DIY Canare Cable w/ Paladin tools (1 Viewer)

[Stephen Hopkins]

I just finished making some Canare cables using paladin tools. Here's what i used and my experience...

Tools:

Paladin 8000 crimp handle - $21.99
Paladin 2649 crimp die - $20.75
Paladin economy coax stripper - $9.99 (3 blade)

Cables/Connectors:

L-5CFB (digital/sub cable)
V3-5CFB (component cable)
V5-5CFB (5ch cable)
RCAP-5CFB (RCA Connectors)

The 2649 die has hex crimp sizes of .324, .255, .068, .052, and .042. The .324 crimp was perfect for the main crimp on both cable types (L-5CFB and V*-5CFB). The .052 was near perfect for center-pin crimps w/ VERY minimal rocket tail effect. The stripper was not very versatile. The blade spacing didn't leave quite enough exposed dielectric, but this could be remedied by simply leaving more bare center connector exposed.

All in all, for less than $60 shipped in tools, it's a MUCH more economic way to go opposed to the Canare tools, or even the PE handle w/ the Canare die. I will be trying some of the other inexpensive stripper options (I.E. Radio Shack). The paladin strip tool did leave some to be desired.

I believe the reason I was able to find the crimp handle and strip tool so cheap online (yahoo shopping) is they appear to be surplus from Sprint (both tools have the sprint logo on them). The crimp die was still full price, but was retail packaged. Either way, $60 for paladin tools is much better than $220 for Canare tools, even if a bit more effort is required in the strip.

Here's a few pictures of the tools and the results:

Crimp handle w/ die and crimper:


Example Strip (L-5CFB):


Component Video Cable (example crimp):


Component Video / Analog Audio Cable:


Subwoofer Cable:

 

[Laszlo]

I did buy the tools from surplus too like two weeks ago, now I have to buy some cables and conectors. I bought their Pladin Coax Ready tool kit http://shop.store.yahoo.com/technica...otokitstc.html
Really good prices.
Where did you buy the cable and conectors?

Laszlo

 

[Stephen Hopkins]

I'm not quite sure the dies in that kit will get the job done. None of the three dies have a crimp size suitible for the center pin crimp.

I got my cable and connectors from www.bdcable.com . They shipped very quickly. You do have to pay through paypal, but that was great for me because I already had some disposable income sitting in my paypal account.

 

[Laszlo]

I bought these two dies: Paladin 2047 and Paladin 2649.
You need 0.315" for outer crimp on Canare LV-77S and Belden 7710, that's why I bought the Paladin 2047 die. 0.052" for the center pin crimp.
Is this the cheapest place you found for cable and conectors?

Laszlo

 

[Stephen Hopkins]

Everything i found online was $3 per connector and not much difference for the cable. Only problem is BDcables only sells in 5ft sections.

I may consider LV-77S or possibly 4CFB for my next cables because the V3-5CFB and especially the V5-5CFB are not as flexible as i'd like, but the other cables aren't true RG6 either.

 

[Laszlo]

You know I'm tempting to buy a whole spool of cable. Pacific Radio has relaly good prices, if I could only splitted with somebody else.

Laszlo

 

[Stephen Hopkins]

i'm gonna have to pick up another 5ft of V5-5CFB and 10 more connectors to do a 5ch cable for my new amp that will be here wednesday. It'll be $40 for the cable once it's shipped. DIY cables are a great value, but the prices still add up.

 

[Laszlo]

Look at this price:
http://pr3.pacrad.com/cgi-bin/ncomme...&prrfnbr=25945

Isn't the price of the spool tempting?

Laszlo

 

[Stephen Hopkins]

Even by the foot it's pretty tempting, especially since they have every color.

 

[Laszlo]

By the foot is twice the price of the spool.
I think I need to buy a cble that will fit all my needs, one spool only.
What do you think?

Laszlo

 

[Stephen Hopkins]

1000ft will fit your needs and all your friends needs. That's probably twice as much as you would need to wire an entire house. It's a great savings, but will you really use 1000ft?