DIY Speaker Cable

[kevhed72]

Well, I officially have been in this hobby too long if I am considering making my own speaker cables for HT.

I thought of going the Signal Cable route, but I am too cheap and that would be no fun.
So, question is, where do you all buy your PVC sleeve and heat-shrink tubing? And, what "shrink-to" size of heat-shrink tubing have you found to work the best? ie 'shrinks to 1/3 of size', or 'shrinks to 1/2 of size', etc. the options are many....

[decal]

I use TechFlex available from WireCare. Personally I like the 3:1 ratio heatshrink.

[ZLTFUL]

Ditto on the 3:1. Just snugs up better IMHO.

I get my TechFlex from Parts Express and eBay.

[zingo]

Partsexpress

[pepster]

I have some very good cheap sources for the "pretty" stuff if you want to pm me, I will hook ya up.


Now to the main ingredients: What ya using for speaker wire/connectors?

[pepster]

I am all about the "adhesive lined heatshrink" but will warn you, it is ALOT harder to work with, until you have used it a few times.
It is 3:1 also, but will last a lifetime.

I have had regular HS "wrinkle" and "roll" after it has shrunk (over time and after usage).
Not to mention when the Techflex "stretches" over time.

Adhesive won't do that and will not allow the "stretch" if that is of interest to you.
You "Have To" have a heat gun for adhesive lined though.

[michael1947]

good to know stuff, thanks guys.

[pepster]

Example A (these are my own personal cables).

See how short the Heat Shrink is behind the rca plug?

You would NEVER get away with that with normal heatshink.

Just make sure to clean the speaker cable good with denatured alcohol, then the adhesive will stick.
Prolly hand those speaker cables down to your grandkids!

Using "Adhesive Lined" not a problem.
Attachment 79035

[ErasmusBDragon]

Pepster, they look great.

I use a hot air gun (Harbor Freight).

[kevhed72]

My initial thought was use Star Quad - 14 or 16 awg - and my fronts would be single-wired (I only use sub) and center would be bi-wired. The spades and bananas (non-locking) on Blue Jeans site look pretty decent. The idea would be to tech-flex the main run of each cable, shrink-tube each end, and then run another length of shrink tub over each positive and negative wire and termination. I got the idea from Signal cable's pics online - Frank does a pretty awesome job from what it looks like.

[scoyne88]

This page has a size chart for various components (heatshrink, sleeving, cable pants) depending on your cable gauge.
http://www.diyspeakercables.org/#!di...ep-walkthrough