Fitting wind instruments

[Euphonyx]

I've just got new wind instruments. How do I get the cable through the mast? There is an old cable alright. Was thinking I might sew the old and new cables together with whipping twine and pull through but then the twine might rip if it meets an obstacle. Could tie thinchord and use the old cable to pull the chord through the mast and then use the chord to pull the new one through but how to tie the chord to the new cable??? totally crippled with indecision! is there "method" for doing this??

 

[Talulah]

I have sellotaped the old and new cable together in the past and have had no issues using the old as a mouse. It makes things a lot easier if you use washing up liquid to help lubricate on the new cable.

 

[prv]

Assuming it's just bare cable, no plugs, I fix them together using the inner cores. The exact details depend on how many cores are inside the cable; for a two core power cable I snip one core off and bend the other round and tape the end back to itself to form a loop. Then do the same with the other cable, interlocking the two loops. With multiple smaller cores I might bundle several of them together to do the same. Then wrap the whole joint in tape, and because you're missing one of the cores and the outer insulation, the whole joint can be narrower than the main cable despite the interlocking loops etc. If it's a really tight fit I might lubricate the cable with Wickes silicone lubricant to help it slide through. It also helps to have someone to feed the new cable in while you pull the old one out, though I've used carefully-positioned blocks to achieve the same effect when working on my own.

Pete

 

[Euphonyx]

Thanks folks.

Now to deal with my fear of heights!!!

 

[AngusMcDoon]

Thanks folks.

Now to deal with my fear of heights!!!

When you pull a new cable through you can also attach a mouse line and pull that through at the same time then tie it off and leave it. You never know when you might need it in the future.