheaper than buying them, but a word of warning on using the spring loaded input jacks for speaker cables: DON'T DO IT. The springload effectively shorts the jack when it's not in anything, so imagine what a shorted out load can do to an amp...

But yeah, get the catalogue, whip out the trusty soldering iron and make yourself some ridiculously long cables!

[Devine]

Thanks guys. *A few more questions:

1) *Do I do anything dfferently to make the speaker cabling? *I know speaker cables need to handle more signal than a guitar cable, else one risks blowing out their head.

2) *What in particular should I look for when I sacrifice my own cable?

3) I assume I'll be soldering the 1/4 inch tip to the copper wire. *Correct?

Thanks.

-Devin

[rickboot]

The shorted out cable tips won't hurt an amp. I have an old Spetraflex Fatso cable that has this tip. Never had a problem with any solid state or tube amp. Just make sure you don't use it for speaker cables.

Rick

[bluenote]

yeah those spring loaded tips are only realy good for the end that goes into your guitar.....

i just wanna clear something up so there are no assumptions.....DO NOT USE INSTRUMENT CABLE FOR SPEAKER CABLE.....use speaker wire......just wanna be sure we are all on the same page

when making speaker cable, you solder the copper inner wire to the short "tongue" and the silver ground wire to the longer tongue that grips the cable.....its easy one two three.....if you know the basics of soldering, it will be very easy for you and only take about 5-10 minutes to make a cable...i think the costs run $2.50 for each tip and something like $.29 per foot of cable.....or there abouts...dont really remember, been a while since i purchased any

you dont have to sacrifice your cable, i just sugested that so you can see what you are dealing with.....but it may be a good idea for you.....

as for speaker cable, its the same process....except you have to make sure you dont get the 2 wires mixed up when soldering to ground.....i mark the ground when doing them so all i have to do is glance down and solder...you also use a larger gauge wire

[Devine]

Found this web site:

http://www.recordingeq.com/EQ/req0400/cords.htm

-Devin