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Help on diy cable construction

To start this thread, I'm not a believer in expensive cables, simple as that. This is not intended to be a debate about that one way or the other so I'll spare y'all on my opinions and appreciate it if you do the same. I simply want to make some attractive speaker cables and maybe a power cord for my amp. For speaker cables, I have quite a bit of 14/2 awg with thick, very flexible clear insulation. Think MC of old. I want to wrap it in attractive PET braided material using different colors for different runs. My amp uses banana plugs. My speakers take a spade connector. For the power cords, I'll use a colored 12/3 awg SJ type cord hacked either from an extension cord or made from a few feet from a spool of black 12/3 awg SJ. I'd probably PET sheathe the latter as well. 
Questions are:
- How to size the braided PET and what vendors?
- Good source for double banana plugs and single spades?
- How to terminate the PET at the connectors?
- Attractive looking male and female plugs for the power cords? Heavy duty but not homeowner replacements.
- What is the name of the type of female plug on most electronics today? Trapezoidal almost that fits in a recess. 
- And last, should I step up to 12/2 awg for the speaker wire?
Thanks for any constructive advice...in advance.
axspike
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Searching ebay for "techflex" will get you a lot of options.  for the 14/2, you are probably fine with 3/8" techflex, but you should probably order some 1/2" just to be sure.  It's cheap enough.
axspike OP
34 posts
 
Thanks. The physical dimensions of the speaker cable I have is 1/2" x 1/4+". It's 2 round conductors running side by side and in a "flat" 2 dimensional shape thus the 2 measurements. On closer inspection, it looks like 12 awg braided.
axspike OP
34 posts
 
NEMA 5-15P to IEC320C13 is the technical spec for the power cord. But IEC320C13 end has to have a street name.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
I simply want to make some attractive cables


Attractive like sparkly silver and gold? Or earth tones? Leather would be cool. You could do the power cables in crocodile, speaker cables snake skin, and interconnects shark skin.

For plugs I would go with a contrasting wood for the power cords. Cocobolo, nah too cliche maybe a nice burl? Probably stick with stock IEC since that's hard to see but the wood would look great with an inlay.

Hey this is fun most guys all they care about with DIY is sound or saving money someone being so straight up about not caring about how bad it sounds or how much it costs or anything but bling is just so darn refreshing. Frankly I think a lot of guys buy based on cosmetic appearance. Its just so rare anyone has the courage to admit it.

Way to go!

- And last, should I step up to 12/2 awg for the speaker wire?

Why? Do you really think it will look better?
tantejuut
125 posts
 
What a disrespectful comment (as usual) Miller. A normal question doesn’t deserve such quasi ironic vitriol.

Techflex and some nice looking connectors (banana, spades and power) from Viborg (ebay or audiophonics) won’t break the bank.
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