Cable Pants

[Ohmen]

Looking for any suggestions on how to get speaker cable into cable pants. I have 12g axiom speaker cable and both 11mm and 14mm cable pants. The rubber against rubber just wont let the cable slide into the cable pants. Tried to use a little liquid soap on the cable but still no go.

 

[Seth=L]

Why do you need to do this?

 

[Ohmen]

To give the cables a finished look. Take a look at this pic link.
http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4054&d=1168740943

 

[markw]

Ever consider using heat shrink tubing? Goes on big, apply heat and it shrinks to size.

 

[j_garcia]

Use heat shrink, works much better. I've used the speaker pants and they don't really add any benefit over heat shrink other than a little bit in the way of appearance. Functionally, they do the same thing, and when it comes to speaker wire, it is all about function over form.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Functionally, they do the same thing, and when it comes to speaker wire, it is all about function over form.

Except that, in this particular instance, form is the only reason for doing it at all!

 

[Ohmen]

I dont see anything wrong with dressing up a DIY project to make it look good. I realize it is non-functional. I am just having fun dressing up the cables

 

[gmichael]

I wear the pants at my house. The cables wear skirts.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Looking for any suggestions on how to get speaker cable into cable pants. I have 12g axiom speaker cable and both 11mm and 14mm cable pants. The rubber against rubber just wont let the cable slide into the cable pants. Tried to use a little liquid soap on the cable but still no go.

You need to be careful when doing this. Use a touch of brake cleaner, readily available at any auto parts store. Try not to get it on anything else. In fact, maybe spray it on a Qtip then use that to swab and 'lube' the inside of the cable pant. Quickly slide it on. You will only have a few seconds before it drys and the pant essentially glues itself to the cable. If that doesn't work, order larger ID cable pants.

I used to use this for motorcycle grips and they would slip right on. Then they would dry and be solid without spinning in about 1 minute.

Jack

 

[stratman]

Ever consider using heat shrink tubing? Goes on big, apply heat and it shrinks to size.

Hey that's what my wife says!!




(sorry it was such a great set up, I couldn't help myself!)

 

[j_garcia]

You need to be careful when doing this. Use a touch of brake cleaner, readily available at any auto parts store. Try not to get it on anything else. In fact, maybe spray it on a Qtip then use that to swab and 'lube' the inside of the cable pant. Quickly slide it on. You will only have a few seconds before it drys and the pant essentially glues itself to the cable. If that doesn't work, order larger ID cable pants.

I used to use this for motorcycle grips and they would slip right on. Then they would dry and be solid without spinning in about 1 minute.

Jack

Purell works too use that on my mountain bikes for grips.

 

[majorloser]

Hey, don't sweat it! Cable pants make the cable look professional and also reinforce the ends. I use them on all of my speaker cables prior to termination with banana plugs. Here's a couple links:

https://www.wirecare.com/products.asp?prodline=CPN

Wire Care has LOTS of great products for cleaning up your cable runs.

www.************.com/webpage.cfm?WebPage_ID=3

You'll need to add the company name "Parts Express" with no space to the above link since Parts Express is blocked.

(P.S.- these guys will just be jealous of how nice you cables look)

 

[Jack Hammer]

They modified their address to get around the word "sex" in there name getting blocked by porno filters, partsexpress, XXXXXXX.

Edit - link removed - OOPS

Jack

 

[majorloser]

They modified their address to get around the word "sex" in there name getting blocked by porno filters, partsexpress, by adding a hyphen.

Try searching for cable pants at www.************.com

Jack

Not true. The site is blocked on Audioholics due to problems with Parts Express spamming in the past. Posting "work arounds" will only cause the Admins to get angry

 

[j_garcia]

SEX sex SEX. Didn't we just go through this?

I got the ones I used from PE as well.

 

[Jack Hammer]

Not true. The site is blocked on Audioholics due to problems with Parts Express spamming in the past. Posting "work arounds" will only cause the Admins to get angry

OOPS! , we wouldn't want that. (we being to me)

In all honesty, I wasn't aware of any past issues. I thought I had seen something last summer about it having to do with filters. That was how I learned about the change. I edited my original post to remove said "work around."

Jack

 

[Ohmen]

Hey, don't sweat it! Cable pants make the cable look professional and also reinforce the ends. I use them on all of my speaker cables prior to termination with banana plugs. Here's a couple links:

Any suggestions on how you installed them?

 

[majorloser]

I soaked mine in hot soapy water before sliding them on. The heat allowed them to expand enough to go on easier and the soapy water was the lube. I wouldn't use just soap since it never truly washes off. The hard part is getting the wire ends through each leg. I made the legs EXTRA long so they would slide though easier. Then after I got the pants on all the way I carefully rolled the leg of each side up and cut the wires to length. Since I used crimp-on bananas in some places, I cut the wires a little shorter than the pants legs so when the bananas were crimped on the pant leg would cover the crimp.

You can go REALLY crazy by adding flexible sleeves over the entire length of the cable, then the cable pants and then put a small length of heat shrink over the where the flexible sleeve is covered by the cable pants. That will make a cable EXACTLY like the one in your picture. The cable sleeve is available through Wirecare and comes in many colors, including chrome.

https://www.wirecare.com/products.asp?prod=MY&prodline=ES

 

[j_garcia]

Did I not say this already? PURELL!!! It is alcohol based and dries quickly once you have them on...

 

[AverageJoe]

...You can go REALLY crazy by adding flexible sleeves over the entire length of the cable, then the cable pants and then put a small length of heat shrink over the where the flexible sleeve is covered by the cable pants. That will make a cable EXACTLY like the one in your picture...

Hey, you're absolutely right. I know, because I took that picture of my cables. Flattered to see it's getting some mileage.