Wire Organizing- What Do You Use?

[PedalUma]

It's a necessity riding the streets and the MUPS with the oblivious.


You're always stuffing things in little slits

Tight. Maybe a little too little too little! A yoga babe knows how to shake it. Did you see an Irina Kovych video yet?

 

[6zfshdb]

I'm not a fan of butt splices for inline cable modifications. I'll admit, they are less prone to failure, but I prefer inline straight solder splices. To compensate for the strength loss, I cover each soldered wire splice with a tiny piece of shrink wrap and then cover the entire splice with larger shrink wrap. Makes for a neater looking splice with a diameter only slightly larger than the cable itself.

Making these straight solder joints on fine wire is definitely a challenge. With my big fingers, it wouldn't be possible without a good "third hand" solder board.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I'm not a fan of butt splices for inline cable modifications. I'll admit, they are less prone to failure, but I prefer inline straight solder splices. To compensate for the strength loss, I cover each soldered wire splice with a tiny piece of shrink wrap and then cover the entire splice with larger shrink wrap. Makes for a neater looking splice with a diameter only slightly larger than the cable itself.

Making these straight solder joints on fine wire is definitely a challenge. With my big fingers, it wouldn't be possible without a good "third hand" solder board.

View attachment 208866

That's my preferred method as well... But in addition to a third and fourth hand you need the slack and comfortable working conditions. On small wires if you don't have enough legnth to slide the heat shrink on before assembly or if it ends up too close to the solder joint, it'll shrink while soldering. In these cases I sometimes substitute tape for the individual conductor shrink wrap and/or hot glue.

 

[RunForTheHills]

I have one of those alligator clip third hands. Not as fancy as that one though. The one I have was kind of fidly to use. I saw this on Amazon for $10 and bought it on a whim. It works really well:

 

[Gionnirocket]

I have one of those alligator clip third hands. Not as fancy as that one though. The one I have was kind of fidly to use. I saw this on Amazon for $10 and bought it on a whim. It works really well:

I have one as well, but it's just the slotted holder without the tip scrubber. Works well when you're working on a table for a straight thru...

 

[RunForTheHills]

I have one as well, but it's just the slotted holder without the tip scrubber. Works well when you're working on a table for a straight thru...

Yeah, I don't use the tip scrubber on it. All you need is the slotted part and it is kind of a one trick pony. But it is good at that trick. And it's small and easy to store.

 

[PedalUma]

The thread Turbo Vado 3 is pretty funny. There is this Central European guy who is playing the role of a pompous ass to great amusement.

I got the controller out. This fly fisher will now be on his third controller because of water and he is on his second torque sensor because of water in four years.

 

[speedub.nate]

I think that some of the hate towards spiral wrap is because often too large a size is used, and it ends up looking "chunky" and very obvious from a distance.

In the photo, this is Ø2.8mm spiral wrap and it's wrapped around a Ø5mm hydraulic line and a Ø3mm coax cable for lighting. If the ends get uppity and try to unravel, a short strip of vinyl electrical tape solves that and even gives it a finished appearance.

 

[stompandgo]

Felt

 

[stompandgo]

I use high quality electrical tape, wrapped tightly. If the ends get dirt underneath them and start to let go, I just replace the tape.

 

[Chazmo]

So funny… I just re-read the title of this thread and saw “wife organizing”…. Kind of gives it a different meaning, eh?

[spoken like a true divorced dude, of course]

 

[PedalUma]

I use high quality electrical tape, wrapped tightly. If the ends get dirt underneath them and start to let go, I just replace the tape.

View attachment 208897

Silicone electrical tape is cool. It self fuses and is waterproof. Anytime you would like to use marine grade heat shrink tube but cannot slip it over the joint, use this stuff. I will hit it with a heat gun. Seamless.

 

[stompandgo]

I have not seen that. Thanks!

 

[Gionnirocket]

Silicone electrical tape is cool. It self fuses and is waterproof. Anytime you would like to use marine grade heat shrink tube but cannot slip it over the joint, use this stuff. I will hit it with a heat gun. Seamless.
View attachment 208902

Its excellent tape and has its uses... But it is not waterproof or submersible and I would not consider it a replacement for marine grade heat shrink.
I have a few rolls in different colors.

 

[Gionnirocket]

I think that some of the hate towards spiral wrap is because often too large a size is used, and it ends up looking "chunky" and very obvious from a distance.

Hey! I resemble that remark!

That said I do have a bit more to manage. Coming out of the frame is a main harness that handles the display, throttle and brake lever cutouts. Then there's a wire for the light, one for the horn and a third for their switches. I also have a wire stepped down to 12v to run a pair of handlebar mounted USB outlets and future handgrip warmers for the winter rides. Lastly there's the pair of Rohloff shift cables and the rear brake hydraulic line. I've tried the thinner stuff you're using in the past and it's just not up to the task of my rats nest of accessories. It constantly loosened and looked worse than my current 1970's phone cord look. I hate using electrical tape as it'll inevitably unravel, especially in the summer sun and leave a glue mess. The self fusing silicone tape that @PedalUma is pedaling would probably be more suitable imo.
Lastly I often ride off road and deal with a lot of vibration and bouncing about.


Here I used a piece of clear vinyl tape that's typically used to protect surfaces as a wire manager for my tail light wire. Instead of coming out of the motor mount compartment I snuck it through a small hole above the shock enclosure and up the seat tube to the rear rack.