Custom Colored Cables

PB Forum :: Tutorials
Custom Colored Cables
Author Message
flag chicknrider
Posted: Jun 22, 2010 at 22:30 Quote
j-wasilenko wrote:
Here is a how to guide I wrote on changing normal black cables on your bike to pretty much any color you could want. Not only is black boring but the hard coating on the outside of the cables can rub through paint and even aluminum. I have seen a Hayes brake cable eat right through the stanchion on a Fox 40. Braided stainless brake lines look nice, but are expensive running over $50 a line and don’t match your derailleur cable. By using the same heat shrink tubing electrician’s use, you can protect your frame and match your cables to any color scheme for your bike.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://justin.kics.bc.ca/forumimages/bike/customcables_02.jpg
What you will need:

* - About 180 inches of 3/16” heat shrink tubing
* - A pair of scissors
* - A heat gun or soldering iron (These two are optional)

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://justin.kics.bc.ca/forumimages/bike/customcables_04.jpg
You can purchase heat shrink tubing at most specialty electrical suppliers and online. It is very cheap running about $2 for 4 feet. Most stores carry a plethora of colors; some even have UV reactive tubing that glows under a black light. Another option to use would be expandable braided sleeving for that stainless braided look.

You might need more or less heat shrink tubing depending on how many cables you are doing and how long they are. 180 inches is what I needed to do front and rear brakes and full length rear derailleur housing. Best to measure your cables with a string and tape measure and then add a bit so you have some extra to play with.

I recommend using brand new housing and cables for this, nothing like new derailleur housing and cables to boost the feel of your bike. For disk brake lines you can use your old lines just be sure to clean them and have new fittings on hand as detaching the line from the caliper and reattaching can generate leaks if you do not use new fittings.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://justin.kics.bc.ca/forumimages/bike/customcables_01.jpg
Now take your housing and heat shrink tubing and lay them side by side. Measure and cut the heat shrink tubing to the length needed, being sure to leave space at each end of the cable for cable ends or disc brake fittings, typically around 1-2cm per end. Try to cut the ends as square as possible so the heat shrink lies flush with the cable ends.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://justin.kics.bc.ca/forumimages/bike/customcables_03.jpg
Now you can slide the heat shrink tubing over the cable housing. If you have 3/16” tubing it will slide easily for the first 12 inches or so and get progressively harder as you have more heat shrink over the housing because of the friction. It is possible with a lot of effort to do a full length cable but I prefer to cut the heat shrink tubing in to 15” sections and slide a couple of sections on. You get no bunching this way and if you have to replace a section you can do it in a 15” length instead of the entire cable. The other option if you have access to a heat gun/soldering iron is to use ¼” tubing and shrink the tubing over the cable. The ¼” tubing will slide on easily but once you shrink it with the heat gun it won’t come off unlike the 3/16” tubing where you can slide it off again and reuse it.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://justin.kics.bc.ca/forumimages/bike/customcables_05.jpg
Now all you have to do is reattach your brake lines and derailleur cables and your bike is ready to ride looking better than ever. If you have any questions post here or message me.
what size should it be?
flag Hombre3000
O+
Posted: Jun 22, 2010 at 23:20 Quote
Did you really have to quote the entire post for that?
flag nishnash
O+
Posted: Jun 22, 2010 at 23:23 Quote
Cables are coloured.
photo
flag guancho-libre
Posted: Jun 23, 2010 at 9:16 Quote
chicknrider wrote:
j-wasilenko wrote:
Here is a how to guide I wrote on changing normal...*snip*

What you will need:

* - About 180 inches of 3/16” heat shrink tubing * - A pair of scissors
* - A heat gun or soldering iron (These two are optional)
...If you have any questions post here or message me.
what size should it be?
your an idiot
flag mckenzie-dh
Posted: Jul 14, 2010 at 2:55 Quote
j-wasilenko wrote:
Here is a how to guide I wrote on changing normal black cables on your bike to pretty much any color you could want. Not only is black boring but the hard coating on the outside of the cables can rub through paint and even aluminum. I have seen a Hayes brake cable eat right through the stanchion on a Fox 40. Braided stainless brake lines look nice, but are expensive running over $50 a line and don’t match your derailleur cable. By using the same heat shrink tubing electrician’s use, you can protect your frame and match your cables to any color scheme for your bike.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://justin.kics.bc.ca/forumimages/bike/customcables_02.jpg
What you will need:

* - About 180 inches of 3/16” heat shrink tubing
* - A pair of scissors
* - A heat gun or soldering iron (These two are optional)

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://justin.kics.bc.ca/forumimages/bike/customcables_04.jpg
You can purchase heat shrink tubing at most specialty electrical suppliers and online. It is very cheap running about $2 for 4 feet. Most stores carry a plethora of colors; some even have UV reactive tubing that glows under a black light. Another option to use would be expandable braided sleeving for that stainless braided look.

You might need more or less heat shrink tubing depending on how many cables you are doing and how long they are. 180 inches is what I needed to do front and rear brakes and full length rear derailleur housing. Best to measure your cables with a string and tape measure and then add a bit so you have some extra to play with.

I recommend using brand new housing and cables for this, nothing like new derailleur housing and cables to boost the feel of your bike. For disk brake lines you can use your old lines just be sure to clean them and have new fittings on hand as detaching the line from the caliper and reattaching can generate leaks if you do not use new fittings.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://justin.kics.bc.ca/forumimages/bike/customcables_01.jpg
Now take your housing and heat shrink tubing and lay them side by side. Measure and cut the heat shrink tubing to the length needed, being sure to leave space at each end of the cable for cable ends or disc brake fittings, typically around 1-2cm per end. Try to cut the ends as square as possible so the heat shrink lies flush with the cable ends.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://justin.kics.bc.ca/forumimages/bike/customcables_03.jpg
Now you can slide the heat shrink tubing over the cable housing. If you have 3/16” tubing it will slide easily for the first 12 inches or so and get progressively harder as you have more heat shrink over the housing because of the friction. It is possible with a lot of effort to do a full length cable but I prefer to cut the heat shrink tubing in to 15” sections and slide a couple of sections on. You get no bunching this way and if you have to replace a section you can do it in a 15” length instead of the entire cable. The other option if you have access to a heat gun/soldering iron is to use ¼” tubing and shrink the tubing over the cable. The ¼” tubing will slide on easily but once you shrink it with the heat gun it won’t come off unlike the 3/16” tubing where you can slide it off again and reuse it.

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://justin.kics.bc.ca/forumimages/bike/customcables_05.jpg
Now all you have to do is reattach your brake lines and derailleur cables and your bike is ready to ride looking better than ever. If you have any questions post here or message me.

Or if you have hydro cable you can use 2 long peices of electrical tape to change the colour too
flag downhiller900sl
Posted: Jul 15, 2010 at 22:43 Quote
mckenzie-dh wrote:
j-wasilenko wrote:
Here is a how to guide I wrote ...

...If you have any questions post here or message me.

Or if you have hydro cable you can use 2 long peices of electrical tape to change the colour too

Idiot Take 2
flag mckenzie-dh
Posted: Jul 16, 2010 at 7:38 Quote
downhiller900sl wrote:
mckenzie-dh wrote:
j-wasilenko wrote:
Here is a how to guide I wrote ...

...If you have any questions post here or message me.

Or if you have hydro cable you can use 2 long peices of electrical tape to change the colour too

Idiot Take 2

or not it works the exact same ask a guy on here called Mccaw
flag Jon-m
Posted: Jul 21, 2010 at 13:50 Quote
Cheap place to get heatshrink:
http://www.hobbycity.com/hobbycity/store/uh_listCategoriesAndProducts.asp?catname=Shrink+Tube&idCategory=375&ParentCat=58

The 5mm size is just a bit bigger than 5mm so you'll still have to shrink it onto your cables with a heatgun or lighter. If your planning on shrinking it anyways and want it to slide on easy go for the 6mm size.


Jon
flag zotty
Posted: Aug 14, 2010 at 14:53 Quote
ACE thread and indeed idea Smile .. top marks to the original poster Smile ..

just started to do mine and got the gear cables done so far Smile .. will add more pics once i've finished

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flag zotty
Posted: Aug 16, 2010 at 11:30 Quote
finished it Big Grin ..

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash2/hs139.ash2/40274_495980384376_515369376_6941193_7106814_n.jpg
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and a before lol

Unsecure image, only https images allowed: http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs278.snc4/40223_494774354376_515369376_6905146_1998066_n.jpg
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flag markcahill
Posted: Aug 19, 2010 at 13:21 Quote
photo

i did this in about 3 mins.. it takes little effort And looks pretty cool to
all u need are some of theseUnsecure image, only https images allowed: http://holiday-crafts.preschoolrock.com/uploads/images/pipecleaners.jpg (pipe cleaners)

Smile
flag Jon-m
Posted: Aug 19, 2010 at 13:57 Quote
zotty wrote:
finished it Big Grin ..

I don't think you have enough cables on your bike. Maybe add a poploc front fork?



Eek
flag zotty
Posted: Aug 20, 2010 at 0:41 Quote
Jon-m wrote:
zotty wrote:
finished it Big Grin ..

I don't think you have enough cables on your bike. Maybe add a poploc front fork?



Eek

LOL.. stop it Big Grin Big Grin
flag math-05stp
Posted: Aug 20, 2010 at 5:11 Quote
do you know were i can find some forest green shrink tube???
flag ooomrbojangles13
Posted: Oct 24, 2010 at 11:13 Quote
i just ordered 25 feet of the stuff in white. ima have some extra. anyone need some? pm me
*edit*
got the stuff didnt like it. i have about 20 feet for sale

 


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