We recently adapted a headphone wrapping method for other cables, though some of you with more expensive cables were uncomfortable wrapping them that tightly. Reader Travis shares a cord wrapping technique he learned working at Apple to keep the bundle kink-free.It’s probably the simplest method we could think of (in fact, we’re surprised we hadn’t seen it before). You’re essentially just folding the cable in half a number of times – loosely – and then tying it into a really loose granny knot. It probably won’t work great for headphone cords, but for USB cables that are a bit stiffer, the tie will hold together pretty well without being too tight. Plus, it takes just a few seconds, and you don’t need any twist ties or velcro strips. Check out the video above for a quick demo. Thanks, Travis!
Matt
Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 10:03 AMThat’s… a thumb knot.
A granny knot, as far as I was always taught, was a “not quite right” reef knot.
Rather than Left over Right, Right over Left, a granny knot was simply Left over Right, Left over Right (or vice versa)
Nodeity
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 10:12 AMIf he used an actual reef knot there would be an extra layer. This is a good way to do it because it doesn’t pull too tight and damage the wiring!! :]
Doug Sherry
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 11:13 PMIt looks more like an half hitch knot, just without the anchor point, but it certainly isn’t a granny knot.
Tom Jones
Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 10:52 AMWow. That was amazing.
Stephen Dean
Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 12:52 PMSee my comments on the post about “Use Headphone-Wrapping Methods On All Your Cables” This is so wrong for cables, better to use a correct method to make your cables last longer
Nodeity
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 10:13 AMIt’s not tight enough to damage the wire!!
The Saint
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 2:09 PMNodeity, I can see a 180 degree bend that looks like it has been put in a bench vice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The Saint
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 2:52 PMDisregard that, it was his zipper.Sorry Nod. :-)
Andrew Bourke
Saturday, March 12, 2011 at 10:36 PMOMG WTF how did he ever do that! That’s risking damage to the cable doing it that way.
Nodeity
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 10:14 AMSee above!!
The Saint
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 9:53 AMGGGRRRRRRRRRRRR. This is the second time I have commented on the subject of cable management.
All cables have a MBR or Minimum bend radius.
Folding a cable in half should never be done, DONT FOLD CABLES, EVER.
When a cable is bent past its MBR micro fractures occur in the metal, causing a weak spot and increasing the resistance of the metal at said bend. Bad and Bad.
My prefered method is too make a coil of cable, whose radius suits the comfortable flexibility(or adheres to MBR if you know it) of said cable, then pass one end of the cable through the middle of loop and around outside several times to hold the shape of the coil. This method creates no sharp bends(FOLDS!)
In the cause of mains cables, microfracture damage will result in the cable becoming hot or even melting at that point risking fire. This is the primary cause of long term mains cable failure.
With low voltage cabling the fracture will be prone to eventually failing at that point, just like when you bend a peice of metal enough times on a line it fatigues and snaps.
Further more with cables carry high frequency signals(Cat 5, Cat 6, Coaxial, USB, Firewire…) a resistive point will cause signal reflection reducing throughput capacity due to reflection causing data errors. A sharp bend will also begin to act like an inductor, causing a current to voltage phase shift in the signal. This causes even more signal corruption.
One can buy all the best gear there is, but a chain is only as strong as it weakest link, cabling is a large part of that chain.
Love your cables and they will love you back.
Regards, The Saint
LucasF
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 11:29 AMHmmm, The Saint’s “comment” was more extensive and informative than the article itself.
Stephen Dean
Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 2:31 PMI am with the Saint, if you did that to a cable a one of the places that I work at, you would be chastised. And buying the drinks for the next few days :) . Cables represent an investment and therefore should be looked after, the perosn that damages them from bad coiling should be moved out of the company. My suggestion is learn to roll a cable correctly and it will last you for years.