As title suggests should I use para-cord or the usual run of the mill braiding I would normally use? Pros and cons please.
There's a better range of colours with paracord compared to PET sleeve and some prefer the look and texture of paracord. It's also a lot cheaper than PET sleeve and the only disadvantage is that it's slightly harder to get on the wire as you either need to use masking tape, or a threading tool to ensure it doesn't catch on the pin. That's such a minor disadvantage though it's really not worth considering. If you decide to use the heatshrinkless method then it's cheaper to do it with paracord as you do actually need to use sacrificial heatshrink on PET sleeving to melt it to the pin. If you do decide to try paracord send me a pm as I make a paracord threading tool and you can have one to try.
I'll post the tool next week. I forgot to mention that I've tried loads of different paracord suppliers in the UK and the one I use and recommend is Wild Elk as it's consistently good quality. E22 sell Lutro0s coreless paracord but it's too pricey for me especially when you add on the shipping charge. You can get cheaper paracord from lot's of different sources but the quality can vary dramatically from the best quality to rubbish you wouldn't use for shoelaces.
Buy some cheap paracord and practice. The one tool I miss that I would really like is the 'adapted car aerial' thing that you put the pin into and push it through the sleeve with. I use very small pieces of masking tape wrapped around the pin because otherwise it can catch and get stuck inside the paracord (lots of sweary words). Also. I ordered three batches of paracord. The first was blue and was of medium thickness (the outside that you use). The second was red and no chit,this stuff is so fat that you literally have to stretch the plug hole just to get the pin back in. I would die if I had to braid an entire PSU with it !!! Then the third batch I got in blue is the thinnest yet, and super easy to work with. It is harder to melt on though because it starts backing on itself as soon as you show it a flame.. Take him up on his offer of the threading tool.. Just trust me, it's the one thing I wish I had that you can't just make out of regular household items. People used to mod car aerials....
Let me have your address Andy, I'll send you a tool as well and yes they're made from aerials and brass rods.
/not worthy... That's amazingly kind of you and to save any more hollering when one gets stuck mid way through and won't even come back (and has to be hacked out using scissors) I will take you up on it
So which of the three thicknesses did you prefer? Obviously not the thickest. I am guessing the first one. Did this type have a size code or something I could look for?
It's not a size code, it's more of a poor quality, average quality, good quality thing. Technically all 550 paracord is supposedly the same, in practice it varies slightly from colour to colour and even batch to batch. That's why I recommend Wild Elk as it's pretty consistent.
No and they don't give you one either Thus, dig some out on Ebay and order the smallest amount you can before going for a big order is the best advice really. I mean, you do stretch it once it's on there but even so that red stuff was horrible ! probably great for saving your life but for braiding cables it sucks The next thing you want dude is one of those candle lighting lighter things. They do them at the pound shop.. Last thing you want is an unreliable lighter that overheats and stops working on you.
When you have built this tool, could you post a pic on here, I cant picture how they work !! Then again I am a dumbass
All it is is a bit of a telescopic aerial with a shaped 1/8" (I think) brass rod fitted into it. Inside the tool is a bit of cut down female molex pin to grip the ATX pin when it's inserted on the end of a wire. I'll try and find the thread that describes how to make it. Edit: both the thread and video that described how to make it have been removed. I can say that a couple of my suggestions were used in making this tool
See Elf's pic.. Basically an ATX pin is an evil little sod that hates you. Really, really hates you. First up on the back side of it there is a U channel shaped part that keeps it from going in too far. This thing is fookin RAZOR sharp and wants to make you bleed.. So when you pull out the wire make sure you're back a couple of inches at least from the socket and hold the plug with your left hand well clear of the back !!. It can catch you easy and you'll slice yourself wide open. The second little sod are the two pins that hold it in. These are like needles. Thing is, they don't really want to go in as they are not designed to. This is why these supposedly proper tools are not that good because all they do is attempt to push it in but it gets caught and the pin will refuse to move. My twirling method isn't something I saw on the internet, it's something I added. Basically people say "Yeah flatten a paper clip and use that" but even with a flattened paper clip I found the pins very hard to get out. Basically I would need to use a ridiculous amount of force to yank out the pin and this would usually result in injury, given the explanation of the parts above. Elf's tool is an absolute god send. As I've said, these pins are not uniform nor are they smooth. They have a ton of sharp bits. The problem with paracord is that it's kinda like cotton. Everything wants to catch on it, so if you try and send a 'raw' pin up through it it usually snags and ends up jammed inside the paracord. This is an absolute pig of a situation, as it wont move either way so you can't even just pull it off. By now you will also have damaged the outside of the paracord by putting a run in it like you do on a pair of lady's tights. And getting it out is a proper mission that involves sharp scissors, wire cutters, a lighter and god knows what. Elf's tool is basically like a smooth projectile that you insert this rough sharp pin into and then shove the tool up through the paracord nice and smooth. Once you get to the other end you pull off the tool, then melt on the paracord.. You need one, basically. Otherwise you will need to cut off tiny pieces of masking tape, wrap the pin, pull it through and then remove the tape (which bites into the pins.. not much fun !, very fiddly and time consuming). I liked the medium quality stuff (as Elf said it's all down to the quality really). It stretches nice and taut and melts on nice. Then the crap quality stuff, as it's piss easy to work with but doesn't melt on too well (I've actually burnt a hole in it and need to replace that one it's on a SATA connector). If it's too thick it will give you headaches man.
Both tools posted today. For information: I assemble them with a tight friction fit so they're robust enough to use 100s if not 1000s of times but should the internal molex pin get worn you can disassemble it relatively easily to fit another pin or adjust the one that's in there. When reassembling be careful as the bottom of the tool is a bit sharp.
Very grateful Big Elf. Will let you know how thing go. I have an ATX extension on it's way so the plan is to paracord that. Thanks again.
