Google Groups no longer supports new Usenet posts or subscriptions. Historical content remains viewable.
Dismiss

Wa-a-ay OT: Overlay to make a cable "coiled"

97 views
Skip to first unread message

Jim Thompson

unread,
Oct 5, 2012, 8:29:13 PM10/5/12
to
Back when I was a kid (nearly 3/4 of a century ago :-) there used to
be plastic coils that could be applied to a straight cable to "coil"
it up.

Does such a thing exist today?

...Jim Thompson
--
| James E.Thompson, CTO | mens |
| Analog Innovations, Inc. | et |
| Analog/Mixed-Signal ASIC's and Discrete Systems | manus |
| Phoenix, Arizona 85048 Skype: Contacts Only | |
| Voice:(480)460-2350 Fax: Available upon request | Brass Rat |
| E-mail Icon at http://www.analog-innovations.com | 1962 |

I love to cook with wine. Sometimes I even put it in the food.

Jamie

unread,
Oct 5, 2012, 8:55:14 PM10/5/12
to
Jim Thompson wrote:

> Back when I was a kid (nearly 3/4 of a century ago :-) there used to
> be plastic coils that could be applied to a straight cable to "coil"
> it up.
>
> Does such a thing exist today?
>
> ...Jim Thompson
We have products these days called

Wire Loom..
not exactly spiral but splits so you can insert your wires in it.
And
spiral wrap / loom.

http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/SpiralWrap.php

Jamie

Cliff H

unread,
Oct 5, 2012, 8:59:28 PM10/5/12
to

> Wire Loom..
> not exactly spiral but splits so you can insert your wires in it.
> And
> spiral wrap / loom.
>
> http://www.cabletiesandmore.com/SpiralWrap.php
>
> Jamie
>

Don't think thats what the OP is looking for. (I too thought the same thing
untilI read the entire thread.)


Jeff Liebermann

unread,
Oct 5, 2012, 11:57:20 PM10/5/12
to
On Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:29:13 -0700, Jim Thompson
<To-Email-Use-Th...@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote:

>Back when I was a kid (nearly 3/4 of a century ago :-) there used to
>be plastic coils that could be applied to a straight cable to "coil"
>it up.
>Does such a thing exist today?
> ...Jim Thompson

A cable bobbin perhaps? Probably not, because it's too obvious.
<http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?SearchText=+cable+bobbin>

Perhaps a variation on the iPod earphone cable shortener? Cute, but
unlikely:
<http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Silicone-rubber-fish-bone-earphones-headphone-cable-bobbin-winder-cord-winder-cable-holder-for-MP3-MP4/566042373.html>

Perhaps a cable reel?
<http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_electrical+cord-reels>

If you're trying to make a coiled cord or power cable, here's how:
<http://blog.makezine.com/2009/07/18/make-projects-cord-curling/>
<http://www.meridiancable.com/coiled-cable/>

Perhaps it might be helpful if you describe the "plastic coils", what
you're trying to accomplish, and what you have to work with?

--
Jeff Liebermann je...@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060 http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

MrTallyman

unread,
Oct 6, 2012, 12:13:26 AM10/6/12
to
On Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:57:20 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com>
wrote:

>A cable bobbin perhaps? Probably not, because it's too obvious.
><http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?SearchText=+cable+bobbin>

Idiot! Even though the idiots selling them are calling them "cable
bobbins" all I saw were, in fact, WIRE bobbins.

This guy wants to spool LARGE diameter cables.

I hate small purchases to fill a shortage! If you use the damned wire,
then buy a 1000' spool on a larger bobbin.

That 100 foot crap that ends up coiling the wire at less than a 2"
diameter is simply ridiculous.

Jeff Liebermann

unread,
Oct 6, 2012, 12:30:22 AM10/6/12
to
On Fri, 05 Oct 2012 21:13:26 -0700, MrTallyman
<MrTal...@BananaCountersRUs.org> wrote:

>On Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:57:20 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com>
>wrote:
>
>>A cable bobbin perhaps? Probably not, because it's too obvious.
>><http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?SearchText=+cable+bobbin>
>
> Idiot! Even though the idiots selling them are calling them "cable
>bobbins" all I saw were, in fact, WIRE bobbins.

A wire is one conductor, either bare or insulated.
A cable is more than one wire, which may be uninsulated (i.e. wire
rope), or insulated as in electrical cable.

> This guy wants to spool LARGE diameter cables.

Your crystal ball must be better than mine. I only saw the word
"cable" in the question. Somehow, "large diameter" seems to have
escaped my attention.

> I hate small purchases to fill a shortage! If you use the damned wire,
>then buy a 1000' spool on a larger bobbin.

Hellfire and damnation are not required for the manufacture of wire or
cable.

> That 100 foot crap that ends up coiling the wire at less than a 2"
>diameter is simply ridiculous.

Yeah, but it's so much fun to pull on the cable and watch the spool
spin inside the box.

Jim Thompson

unread,
Oct 6, 2012, 11:57:10 AM10/6/12
to
On Fri, 05 Oct 2012 20:57:20 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com>
wrote:

>On Fri, 05 Oct 2012 17:29:13 -0700, Jim Thompson
><To-Email-Use-Th...@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote:
>
>>Back when I was a kid (nearly 3/4 of a century ago :-) there used to
>>be plastic coils that could be applied to a straight cable to "coil"
>>it up.
>>Does such a thing exist today?
>> ...Jim Thompson
>
>A cable bobbin perhaps? Probably not, because it's too obvious.
><http://www.alibaba.com/trade/search?SearchText=+cable+bobbin>
>
>Perhaps a variation on the iPod earphone cable shortener? Cute, but
>unlikely:
><http://www.aliexpress.com/item/Silicone-rubber-fish-bone-earphones-headphone-cable-bobbin-winder-cord-winder-cable-holder-for-MP3-MP4/566042373.html>
>
>Perhaps a cable reel?
><http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/category_electrical+cord-reels>
>
>If you're trying to make a coiled cord or power cable, here's how:
><http://blog.makezine.com/2009/07/18/make-projects-cord-curling/>
><http://www.meridiancable.com/coiled-cable/>
>
>Perhaps it might be helpful if you describe the "plastic coils", what
>you're trying to accomplish, and what you have to work with?

The "cable" is a very long USB cable of a Logitech headset. I simply
want to hang it under my desk without a jumble to catch my feet on.

I need the length so I can move around during lengthy Skype calls...
now becoming 2-3 a day.

The "plastic" was spring-like, and produced the effect like a typical
telephone cord does today.

An alternate would be something that creates larger coiling something
like the hose on my compressor... around 8" coils.

MrTallyman

unread,
Oct 6, 2012, 1:09:34 PM10/6/12
to
On Fri, 05 Oct 2012 21:30:22 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com>
wrote:

>
>A wire is one conductor, either bare or insulated.
>A cable is more than one wire, which may be uninsulated (i.e. wire
>rope), or insulated as in electrical cable.

I do not need a primer, dingledorf. Nor does the rest of the group.


Everything from finer than a hair #54 to #0000.

From fine, 1mm diameter coax to huge cable hardline.

MrTallyman

unread,
Oct 6, 2012, 1:11:08 PM10/6/12
to
On Fri, 05 Oct 2012 21:30:22 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com>
wrote:

>> That 100 foot crap that ends up coiling the wire at less than a 2"
>>diameter is simply ridiculous.
>
>Yeah, but it's so much fun to pull on the cable and watch the spool
>spin inside the box.

When it is that small it is a bare spool, and there is no box.

Jeff Liebermann

unread,
Oct 6, 2012, 2:55:29 PM10/6/12
to
On Sat, 06 Oct 2012 08:57:10 -0700, Jim Thompson
<To-Email-Use-Th...@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote:

>The "cable" is a very long USB cable of a Logitech headset. I simply
>want to hang it under my desk without a jumble to catch my feet on.
>
>I need the length so I can move around during lengthy Skype calls...
>now becoming 2-3 a day.
>
>The "plastic" was spring-like, and produced the effect like a typical
>telephone cord does today.
>
>An alternate would be something that creates larger coiling something
>like the hose on my compressor... around 8" coils.
>
> ...Jim Thompson

This is why wireless headsets were invented. You might consider a
wireless alternative. Search for "wireless usb headset".

I have a flat ethernet cable on a spring loaded spool. The spool is
in the middle of about 15ft of flat CAT5. When retracted, both ends
wrap around the spool until only the connectors stick out. I also
have a flat telephone cord with the same type of spring loaded spool.
Something like this but larger:
<http://www.ebay.com/itm/160895017387>
Is the Logitech cable round or flat? Round doesn't work with such
spools. Approximately how long?

Also, try looking through this mess of cable organizer pictures and
see if anything looks usable:
<https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=cable+organizer+reel>
<https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=cable+organizer+spool>

MrTallyman

unread,
Oct 6, 2012, 2:58:38 PM10/6/12
to
On Sat, 06 Oct 2012 11:55:29 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com>
wrote:
for what he wants?

V E L C R O !!!

http://www.amazon.com/Velcro-Reusable-Self-Gripping-Inches-91140/dp/B001E1Y5O6

Jim Thompson

unread,
Oct 6, 2012, 3:41:05 PM10/6/12
to
On Sat, 06 Oct 2012 11:55:29 -0700, Jeff Liebermann <je...@cruzio.com>
wrote:

>On Sat, 06 Oct 2012 08:57:10 -0700, Jim Thompson
><To-Email-Use-Th...@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote:
>
>>The "cable" is a very long USB cable of a Logitech headset. I simply
>>want to hang it under my desk without a jumble to catch my feet on.
>>
>>I need the length so I can move around during lengthy Skype calls...
>>now becoming 2-3 a day.
>>
>>The "plastic" was spring-like, and produced the effect like a typical
>>telephone cord does today.
>>
>>An alternate would be something that creates larger coiling something
>>like the hose on my compressor... around 8" coils.
>>
>> ...Jim Thompson
>
>This is why wireless headsets were invented.

Batteries :-( And bad reviews.

>You might consider a
>wireless alternative. Search for "wireless usb headset".
>
>I have a flat ethernet cable on a spring loaded spool. The spool is
>in the middle of about 15ft of flat CAT5. When retracted, both ends
>wrap around the spool until only the connectors stick out. I also
>have a flat telephone cord with the same type of spring loaded spool.
>Something like this but larger:
><http://www.ebay.com/itm/160895017387>
>Is the Logitech cable round or flat? Round doesn't work with such
>spools. Approximately how long?

Round. 6'

>
>Also, try looking through this mess of cable organizer pictures and
>see if anything looks usable:
><https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=cable+organizer+reel>
><https://www.google.com/search?tbm=isch&q=cable+organizer+spool>

josephkk

unread,
Oct 9, 2012, 9:41:06 PM10/9/12
to
On Sat, 06 Oct 2012 12:41:05 -0700, Jim Thompson
<To-Email-Use-Th...@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote:

>
>>>An alternate would be something that creates larger coiling something
>>>like the hose on my compressor... around 8" coils.
>>>
>>> ...Jim Thompson
>>
>>This is why wireless headsets were invented.
>
>Batteries :-( And bad reviews.

I have an Asus wireless headset w/ rechargeable batteries and decent
working time per charge (>2 hours). Sound so good you could listen to
classical or classic rock or any other kind of music for hours on end.

?-)

Jasen Betts

unread,
Oct 6, 2012, 8:29:50 PM10/6/12
to
On 2012-10-06, Jim Thompson <To-Email-Use-Th...@On-My-Web-Site.com> wrote:
> Back when I was a kid (nearly 3/4 of a century ago :-) there used to
> be plastic coils that could be applied to a straight cable to "coil"
> it up.
>
> Does such a thing exist today?


You mean in a slinky-like helix like phone handset cables and old
keyboards? Can you mod the hadset to have a 4p4C modular jack and use
a handset cable?

someone has mentioned coiled air line the stuff is some sort of hard
thrmop[lastic (HDPE?) - you could perhaps split a lenghth of that
and insert your cable? (or perhaps fish it through with a vacuum
assist)



--
⚂⚃ 100% natural

--- news://freenews.netfront.net/ - complaints: ne...@netfront.net ---

Dan

unread,
Oct 10, 2012, 7:29:46 PM10/10/12
to
On Friday, October 5, 2012 5:29:14 PM UTC-7, Jim Thompson wrote:
> Back when I was a kid (nearly 3/4 of a century ago :-) there used to
>
> be plastic coils that could be applied to a straight cable to "coil"
>
> it up.
>
>
>
> Does such a thing exist today?
>

http://makeprojects.com/Project/Cord+Curling,+Part+1+-+Thermoforming/389/1
0 new messages