How do you tie up cables neatly?

[soulstar11]

This may sound pathetic, but does anyone know how to tie up cables neatly?

As a musician and dj I'm always unravelling and re-tying cables after a gig. However, as soon as I re-open my gear, it looks like an explosion in a spaghetti factory.

I know they can be looped tidily - I've seen other people's, but I'm too embarrased to ask.

I've been doing the old - "hold one end in fist and wrap the rest around the elbow" - fine for a lawnmower flex, but not very compact.

Any help much appreciated.

[peanut]

keep doing it the same way, except leave about 4 feet hanging and take the wire off of your arm, squeeze the sides together so that you are holding the whole coil in one hand and wrap that last four feet around the middle of the coiled wire and then tuck the loose end somewhere so it wont come loose. hope this helps you cuz its kinda hard to explain.

[Mortartube]

Or do as Peanut suggests,. but instead of leaving 4 ft, coil the lot and tape it with PVC insulating tape. Conversely, buy some velcro cable ties, I believe Maplins sell them. That way you can coil and secure cables time after time.

[ezapf]

Not pathetic at all. It is an art. Here is the method as taught to me by my dear old dad that I have been using successfully my entire life:
1.) Let the loop hang while you coil it up - do not coil it around your elbow.
2.) Twist the cable as you coil it.

Think about it like this:
Picture the cable uncoiled and stretched out in a straight line on the ground. Now visualize (or even paint) a yellow line along the top of the cable. Keep the (imaginary) yellow line on the outside of each loop as you coil the cable. You will notice that you need to give a slight twist to the cable as you coil each loop.

Sorry, but I don�t recommend cinching the middle of the coil together either. I find it better to keep the coil round and put two cable ties directly across from each other. I like the velcro cable ties suggested by Mortartube.
You will have a nice neat coil of cable that will sit flat when placed in the box without any of those unsightly figure eights in the middle if you do it correctly.

Always start with the same end of the cable and eventually you will see that the cable wants to be coiled the same way as the last time.

Good luck.

[mouthu]

I use an old cable drum, it was designed for cable winding. You could probaly get a few from a sparky or a builder. try not to knot your cables as they will over time crimp. you could also make yourself a frame from thick wire (or thin plywood) in the shape of an "H" and wind the cables around that.

[nigidivitch]

Another way that works for me (although it does depend on the type and length of cable), but if you fold the cable in half, then in half again, then in half again (repeat until cable is required length), then simply tie a loose knot in the middle of it all.  I wouldn't recommend this with optical cables though!

[tomd]

Definately coil the cables as decribed in your hand, not around your elbow, or they'll twist and never lie flat.

I coil them up and put velcro ties around them - but don't buy them from maplin, but 3 - 4m of velcro from market, cut it into 4" lengths, stick them together by about half and inch and sew across with a machine - like this.

You can then wrap these around your cables afterwards. I mostly end up doing it the next morning, after a gig I rarely have the time to tidy them all up then.

[Tim Baxter]

I hope I've read all the replies properly but I can't see anybody advocating the figure of eight method (which uses an elbow).

Hold cable end in one hand trapped by the fingers with thumb open, take cable across forearm to otherside of elbow.  From elbow take cable back across forearm (cable crosses in middle of forearm) then through 'V' in hand formed by open thumb to complete the fig of 8.  Carry on likewise until all the cable is used.  With the foot or so that is left wrap it round the waist of the eight and tuck the end through a bight, suspend cable from this end.

When the end is unwrapped the rest of the cable will usually uncoil excellently with no snags.  It works because each end of the 8 reverses the twist in the cable which would be needed if winding end over end.

For finer, shorter cables I use my thumb and little finger of one hand to wrap a fig 8 round.  We actually used this method for the punched tape for old telex/teletype machines.  The tape could be over 40 feet long!

I first saw this when watching my ma take in the washing line and have subsequently seen it used by hauliers packing away their lashing ropes.

[romko]

i'd advise against any method which pulls,  streches or stresses the cable such as certain elbow-based ideas. Audio cables have fine inner cores which could become intermittent if tugged too hard, not to mention possible shielding breakdown. the velcro sounds the best IMHO.

[soulstar11]

thank you all very much for such in-depth info, photos but most of all, not scoffing!

I'll be busy trying these methods out now. Will report back on findings.

thanks again.

[dabees]

Never never, wrap it round your elbow, always do the twist trick. Having been a sound engineer for many years i have found that simply ruins your cables. If you are working with something as delicate as a mic cable the twist trick is by far the best for giving a longevity to your cables. Take the connector in your left hand an palm the cable into it with your right using a half turn of your fingers. (reverse if left handed) God this is so much easier to do than describe. It will keep your cables in much better use for longer and avoid costly repairs. I am now going out to see if i can find my life again.....If anyone sees it give me a shout

[dabees]

P.S. put a piece of LX tape round it to keep it in place. (Please someone find my life soon)

[velcro]

for velcro cable ties try http://www.indigoshop.co.uk/cat--Cable-Ties-Hook-Loop--h ookandloop-cableties