I have seen the techniques used to make tow cables and work well (wind the metal strands etc) but how do you get the diagonal angle of the strands?

I usually tie off the ends to toothpicks and the angle just sort of happens all on its own. There is an actual tool for twisting lockwire together for machinery bolts that will also work really well. It sort of looks lik a pliers that has a rod running up the middle.

DON'T FORGET that WWII German AFV's had the LEFT hand twist on all tow cables....

I put the a piece of masking tape around the end of the loose strands of wire and chuck it up in my cordless drill. Hit the drill to turn it on slow and you can "braid" feet of tow cable at a time. Put the drill in forward or reverse to get left or right hand twist. Give it a try...

I build them by putting one end of some thin copper wires in my pin vise, and the other ends in some vise grips. Then just twist away. Cut off the ends of the kit supplied cables, and drill them out to accept the cables. Works pretty good. I'm trying to come up with a good technique to build up the ends, maybe from lead foil or something.

Bribo,

I have formed a loop in the end of the cable, super glued it and added lead foil. They look pretty sharp.

Thanks, Keenan, I think I'm going to give that a try with some cables i just made. Give me an excuse to pick up a bottle of wine for the weekend.

Bribo,

All the wine I buy now has a screw off cap or comes in a box... Nothing like the box o' wine to get the ol' dinner party rolling...

Cheers...

Picked up an old hand drill at a yard sale for a couple of bucks. Great for this job,any speed you want on demand, no run away power and you can drill with it too. #:-) Handy for those quick jobs that you don't want to drag out drill,extension cord,etc., JOCK