Trying to support an old iPod cable that the shielding has broken on

[tricky]

I have a number of cables from various family members that are all falling apart as well as a shaver cable of mine where the insulation is crumbling away!
I had the bright idea that heat shrink would be good to wrap arounf the places where the insulation has broken and possibly to premtivly put on their cables to support them.
With large connectors on each end, can't slip the heat shrink on, no problem, I'll cut it, glue it and shrink it on.
Problem, super glue and evo-stick (contact adhesive) won't stick it, obviously, nearly stuck my fingers together trying!

Any suggestions either for better solutions or for how to glue heatshrink together, preferably with something that won't combust when being shrunk!

[daveejhitchins]

You can purchase heat shrink that is glue lined . . . Melts as you apply the heat to shrink it.

Dave H.

[tricky]

Thanks, I'll give that a look.
Does the glue just melt again each time it is heated?

[1024MAK]

All I know is that the glue melts when first used...

I don't think glue-lined heat-shrink will help with what you want. When the glue melts, it goes liquid like. Hence the heat-shrink will slide and slip as it shrinks.

For larger cables (as in the industrial type used outside for telecommunications, power and similar applications), where you want to repair a damaged cable without cutting all the way through it, wrap-around glue-lined heat-shrink is available. These have a metal joiner (sometimes called the zip or rail). You wrap the single piece of heat-shrink around the cable then slide the metal joiner over the (shaped) ends of the heat-shrink. Then apply heat to shrink it. Here's a site with more details and pictures.

This is not really practical for thin/small cables. Generally iphone/ipod/ipad and similar cables are treated by me as disposable, as once the outer sheath (insulation) starts to fall apart, they continue to degrade. Carefully wrapping insulation tape around them can extend their life a little.

Mark

[IanS]

Depending on how damaged it is, sugru can be good for cable repairs.

https://sugru.com/projects-inspiration/tech-gadget

[charlie_says]

Like this one? If so, you're welcome to it - drop me a pm.

[tricky]

I had another go with the Evo-Stik and it seems to have held better this time.
I kept the tension on while it cooled, but time will tell
I have some more solvents and glues to try, so there may be an update

[BigEd]

For a while I used some matchsticks as a splint and a pipecleaner for the overwrap... very amateur.

I wonder if ptfe tape (plumbers tape) would do the job of heatshrink, if wrapped around enough times?