Managing cables

[jswingchun]

What are you doing with cables to keep them separate when storing them? Right now I have a piece of velcro attached to one end with a zip tie so after I roll the cable I can tie it off with that velcro. It works, but I hate having the velco on the end as it is always snagging on things when pulling up cables after the show, and the cables stick together whenever they get the chance.

I think I read somewhere that some people use tie wraps off a dispenser like you would get for gardening and basically consider them a throwaway item at each show. Like this:

Does anyone have a better way of handling this?

[David Raehn]

Here's one for the hard-core DIY crowd:

http://www.colomar.com/Shavano/cable_straps.html

Yeah, I know it's still velcro.....

Lot's of good info on the site though.....

I use these myself:

Velcro Reusable Self-Gripping Ties VEK90924

I call them 'cat tongues' and keep them on the end of the cable nearest the snake....

Hope this may help.

[Bill Fitzmaurice]

Cables I've never found a problem, but a snake is a royal PITA. This is a good way to deal with those:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Suncast-175- ... 5yc1vZbx7e

You can use them for power cords too, just plug in the cords to each other as an assistant does the reeling. You can do the same with XLR mic cables if you have enough of them to make it worthwhile.

[David Raehn]

Those are great, Bill, but I hate the extra stress it puts on the cable ends. I hate soldering while at FOH.

[jswingchun]

I don't want to spool them because I have various lengths and I group them by length in the tub to make it easy to grab the length I want. I'm thinking I may cut off the Velcro on the mic cables at least and try the tie wraps. If it works out I will do the same for power and speaker. I'm still open though if any one else wants to chime in.

[Scott Brochu]

Cables I've never found a problem, but a snake is a royal PITA. This is a good way to deal with those:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Suncast-175- ... 5yc1vZbx7e

You can use them for power cords too, just plug in the cords to each other as an assistant does the reeling. You can do the same with XLR mic cables if you have enough of them to make it worthwhile.

I to use the hose reel method Neat and easy, especially late at night while breaking down.

[Bruce Weldy]

Speaker cables get velcro.

Mic cables get tied with a loose knot. Works great and no velcro to deal with. I even put a knot in my electrical cables.

Snake gets coiled into a plastic tote, using the over/under method. It comes out laying flat with no curls and loops. Another trick I use with it is to leave about 20 feet of the stage end of the snake out. Start coiling it into the box until all of the rest of the snake is in. Then coil in the 20 feet with the stage box on top. That way, you'll pull out the box portion to put on stage, but you only take out of the box what you need to get to FOH. The rest stays in the box. No need in coiling up 100 feet of snake if you only use 60.

[BrentEvans]

I buy roll velcro from Harbor Freight. Cut off only the length needed for the cable, cut a small slit in one end and use a small zip tie to fasten tightly to the male end of the Xlr or whichever end of the cable is at the rack or snake. The velcro wraps around itself while the cable is in use, never falls off, and holds great. For larger cables and snakes I use parachute cord, tied to the cable similarly with a zip tie. Always use 2 or 4 on larger cables and snakes.

[gdougherty]

http://www.itapestore.com/velcroonewrap ... eties.aspx

They stick together occasionally, but I put them on the male end and generally disconnect one at a time as I pack up. I bought a spool of 900 for $150. Yes, you can buy other types for cheaper but these are the most durable I've found and they're also good on the adhesion. Home Depot sells a cheap roll of 75 for a few bucks, but the straps don't hold well if under stress.

For long power and snake cables I get the 24" velcro tie wraps from Lowes/HD and cut them down to the appropriate length. Medium sized power and speaker cabling gets 3/4"x12" straps from the first link.

[jswingchun]

I buy roll velcro from Harbor Freight. Cut off only the length needed for the cable, cut a small slit in one end and use a small zip tie to fasten tightly to the male end of the Xlr or whichever end of the cable is at the rack or snake.

This is what I have been doing. It works pretty well, but I just don't like the velcro sticking the cables together. I have also had the velcro splitting lately, not that it is a big deal to replace them.

[gdougherty]

I buy roll velcro from Harbor Freight. Cut off only the length needed for the cable, cut a small slit in one end and use a small zip tie to fasten tightly to the male end of the Xlr or whichever end of the cable is at the rack or snake.

This is what I have been doing. It works pretty well, but I just don't like the velcro sticking the cables together. I have also had the velcro splitting lately, not that it is a big deal to replace them.

That's what cheap velcro does. Good velcro like I linked above, holds up much better. I also like that the velcro pieces loop around the cable without requiring a zip-tie as those tend to mess up the cable and your hands over time. In my case, looping the tie end back onto the cable wrapped portion in a large circle (not tight around the cable) tends to keep the velcro from sticking together (all fuzzy side out). It only takes an extra second or two when you loose the strap.

[doncolga]

I have just a velcro tie on every cable and use the over/under method (thanks to you all here). I have a small bag for mics, mic and instrument cables and some power. Larger bin for all the big stuff.