Making cloth covered cables - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Stockden · 6th Feb 2013, 8:25 pm

My apologies if this has been posted before but the recent thread on cloth covered mains cable (here) reminded me that I'd seen something recently about making your own. Inevitably I couldn't remember where it was but eventually the penny dropped.

There's actually quite a bit on the 'Net about using bootlaces for the outer covering but the one I was thinking of was on Henk's site here. You need to choose "WS 18 Set" from the menu on the LHS and then click on "Textile covered cables - how to make them".

OscarFoxtrot · 6th Feb 2013, 11:02 pm

I had wondered whether it was possible to make your own length of 'bootlace' using French Knitting (cotton reel and 4 nails) but I now see there is a little machine that does French Knitting, or something similar.

http://www.haguedirect.co.uk/acatalo...h_knitter.html

If one could sort out the rotation aspect it might be possible to feed the wires down the middle of the knitting whilst doing the knitting? It would give a more plaited cord appearance than a bootlace.

PWH · 7th Feb 2013, 7:16 pm

The cloth covered cable I had made up was done by a shoelace company.
I still have some. The good thing about them was they had an industrial machine which could do any pattern. The only thing was a fairly large minimum quantity order.

Ben_Dijkman · 18th Feb 2013, 10:47 pm

This is a 4 core/nails handmachine.
That is not enough to create a good looking cable.
Then you need the right wire for the covering to create an original look.
Then you need mains cable and fades to fill up the space between the mainscables to get a nice round shaped cable.See attachm.

As long if there is original rubber-isolated
cloth covered mainscable for 3.50 euro per meter including shippin costs to the U.K
I think you may ask yourselves if it is worth the work and time to make cloth coverd mains-cord yourselves.

However I must say that your idea and creativity is fantastic !

6th Feb 2013, 8:25 pm	#1
Stockden Heptode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, UK. Posts: 648	Making cloth covered cables My apologies if this has been posted before but the recent thread on cloth covered mains cable (here) reminded me that I'd seen something recently about making your own. Inevitably I couldn't remember where it was but eventually the penny dropped. There's actually quite a bit on the 'Net about using bootlaces for the outer covering but the one I was thinking of was on Henk's site here. You need to choose "WS 18 Set" from the menu on the LHS and then click on "Textile covered cables - how to make them".

6th Feb 2013, 11:02 pm	#2
OscarFoxtrot Heptode Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 805	Re: Making cloth covered cables I had wondered whether it was possible to make your own length of 'bootlace' using French Knitting (cotton reel and 4 nails) but I now see there is a little machine that does French Knitting, or something similar. http://www.haguedirect.co.uk/acatalo...h_knitter.html If one could sort out the rotation aspect it might be possible to feed the wires down the middle of the knitting whilst doing the knitting? It would give a more plaited cord appearance than a bootlace.

7th Feb 2013, 7:16 pm	#3
PWH Heptode Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Waiheke Island, New Zealand Posts: 503	Re: Making cloth covered cables The cloth covered cable I had made up was done by a shoelace company. I still have some. The good thing about them was they had an industrial machine which could do any pattern. The only thing was a fairly large minimum quantity order.

18th Feb 2013, 10:47 pm	#4
Ben_Dijkman Pentode Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Hellendoorn, Netherlands Posts: 137	Re: Making cloth covered cables This is a 4 core/nails handmachine. That is not enough to create a good looking cable. Then you need the right wire for the covering to create an original look. Then you need mains cable and fades to fill up the space between the mainscables to get a nice round shaped cable.See attachm. As long if there is original rubber-isolated cloth covered mainscable for 3.50 euro per meter including shippin costs to the U.K I think you may ask yourselves if it is worth the work and time to make cloth coverd mains-cord yourselves. However I must say that your idea and creativity is fantastic ! Attached Thumbnails