Cable drums - cable management
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Category: General
Forum Name: General Forum
Forum Description: Open Discussion / Questions
URL: https://forum.speakerplans.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=106754
Printed Date: 26 March 2026 at 9:25pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.08 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Cable drums - cable management
Posted By: JonB67
Subject: Cable drums - cable management
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 10:27am
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Does anyone use drums for their speaker cable? What ones? Im looking but the options seem pretty poor. Need to put 12m of 4g2.5 on it. Id like to do the sub cables 4g4mm or use 8g2.5mm but suspect thats not going to coil onto the size of drums i have seem available. Suggestions?
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Replies:
Posted By: csg
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 12:07pm
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Why not just coil and tape like everyone else, sounds like a lot of bother for a 12M cable Long looms such as FOH runs we fig.8 into cases but these looms fill a road trunk. Everything else is just coiled normally ------------- “The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better” |
Posted By: markie
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 12:14pm
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I use the double sided Velcro (hook one side, loop the other) rather than sticky tape. Re-useable. ------------- If it's got wheels or tits it's gonna cost a fortune |
Posted By: JonB67
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 12:22pm
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Thats what we have been doing, but we have a venue we have to get out of very very fast at the end of the gig. Any time saved is critical. Currently running three 2 core cables across a fire exit to that side of the stage (in a guard, obvs) and looking to reduce that as its faff. I'll just keep on if it's the only option, but wanted to see what other options people have employed. I think its actually 15m, not that makes much difference! And yes markie, same here. Really quick to fix on the cable using a hot glue gun. Cables all marked and colour coordinated with the velco and markers... Theres nothing wrong per se with my current set up. Just looking if theres a faster way.
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Posted By: concept-10
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 12:24pm
Totally, all that sticky crap left on the cables really pissis me off.
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markie wrote:Posted By: markie
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 12:47pm
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Don't know if these would be any quicker but for a fiver it's worth a try. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/372487696482?epid=17020159168&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item56b9ff3062:g:tEsAAOSwxPBhcsFJ&amdata=enc%3AAQA" rel="nofollow - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/372487696482?epid=17020159168&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&hash=item56b9ff3062:g:tEsAAOSwxPBhcsFJ&amdata=enc%3AAQA ------------- If it's got wheels or tits it's gonna cost a fortune |
Posted By: JonB67
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 12:54pm
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https://www.soundservices.co.uk/product/mcr-2/" rel="nofollow - https://www.soundservices.co.uk/product/mcr-2/ This is the sort of thing i was looking at.
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Posted By: Tinnitus Rex
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 3:35pm
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These are less gastly, but every time ive ever encountered any cable reel its way more hassle than its worth. Any speaker cable over 8m is dealt with figure 8 on the floor and taped as it usually weighs too much to coil by hand. also fig 8 introduces no twist (like a drum) but does not invent a curl into to cable. If I buy cable on a drum I stretch it out flat before putting connectors on it (essential with 4 core upwards).  ------------- "couldn't we just like... use headphones?" |
Posted By: 4D
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 4:57pm
I had a similar situation, long runs, fast get out with security breathing down your neck, I bought a few similar cable drums we used them twice before going back to coils and tape. Essentially they only really speed things up if the run is in a fairly straight line. Winding back in was the same flex needs to be lying flat on the floor fully extended so you can just wind them in & even then it was a faff to maintain tension, deal with twists oh and the inevitable NL4 jammed in a crack etc.. ------------- DMZ. "The bass was intense. Girls were literally running up to stand next to the subs" |
Posted By: csg
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 7:00pm
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I tried to go down the velcro route a couple of years ago, spent ages looking at different types of ties, different ways of fixing them in place etc and converted maybe 1/3rd of my cable stock, around 1000 or so cables from xlr to 125A 3 phase to use them. Lasted less than 3 months on average, and noticed that it was taking people longer to use them. The other problem was that the straps were not actually holding the cable coil in place like tape does, so cables were getting in a mess in trunks and when hung up in the warehouse. I gave up after 6 months or so, and am back to tape. I do insist on Advance AT7 though as this has not given any residue problems for the many years ive used it. ------------- “The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better” |
Posted By: Tinnitus Rex
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 8:20pm
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Ah yes,velcro... I do remember going over to the stage box at the end of the gig and looking at all of the cables that had formed into one velcro clusterfk. Tape forever! ------------- "couldn't we just like... use headphones?" |
Posted By: csg
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 8:23pm
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Yes, annoying as my aim was to reduce our plastic waste, but for now i don't think there is a reasonable alternative. Don't get me started on sash cord and granny knots!!! ------------- “The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better” |
Posted By: ceharden
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 8:54pm
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If you really need to get out quick, just stand by the trunk, feed the cable into it however and then properly coil it once you're out of the venue! If you need to run multiple cables, tape them together into a loom in advance then just feed them all into the trunk in one go.
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Posted By: JonB67
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 9:00pm
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Well i think thats answered my question. I'll give the reels a miss. Cheers to everyone that gave help. |
Posted By: toastyghost
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 9:29pm
Ever tried those rubber-coated bits of wire that you twist together? I use those on all of the stuff that lives in my Peli and travel cases. Would need to find a way to keep one end attached to the cable, but they’re infinitely reusable with no need to tie knots. The Norwegians use paracord with a simple loop and pull. Seems to work fine. |
Posted By: jacethebase
Date Posted: 09 January 2022 at 9:33pm
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Why don’t we start a union and use bits of string? ------------- www.wedding-production.co.uk www.stage2sound.com |
Posted By: partya
Date Posted: 10 January 2022 at 1:14am
I'm a-frayed knot  ------------- Turn it up! Turn what up? |
Posted By: csg
Date Posted: 10 January 2022 at 8:26am
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[/QUOTE] Ever tried those rubber-coated bits of wire that you twist together? I use those on all of the stuff that lives in my Peli and travel cases. Would need to find a way to keep one end attached to the cable, but they’re infinitely reusable with no need to tie knots. The Norwegians use paracord with a simple loop and pull. Seems to work fine. [/QUOTE] Yes, i have seen / tried those, kinda posh freezer bag ties. As you say they work OK, but if fixed on the cable you are left with something semi-rigid on the cable which is probably not suitable in some situations, on the male end would be a problem at patch bays, mid cable would be a trip hazard and female end would be often in shot so again a no-no. Cord / rope of any kind is more or less universal in film / tv and works no better than velcro ( does not hold the coil in shape properly ), but is worthwhile in that environment to keep expensive studio floors clean, however that relies on people to tie up properly….try that with a new bunch of local crew every gig… ------------- “The fact is this is about identifying what we do best and finding more ways of doing less of it better” |
Posted By: dlyxover
Date Posted: 10 January 2022 at 11:11am
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I use these cable ties. http://https://www.penn-elcom.com/default.asp?PN=T1525-T1550&LG=EN" rel="nofollow - http://https://www.penn-elcom.com/default.asp?PN=T1525-T1550&LG=EN yes PVC tape is quicker And yes you do need to wrap the tie back round the cable when you wiring up of the the stage box/patch panel is a omni shambles. For my uses they work great, as has been mentioned PVC is universa;l specially when local crew are involved. ------------- Lignum_ww@icloud.com GNKaudio@icloud.com |
Posted By: ceharden
Date Posted: 10 January 2022 at 5:10pm
| I use velcro on thinner cables (mic leads mostly and the right velcro ties work well for that) and some speaker cables but larger cables/coils are usually still PVC. |
Posted By: Andylaser
Date Posted: 11 January 2022 at 3:30pm
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Releasable cable ties here. Quick and easy to use. ------------- "music so loud, that if we move in next door to you; your lawn will die" - Lemmy |
Posted By: Tinnitus Rex
Date Posted: 11 January 2022 at 3:55pm
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Something on the lines of this would be interesting " rel="nofollow - " rel="nofollow">  Whats wrong with pvc tape, apart from "The Gig foot" ? " rel="nofollow -
------------- "couldn't we just like... use headphones?" |
Posted By: cravings
Date Posted: 11 January 2022 at 6:31pm
| it's a pretty wasteful way of doing it. think people would rather something reusable. |
Posted By: Tinnitus Rex
Date Posted: 11 January 2022 at 8:09pm
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Tis a noble cause , but if you cut a carrier bag into 15mm strips ,thats about the amount of plastic your using to wrap up lots of cables . Just switching on an amp rack uses way more resourses in the grand scheme of things. I think its probably time for people to do their own BIG bit, instead of their own little bit. Maybe just use headphones,think of the saved resourses and problems that would solve! Whats that Floyd track?... oh yea, "Run like hell". bye
------------- "couldn't we just like... use headphones?" |