[sdiy] Uncoiling wire

[Magnus Danielson]

From: Peter Grenader <peter at buzzclick-music.com>
Subject: [sdiy] Uncoiling wire
Date: Sat, 03 Apr 2004 18:38:18 -0800
Message-ID: <BC94B50E.12915%peter at buzzclick-music.com>

> All -

Dear Peter,

> I got a great deal on a few spools of stranded wire, the only problem being
> it remain coiled like a pig's tail for days after it's removed from the
> reel.  Anyone got a clue, with either heat gun or something else to
> straighten it out?

When they spool up the cable it gets bent, and it quickly stabilizes in that
bent shape. This is nothing else than mechanical stress. What you basically
have to do is to bend it back. Depending on the cabletype you can be more or
less agreessive in bendingshape and all that. Usually you can get it into a
really decent shape. Make sure not to introduce twists and strains, you are out
to release the cable from strains. Again, work slowly up to a speed where you
feel you have control over the result.

> I'm dealing with a 24 wire bunch, each terminated at the end with a little
> sticky label indicating what signal each wire is and they're curling up and
> getting tangled and it's kicking the $hit out of me.

A multicable? Ah. Those you want to treat with much respect and massage your
way through. They will thank you for it.

Cheers,
Magnus