wire tie

General discussion area for tube amps.

Moderators: pompeiisneaks, Colossal

Post Reply
User avatar
selloutrr
Posts: 3694
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 2:44 am
Location: Southern California

wire tie

Post by selloutrr »

Does anyone have a link to teach the wire wrap technique using string like found on british amps.
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
User avatar
Structo
Posts: 15446
Joined: Wed Oct 17, 2007 1:01 am
Location: Oregon

Re: wire tie

Post by Structo »

It's pretty easy.

Sort of a half hitch or blanket stitch.

My dad was an old school telephone repairman for Ma Bell for 35 years.
He used to bring equipment home that was going to be thrown out because it was outdated.

I remember well cabinets with wires that were bundled like that.

The string they used was a waxed linen string. My dad used to have several rolls at the house. Don't know what ever happened to it.

Most of the old telephone equipment was made by Western Electric and those guys built some high quality stuff. I dare say mil spec all the way.
I was always impressed by what I saw from them.
Tom

Don't let that smoke out!
User avatar
selloutrr
Posts: 3694
Joined: Sun Oct 14, 2007 2:44 am
Location: Southern California

Re: wire tie

Post by selloutrr »

Perfect Thank you!

It looked pretty easy I tied flies when I was younger.
I'm thinking of working it into a new build.
I like how neat it makes the finished look.
My Daughter Build Stone Henge
User avatar
ToneMerc
Posts: 3480
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2009 3:55 pm
Location: East Coast

Re: wire tie

Post by ToneMerc »

Structo wrote: The string they used was a waxed linen string
Yep, the telco type string is actually called AT&T lacing cord. I was taught by Bell guys and have done wire running and lacing in telco CO environments. I've only done it a couple of times in amps. I've found that the #9 waxed cord doesn't work as well for the smaller diameter wires that we typically use inside of amps. The next time that I try it I'm going to use some Spectra fiber braid that I have on hand.

TM
passfan
Posts: 1353
Joined: Sun Jan 10, 2010 2:01 pm
Location: Central Florida

Re: wire tie

Post by passfan »

ToneMerc wrote:
Structo wrote: The string they used was a waxed linen string
Yep, the telco type string is actually called AT&T lacing cord. I was taught by Bell guys and have done wire running and lacing in telco CO environments. I've only done it a couple of times in amps. I've found that the #9 waxed cord doesn't work as well for the smaller diameter wires that we typically use inside of amps. The next time that I try it I'm going to use some Spectra fiber braid that I have on hand.

TM
You are correct, it is called lacing. I was taught how to lace back in I&C school in the early 80's. I haven't seen it done since though I've popped a few organ amps that had it in them.
"It Happens"
Forrest Gump
surfsup
Posts: 1513
Joined: Mon Nov 29, 2010 12:21 am
Location: Chicagoland

Re: wire tie

Post by surfsup »

Okay I have to ask, I have been told to not do parallel runs of leads but this seems like leads being tied are making one huge parallel run. So what is the purpose and why would you want to run lines like this?
User avatar
ToneMerc
Posts: 3480
Joined: Sun Apr 26, 2009 3:55 pm
Location: East Coast

Re: wire tie

Post by ToneMerc »

surfsup wrote:Okay I have to ask, I have been told to not do parallel runs of leads but this seems like leads being tied are making one huge parallel run. So what is the purpose and why would you want to run lines like this?
You have to keep in context that different (RF, AC, DC, ethernet...etc) cable signal types are still segregated. This wiki explains some important reasons why.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cable_lacing


I used a very small amount of lacing here.

https://tubeamparchive.com/viewtopic.ph ... ight=jtm45

TM
User avatar
RJ Guitars
Posts: 2663
Joined: Tue Nov 14, 2006 3:49 am
Location: Los Alamos, New Mexico
Contact:

Re: wire tie

Post by RJ Guitars »

I learned most of amp building from a group of guys that were really into HiFi. They didn't really like the wire tie bundling technique so much but did say that "if" you wanted to tidy things up by bundling wires, Dental Floss was the preferred product.

rj
Good, Fast, or Cheap -- Pick two...

http://www.rjguitars.net
http://www.rjaudioresearch.com/
http://diyguitaramps.prophpbb.com/
TheGimp
Posts: 195
Joined: Fri Oct 08, 2010 5:19 pm

Re: wire tie

Post by TheGimp »

You can still buy waxed nylon lace specifically designed for this purpose. I have both white and black. If you want to know the technique, look for military procedures for lacing wiring.

I learned it in the NAVY in the early 70s and still use it today to bundle HT wiring, but not much else.
Post Reply