Looking for braided cable - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 02:46:17 am
content: Don't even know if that's what it's called really.Searching aliexpress and ebay for "cloth covered wire" and "braided wire" turns up lots of lamp cords and not much else.I'm looking for something two core with the suppleness of something like an old telephone cord. More cores is fine, but not too thick all up.What is it for you ask? None of your business I say!Just kidding. It's to make a somewhat authentic looking cable for a restored morse key.

author: ECEdesign
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 03:23:33 am
content: Are you looking for coax?

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 03:36:56 am
content: No. I think I know what he's looking for.Taken some photos. Uploading them now...

author: djacobow
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 03:40:02 am
content: Is it the sort of cloth braided cable used for guitar and instrument cables? It is quite supple and "feels" good.Like this, minus the connectors:http://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=601450? Of course, it's coaxial, and I guess you're looking for something that is just two conductors in one cloth jacket?

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 03:52:42 am
content: Yes, yes! Thanks djacobow. What is this called?(sorry about the big image link)

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 03:55:52 am
content: Actually, I just read the description on that item. Do not need shielding and stranded conductor would be better. But that's the idea.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 04:00:55 am
content: I searched ebay.com.au for cloth braided cordhttp://www.ebay.com.au/itm/GOLD-TWIST-vintage-style-braided-textile-fabric-electrical-cord-cloth-cable-1m-/181107251256

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 04:07:21 am
content: Here is some fabric covered mains flex I have. About 3.5 metres of it.The outer fabric sheath is woven in a herring bone weave that will change it's diameter according to what is inside.To demonstrate this, I cut a 6" piece and removed the earth and the fibrous packing, then stretched the cover as far as I could. You can see the extra distance it stretched and the smaller diameter overall. If you push the ends of the woven cover together, it gets shorter and the diameter increases. It works like one of those finger puzzles.I don't doubt that you could run your own wires through it and get a smaller diameter still. I tried it with just one conductor and the total OD was around 4mm.If interested - how much would you need?

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 04:16:56 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on February 12, 2016, 04:00:55 amMe too. That stuff all seems mains rated. I don't know for sure, but I imagine it's fat and stiff. Not what I want. Then again. It won't hurt to buy a metre or two and check I suppose.Quote from: Brumby on February 12, 2016, 04:07:21 amI'll see if I can just buy the braid then. I did see some on aliexpress, but presumed it'd be too hard to get it to look right.Quote from: Brumby on February 12, 2016, 04:07:21 amOnly looking for a couple of meters. But yours is the wrong colour; I want some sort of vintage shit brown colour.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 04:51:14 am
content: Here is some smaller-gauge wire (new reproduction, made for vintage headphone restoration).http://www.ebay.com/itm/REPRO-CLOTH-COVERED-PHONE-RECEIVER-CORD-BLACK-W450/260686081399Not sure you can be too picky about BOTH color and wire gauge.It even has "phone-tip" ends which may look nice with whatever connection scheme on your key(?)

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 05:02:08 am
content: Go to a good yacht chandler and get some thin rope, pull out the core and pull though whatever cable you want to use. Aramid jackets are more heat resistant than the common polyester ones. A *REALLY* good chandler specialising in high performance dinghys and sportsboats may well stock hollowbraid Aramid jacket on its own (i.e no core).

author: apelly
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 05:05:24 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on February 12, 2016, 04:51:14 amNice find! Pisses me off slightly that I never tried using the word 'phone' in my own searches.Quote from: Ian.M on February 12, 2016, 05:02:08 amWorth a look. Thanks mate.

author: mikerj
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 08:02:51 am
content: You can get some quite nicetextile covered USB cablesnow, might be worth a look? Four conductors rather than two, but they are pretty thin anyway.

author: Ian.M
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 09:07:25 am
content: Also look at black Marlow Excel D12 Dyneema. Its a 12 strand hollow-braid cord or rope that is usually spliced by threading one part down the center of the other so the outer acts as a Chinese finger trap. You should be able to thread wires through it with diameters up to nearly its nominal O.D.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 12, 2016, 09:20:29 am
content: Quote from: apelly on February 12, 2016, 04:16:56 amIf you don't mind threading it yourself and want a thin sheath, look for shoelaces, they have the same weave and come in a variety of colours.

author: bitslice
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 02:03:52 am
content: I looked for "lamp cable", because I remember thin red cloth cable being used.https://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/SnakeHeadVintagehttp://www.creative-cables.co.uk/5-fabric-cables

author: mariush
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: February 14, 2016, 02:21:32 am
content: Also check out Sleeve-Modding, they sell braid sleeve by the meter in 3 diameters :http://sleeve-modding.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=61_84Farnell also has some braided sleeve :http://uk.farnell.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?catalogId=15001&langId=44&storeId=10151&categoryId=700000006007&pageSize=25&showResults=true&pf=110062863Some modders also use some material called PARACORD which i believe is used for mountain climbing and/or for parachutes so you may be able to buy cables with such sleeve at sport stores and remove the inside rope and you're left with the sleeve... well , actually seems like lots of people/companies sell this stuff on Amazon :http://amzn.to/1SNQZaP