Anyone have ideas for what to use? Steel cable?

And what kind of clips to make loops?

Thanks guys,

I have had pretty decent luck making my own cable. Get a chunk of wire, like an old section of lamp cord and strip it. You should have a piece of copper wire made up of a whole bunch of smaller wires wound (twisted) together. Unravel that and get 6 or seven of the finer strands about 4 inches longer than you want your cable to be. Wrap one end with masking tape, securing the strands together. Chuck the taped up end in a drill. Hold the drill in your right hand and pinch the individual strands between your thumb and fore finger of your left hand. Turn the drill on really slowly and you should be able to twist the individual strands together as you move your left hand down the length of the wire. The faster you run the drill the tighter the "weave" will be. It may take a couple of tries but it works for me.

I hope this made some sense...

Shaun

Perfect sence... I'll give it a try tonight. Thanks!

Now how did you 'clean' up the ends? Did you use a type of clip, or just fold a piece of heavier gauge wire over it?

I have used the ends off of the plastic kit cables, (cut off the end, drill a hole in it and glue your new cable in the hole) and I have also folded the cable back on itself to form a small loop and wrapped connection with lead foil...

Shaun

Hardware stores sell an ideal cable for picture hanging. It can be a bit stiff if the cable has to have a lot of bends in it.

Some types of string are also quite realistic. If you soak the string in diluted white glue it will get rid of the fluffy bits and stiffen it up a bit.

Regards Dave

I agree with KD on the picture wire looks the same as the AM stuff and costs alot less!
just watch out when you cut it to size as the ends may fray abit tighten them up with pilers ect and add some super glue to hold it in place

I've used the picture hanging wire with ends made out of jewelry clip hooks. Most craft stores have these in the oval shape (not circular) that looks exactly like the cast iron ends on the real thing. A little super glue some paint and presto....scale tow cables. :-)

Dave

I go about things a bit like keenan -

just get some copper wire (with the amount of different thicknesses you can't go wrong!)

I usually go for a 0.4 diam wire and get three or so strands, and cut it a bit over double the required length. I fold it in half and put the loose end in my pin vise. The other end I loop over a pencil and jam it somewhere will it will hold tight (ie a drawer). Then, using a fair amount of force, pull the wire tight and twist the pin vise until you get the thickness/tightness you require. Will take a few goes to get the right look, but the results are good.

Cheers, Cokes.

Real wire is great, but I gather that real towcable is made of "multiple strands of multiple strands." Might I suggest the rolls of poly Plumb Line sold at hardware stores(Ironmongers'/DiY Shops). I got the flourescent orange variety, but "paint don't care." It can be "frozen" in any position w/ thin superglue, cut to depict frayed cable, and is as cheap as you can get. Regards, Rob

Guys,

Like what the others said, I suggest you use the picture hanging wire sold in hardwares, I used the D-I-Y brand (M56031). I posted the tip below a few months back in a different forum - hope this helps:

I completed my prototype tow cable using picture hanging wire, aluminum foil tape and cotton buds/q-tips (those with hollow body stick handles).

For those who are interested in scratchbuilding tow cables, the steps are as follows:

Steps:
1) cut an appropriate length of picture hanging wire(PHW)
2) cut 1/4 to 1/2 inch (depends on your preference) from the cotton bud handle -- two pieces one for each end.
3) insert both cotton bud handle into the PHW
4) loop both ends of the wire to form an oval or circle - make sure that there is an excess of approximately 1/2 off from the cotton bud handle.
5) insert the excess from the loop into the cotton bud handle
6) heat the ends of the cotton bud handle so that it will close towards the wire.
7) get a considerable length of aluminum foil tape and then tape it around the cotton bud handle (burnish it)
8) sand the aluminum tape to remove the shine (use 400 to 600 grit).

The tow cable is now complete. it can be painted or weathered like those out of the box plastic tow cables.


:-)

hi go to a good quality hardware store and look at the section for builders , you need the builders plum line the one they use to line up walls , herer in the uk we can get several different types for about £2-00 for 100 metres , including one for modern kinetic rope , cheers ian

Azarius

What exact type of cable do you want? Multiple strand, left or right twist?

The best cable I have come across is that by Karaya (Accurate Armor website). They do a variety of diameters up to a meter in length and as they are copper they hold the position you shape them into. I have found that picture hanging wire is just too stiff and springy - even after some annealing.

Nylon thread in various diameters can also be used to replicate cable and as it is nylon it will not be *hairy* like cotton thread or string - check out a local drapers/dressmakers/sewing shop.

Lee