Have a look at these Beauties!!!! How to make your OWN "High End" Cables!!! - Page 74

Ok once I measure it. How do I figure which size to buy?

I've received my 12AWG CL2 wire, GLS Audio locking banana plugs, and 3/8" techflex, but won't receive the wire pants and heat shrink until Monday. I'm dying to hook up my new speakers. So the plan is to use what I have now to hook everything up. As far as making it easier to make the cables once I get all the parts, would it be better to use only the wire and banana plugs or use the wire and banana plugs with the techflex? I definitely want to use the banana plugs now.

What was the circumference? If you have it in inches convert it to mm by using google.

Am I using the entire enclosure ( both black and red inside the outer covering) or each individual wire?

It comes out to just shy of 1/8 an inch

Sorry, I just go off work, and I just got home about 10 min. ago. Use a piece of thread, go around both black and red wire. Then measure whatever length that you used and see what you get. If you still get 1/8 inches that will be 3.175 mm.

I believe each strand of 16 guage speaker wire is approximately .05 inches, which will make each strand approximately 1.27 mm. So, for both strands will be 0.1 inch, which is 2.54 mm, round it off to 3 mm. So, in theory you should be able to use 3 mm speaker wire cover, as for boots you will need these http://www.knukonceptz.com/productdetail.cfm?prodid=SP16.

If you go under specifications, the knukonceptz boots are .29 inch for the input, which is 7.366 mm. Therefore, you should be able to use boots with an input of 8 mm. The 9 mm will probably work, but it will not have a snug fit. Hope that helped.

Helped a ton!!! Thanks you. I'll order and try to make them once they come in.

What size techflex do you recommend for 16?

I think 1/4" should work since it will expand from 3/32" to 7/16."

thank you very very much! I will post pics when I am done since I ma not sure anyone here has used 16 awg. I have very short runs so I am not worried about the guage issue. I want to try to build these on the cheap, so I am using what I already have on hand (hence the 16g in-wall wire)

now what color techflex hmmmm

Anyone?...Anyone?... Bueller?... Bueller?... Bueller?

Seriously, I could use some input. I have never made cables before so I can only visualize the process. I want to know if putting the techflex over the wire now, with just the banana plugs, would make it more difficult to add the wire pants and heat shrink later. The alternative is to use only the wire and banana plugs until I get the other parts. Which way would you do it?

Yes, you can do that!

Put the flextech over the wire, secure one end with electric tape, strech the techflex by pulling it from the end with the electric tape towards the end that is not secured yet. That way you will ensure the techflex is snug (not loose in the middle), then secure the other end with electric tape.

Then you can add your banana plugs and you are ready to go (is not going to look nice, but it is just a temp solution).

When you receive your cable pants and heat shrink, you just need to remove the banana plugs to expose the speaker wire, then you insert the cable pants right over the speaker wire and techflex. Yes, you will need to leave a portion of the copper wire visible at the end of the cable pants, so you can use it for the banana plugs. If your cable pants fits perfectly, then you might not need to install heat shrink.

I hope this helps!

Putting the Techflex over it now won't make it any more difficult, the issue is just that it might fray on you (depending on what kind you purchased) or might not stay very well. Either way will work really. Literally the only issue is making sure the techflex doesn't fray. You could use tape to hold it secure until the heatshrink comes in if you'd like.

1. cut speaker wire to length
2. add techflex onto wire and cut
3. Splice the outer jacket back to expose wires
4. add heatshrink over techflex ends
4. add cable pants
5. You can splice/expose the wires now OR in step 3...either one works fine.
6. Add banana plugs

DONE
Edited by ousooner2 - 1/11/13 at 7:56am

^^^

Thanks guys. To keep it simple I think I will use only the wire and banana plugs for now. That way I don't have to worry about the possibility of the Techflex fraying (I bought the original in carbon), which was the main thing I am concerned about. When I get the rest of the parts I will do a ~1ft practice cable.

http://www.amazon.com/Chrome-Series-plated-Connector-Banana/dp/B008J2WPA4/ref=sr_1_76?ie=UTF8&qid=1357929985&sr=8-76&keywords=banana+plugs

any thoughts on these? they sure do look purdy

Their reviews do not look good, but they look pretty.

I am thinking of replacing my monoprice banana plugs with these:
http://www.amazon.com/Sewell-Deadbolt-Banana-Fast-Lock-Technology/dp/B006U3O566/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1357934425&sr=1-1&keywords=banana+plugs+for+speakers

or

http://www.amazon.com/Sewell-Maestro-Banana-Connectors-Pairs-12/dp/B004CM4A58/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1357934425&sr=1-10&keywords=banana+plugs+for+speakers

Yes. Mine are great

Pics can be seen on previous page

I have them as well. They look great. Fit nice and snug in my pioneers

Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

Same here. Those Sewell deadbolts are some great banana plugs and a great value. Nice design in not needing a screw driver.
Edited by XStanleyX - 1/11/13 at 7:50pm

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B004CM4A58/ref=redir_mdp_mobile

How do these look?

Those are the exact same ones I am using. They look great and fit nice and snug into my speakers and receiver. I am very satisfied with them.

Awesome! I just bought hem. Now waiting for my million deliveries to come

So far with my first wire. Until the pants and banana come in. Btw this is 16awg in wall. I had a bunch left over so figured I make it with these first

I believe I've used similar techflex and had issues with the gold part separating from the rest of the techflex.

Oh no. Hope that doesn't happen

I ended up buying 100FT of something else lol. Something named Premium Expandable Braided PET Sleeving from Installed Depot on ebay. For 100FT cost me $24 shipped. I am hoping it is of good of better quality as the FlexTech stuff. I will report back with comments, opinion and pictures when I get it

The ones from Hong Kong look good too, but it would of taken more than 3 weeks to get here, and I don't think I can wait that long.

I am having a hard time deciding in between these two banana plugs:

http://www.amazon.com/Sewell-Maestro-Banana-Connectors-Pairs-12/dp/B004CM4A58/ref=sr_1_10?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1358220255&sr=1-10&keywords=banana+plugs

http://www.amazon.com/Sewell-Deadbolt-Banana-Fast-Lock-Technology/dp/B006U3O566/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1358220255&sr=1-1&keywords=banana+plugs


I like the black chrome and security screw of the first one, but I've never used security screws banana plugs. So, I am not sure if that is better or not. Anyone care to post some pics of you've got any of both? Thanks.

I have a bunch all the exact same as the silver style Nakamichi ones on the left side of your first pic, for some reason he has 2 different types in the same auction? I like the Nakamichis because the 12g wire fits good, the 2 set screws hold it good, and they were cheap. I have a friend who I helped put plugs on his system and they were similar to the Sewel plugs in your other link, I didnt particularly like the way you have to have the wire just out enough to swirl/twist over the end, I stabbed my fingers a few times with the short wires trying to twist them.

I know what you mean. I am currently using the Monoprice ones, and they are okay, but they bend easily, which cause a few of the red and black banana plugs to touch causing my AVR to over heat and going into standby mode. After I bend them back everything worked fine. I was looking at the Nakamichi as well. I need 28 pairs for my 7.1 system, and I can get 30 pairs from Nakamichi for $30 dollars, which isn't bad. I will look into the one that have double security screws. However, I do like the black chrome from the Sewells.

I also like the black chrome ones like the sewels you linked, I just may buy a set of them to make my custom wires to run from the AVR to the 7.2 wall plate.

I bought this set of nakamichis off a dude in Hong Kong and they were here in about 2 weeks, sooner than I thought actually.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/270683548580?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

The ones I helped my buddy put on were the monoprice ones actually. His are all steel on the outside also, so to make sure they never touched and shorted out or anything like that, we put some heat shrink I got from work on the bodies of the plugs to act as an insulator.