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packing/storing cables

bjlockie

Member
What is the best way to pack or store cables?
a. Roll them up like a hose and use twist ties on 2 sides
b. fold them end to end and use 1 twist tie in the middle
c. put them in plastic bags so they don't get tangled
d. some other way?
 
For cables that have small ends (ie SATA cables) I buy the mailing tubes from the post office, and keep them in there. Works great for those cables, but not so much for VGA cables, etc. I've also heard of people using the shoe racks that go over the door, and hanging them off of that. Haven't tried that method yet though.
 
Originally posted by: bjlockie
What is the best way to pack or store cables?
a. Roll them up like a hose and use twist ties on 2 sides
b. fold them end to end and use 1 twist tie in the middle
c. put them in plastic bags so they don't get tangled
d. some other way?

Those are all good ways. I use a combination of any of those methods depending on what supplies I have on hand at the time. I throw them all into a big drawer though so any of those are fine.
 
Originally posted by: bjlockie
What is the best way to pack or store cables?
a. Roll them up like a hose and use twist ties on 2 sides
b. fold them end to end and use 1 twist tie in the middle
c. put them in plastic bags so they don't get tangled
d. some other way?
e. a cable bucket :thumbsup::laugh:

 
I usually coil them up, but use the cables themsleves to bind themselves (does that work as a sentence?)

Make a loop in the cable and you will have an upper and lower tail.
__ __
U \/ L
/
| |
\/

Take the upper cable and bend it back so it goes under and then back up through the middle of the loop. Keep doing that until you are all out of space on the upper tail. Repeat for the lower one. You are essentially twisting the loop, or at least that is what it will look like.

I might upload a video or picture series of this. Keeps the cables coiled, which helps to prevent fatigue, and you don't have to waste twist ties or zip ties.
 
I coil them up and put a couple twist ties on it. I have a large plastic bin that I have all my ethernet/phone/coax and other long cables (such as 50ft VGA and SVideo) just sitting in. I use the plastic drawer systems from Target and the like for anything smaller. I have WAY too many cables for my apartment but I'm not about to go throwing away 50ft Cat6 cables just because I have no use for them at the moment.
 
You may not have as many as I do - but I put a long 1x4 board in the closet of my computer room, and then hang the cables. That makes them easy to find and put in and out without opening boxes, etc.

Cables

My wife believes that these cables multiply at night. Now and then I sort them. 🙂
 
Originally posted by: corkyg
You may not have as many as I do - but I put a long 1x4 board in the closet of my computer room, and then hang the cables. That kames them easy to find and put in and out without opening boxes, etc.

Cables

My wife believes that these cables multiply at night. Now and then I sort them. 🙂

Christ, it looks like you gutted a cyborg.
 
Originally posted by: corkyg
You may not have as many as I do - but I put a long 1x4 board in the closet of my computer room, and then hang the cables. That makes them easy to find and put in and out without opening boxes, etc.

Cables

My wife believes that these cables multiply at night. Now and then I sort them. 🙂

Awesome. I also have a weird obsession with collecting cords.
 
DO NOT fold / crease cables. the sharper the bend the worse. always coil or hang vertically. If you fold them enough times, you will eventually notice that they don't work. This isn't much of a problem with ribbon cables, but as with any wire, if you crease it over and over again it will break.
 
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