Bicycle Mechanics - Cables

I dunno if any of you have problmes, but everytime you reassble your bike(dont ask), my cables get frayed! It drives me nuts!
Any ideas on how to save the frayed section without haveing to buy new cables everything time? Thanks

Might try a spot of superglue on the very end just to hold it together. I haven't tried it myself but don't see why it wouldn't work unless the cable has grease or oil already on it, which would cause the superglue to not stick.

Super glue works well on cable ends when the cable is degreased. So does hot melt glue. Apply these before you cut the cable. A bigger question is why are the cable ends fraying? What are you cutting the cables with? If you use diagonal pliers (wire cutters) you succeed in mashing the end you cut, allowing the cable to fray easily. If you don't have a good pair of cable cutters (highly recommended) you can use a wire cutter, sold at Radio Shack, that shears the wires (works like a pair of scissors). However the Radio Shack cutter is very light duty and won't last long. A good cable cutter should be a part of your tool box

You can buy crimp on caps (crimp on with pliers) to stop cables from fraying after you have threaded them on.

But they fray when you thread them, don't they ? In theory, if you use sharp wire cutters, then twist the cables around (the right way !) with pliers, then solder the ends, this should work. Depends a bit on the power of your soldering iron.

Most all cables today are stainless and require silver solder, which means a very hot iron or a torch.

You should really use what are commonly called 'wire cutters' which in actuality diagonal cutters or 'dikes'. Dikes are fine with single strand wire, like household wiring, but for clean cuts on multiple strand wires, a 'shearing' type cutter works best. The picture is a Park CN-10 cutter. It's a shop quality tool.

I said:

"You should really use what are commonly called 'wire cutters' ....

I meant:

You should really not use what are commonly called 'wire cutters' ....

Originally posted by Davet
I

You should really not use what are commonly called 'wire cutters' .... That's all I use on cables.No problems.

There are crimp-on cable ends which are specifically designed to keep the cable from unraveling. the notch opposite the cutting side on the cable cutting tool is specilfically designed to crimp the cable ends.

How about wrapping the part you're going to cut with masking tape? Cut it in the middle of the tape so the tape will hold down the fraying. We use this technique to manufacture flexible hydraulic tubing, which has a steel braid in it. Never used it on cables though.