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CABLE, MISCELLANEOUS HARDWARE

NOTE: Braided cable is generally useful around the home, and it is usually much stronger than simple wire.

Description: Braided cable consists of six or seven braided strands of wire wrapped around either a steel or fiber core. If six strands, the core is fiber; if seven, steel. Steel cable also comes twisted. The strands may be plain steel, galvanized, or stainless.

Cable may also be plastic-coated -- usually the plastic is clear, but it may also be clear blue. Plastic-coated cable is much thinner than cable without plastic.

Buying information: Stainless steel cable is very expensive and is mostly used in marine applications. Plain steel is used indoors, such as in garage door mechanisms or with a turnbuckle for straightening a door. Galvanized cable is for outdoor applications, such as a tether on a garbage can or straightening an exterior door. Fiber-core cable is more flexible than steel-core cable, and is a good choice when greater flexibility -- such as where cable must wrap around a pulley -- is required. Clear plastic-coated cable is good wherever less visibility is desired; blue is good for high visibility. Many people use it for tethers on dog runs.

How-to hints: Braided cable is a tough material and should be cut with either aviation scissors or a cold chisel. It can also be cut with new, good-quality bolt cutters. Ends tend to unravel. To prevent this, first wrap electrical tape over the cut line, an inch or two to either side, then cut. Plastic-coated cable can be cut with tin snips. You can prevent cable rusting by applying dots of epoxy glue to the cut ends.

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