Went looking for some spiral cable wrap to build a few simple
wiring harnesses. ISTR it was pennies per foot some years ago,
so I expected dimes per foot now.

Turns out it's dollars per foot for the spiral stuff, but slit
corrugated hose is much cheaper, roughly what I expected for spiral.

Anybody have a clue why? The convoluted material looks a lot
slower to make. I tend to think it's inferior mechanically,
and certainly is bulkier.

Thanks for reading, and any ideas...

bob prohaska

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 6/6/2024 3:12 PM, bp@www.zefox.net wrote:

Went looking for some spiral cable wrap to build a few simple
wiring harnesses. ISTR it was pennies per foot some years ago,
so I expected dimes per foot now.

Turns out it's dollars per foot for the spiral stuff, but slit
corrugated hose is much cheaper, roughly what I expected for spiral.

Anybody have a clue why? The convoluted material looks a lot
slower to make. I tend to think it's inferior mechanically,
and certainly is bulkier.

Thanks for reading, and any ideas...

bob prohaska

About 40+ years ago I was a Plastic Extrusion Operator and also worked

in the R&D Department. I was involved in the design and setup of the
rotating blade that cut the 3/8" poly tubing. It had a variable speed
drive that was used to adjust the number of cut rotations per foot of
the tube. There was a lot of small adjustments that were made to get
with the =/- tolerance to meet the customers specification. I still
have some of the scraps laying somewhere. When I have a need I use
about 6" or 12" to hold some wires in place.
(you can't use it if you throw it away) :-)

As for your question of cost............... Sorry, but I don't know.
I would have to guess it has something to do with supply and demand!!

Hope the above helped with someone's knowledge base!! :-)

Les

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thu, 6 Jun 2024 19:12:25 -0000 (UTC), <bp@www.zefox.net> wrote:

Went looking for some spiral cable wrap to build a few simple
wiring harnesses. ISTR it was pennies per foot some years ago,
so I expected dimes per foot now.

Turns out it's dollars per foot for the spiral stuff, but slit
corrugated hose is much cheaper, roughly what I expected for spiral.

Anybody have a clue why? The convoluted material looks a lot
slower to make. I tend to think it's inferior mechanically,
and certainly is bulkier.

Thanks for reading, and any ideas...

bob prohaska

Depends on whether it needs to be an approved or listed component
in a certifiable wiring assembly.

Anybody can slit extruded tubing. Materials certified for flammability
or chemical/thermal/mechanical properties in a specific application
are harder to devellop and to market.

You have to specify the wiring materials - why should the wrap be
excluded from this stringency?

RL

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Thu, 6 Jun 2024 19:12:25 -0000 (UTC), <bp@www.zefox.net> wrote:

Went looking for some spiral cable wrap to build a few simple
wiring harnesses. ISTR it was pennies per foot some years ago,
so I expected dimes per foot now.

Turns out it's dollars per foot for the spiral stuff, but slit
corrugated hose is much cheaper, roughly what I expected for spiral.

Some clue as to what diameter and material you're looking for would be
helpful. Looking at what a Google image search dredged up, I don't
see anything that costs "dollars per foot". <https://www.google.com/search?q=spiral+cable+wrap&tbm=isch>
For example:
<https://www.cabletiesandmore.com/spiral-wrap-standard>
$15.13 / 100 ft in 3/4 inch diameter LDPE.

Anybody have a clue why? The convoluted material looks a lot
slower to make. I tend to think it's inferior mechanically,
and certainly is bulkier.

Convoluted material? Maybe a more specific material description will
yield a less vague answer.

Thanks for reading, and any ideas...

bob prohaska

--
Jeff Liebermann jeffl@cruzio.com
PO Box 272 http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Ben Lomond CA 95005-0272
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS 831-336-2558

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

On Thu, 6 Jun 2024 19:12:25 -0000 (UTC), <bp@www.zefox.net> wrote:

Went looking for some spiral cable wrap to build a few simple
wiring harnesses. ISTR it was pennies per foot some years ago,
so I expected dimes per foot now.

Turns out it's dollars per foot for the spiral stuff, but slit
corrugated hose is much cheaper, roughly what I expected for spiral.

Some clue as to what diameter and material you're looking for would be helpful. Looking at what a Google image search dredged up, I don't
see anything that costs "dollars per foot". <https://www.google.com/search?q=spiral+cable+wrap&tbm=isch>
For example:
<https://www.cabletiesandmore.com/spiral-wrap-standard>
$15.13 / 100 ft in 3/4 inch diameter LDPE.

That actually looks like a good deal but 100 feet is waaay too much.
The disclaimer about residential shipping surcharges makes me wary.

Here's a fairly representative example: https://www.lowes.com/pd/D-Line-Cable-Wrap-Black-8-ft-2-5m-0-5-1-5-in-10-40mm-Expandable-Diameter/1002887174
$2/foot, not locally in stock but it appears pickup is free if I'm
willing to set up an online account.

Anybody have a clue why? The convoluted material looks a lot
slower to make. I tend to think it's inferior mechanically,
and certainly is bulkier.

Convoluted material? Maybe a more specific material description will
yield a less vague answer.

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/split-loom-tubing/
The product I ended up buying (from a local auto parts store) looks
similar and was about $5 for 7 feet, half inch ID.

I should admit the last time I bought spiral wrap it was from
the local Radio Shack store..... the real puzzle is the availability
disparity. The corrugated stuff looks a lot harder to make, bulkier
and gives the wires less support. Why is it easier to find?

Thanks for writing,

bob prohaska

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

<bp@www.zefox.net> wrote:

Jeff Liebermann <jeffl@cruzio.com> wrote:

On Thu, 6 Jun 2024 19:12:25 -0000 (UTC), <bp@www.zefox.net> wrote:

Went looking for some spiral cable wrap to build a few simple
wiring harnesses. ISTR it was pennies per foot some years ago,
so I expected dimes per foot now.

Turns out it's dollars per foot for the spiral stuff, but slit
corrugated hose is much cheaper, roughly what I expected for
spiral.

Some clue as to what diameter and material you're looking for would
be helpful. Looking at what a Google image search dredged up, I
don't see anything that costs "dollars per foot". <https://www.google.com/search?q=spiral+cable+wrap&tbm=isch>
For example:
<https://www.cabletiesandmore.com/spiral-wrap-standard>
$15.13 / 100 ft in 3/4 inch diameter LDPE.

That actually looks like a good deal but 100 feet is waaay too much.
The disclaimer about residential shipping surcharges makes me wary.

Here's a fairly representative example:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/D-Line-Cable-Wrap-Black-8-ft-2-5m-0-5-1-5-in-10-40mm-Expandable-Diameter/1002887174

$2/foot, not locally in stock but it appears pickup is free if I'm
willing to set up an online account.

Anybody have a clue why? The convoluted material looks a lot
slower to make. I tend to think it's inferior mechanically,
and certainly is bulkier.

Convoluted material? Maybe a more specific material description
will yield a less vague answer.

https://www.mcmaster.com/products/split-loom-tubing/
The product I ended up buying (from a local auto parts store) looks
similar and was about $5 for 7 feet, half inch ID.

I should admit the last time I bought spiral wrap it was from
the local Radio Shack store..... the real puzzle is the availability disparity. The corrugated stuff looks a lot harder to make, bulkier
and gives the wires less support. Why is it easier to find?

Thanks for writing,

bob prohaska

Temu sells similar stuff for $1.98 delivered.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

+ User FidoNet address: 1:396/45
Hello All.

<On 06Jun2024 13:12 <bp@www.zefox.net> wrote a message to All regarding Wire harness building materials >

<w> Went looking for some spiral cable wrap to build a few simple
<w> wiring harnesses. ISTR it was pennies per foot some years ago, so I expected dimes per foot now.

<w> Turns out it's dollars per foot for the spiral stuff, but slit
<w> corrugated hose is much cheaper, roughly what I expected for
<w> spiral.

<w> Anybody have a clue why? The convoluted material looks a lot
<w> slower to make. I tend to think it's inferior mechanically,
<w> and certainly is bulkier.

<w> Thanks for reading, and any ideas...

<w> bob prohaska

I've found this really helpful for a lot of our rack building projects:

https://www.wirecare.com/category/conduit/spiral-wrap

They have a very wide variety available.

Best regards,
Marc Lewis, CET
Service Manager QTI Service Centre
Huntsville, AL USA
--
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ The FidoNet News Gate (Huntsville, AL - USA) +
+ The views of this user are strictly his or her own. + +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

---
This email has been checked for viruses by Avast antivirus software. https://www.avast.com/antivirus

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

Marc Lewis <user@net396.fidonet.org> wrote:

I've found this really helpful for a lot of our rack building projects:

https://www.wirecare.com/category/conduit/spiral-wrap

They have a very wide variety available.

My initial search was aimed at local retailers.
In the end I found what I was looking for on Amazon.
but it took a couple months to assemble a $35 order....

The product you located looks similar, I agree it's
extremely useful.

Thanks for writing,

bob prohaska

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)