atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring cable lacing

I work for a Thread Mfg that makes waxed products for cable lacing.

We sell to various Distributors, Some of there customers like product and others don't, I'm trying to improve our product.

Sales can't give me an explanation of why.

Are there different preferences for different cable or other applications. What properties are users looking for in cable lacing products.

Looking for what uses like and don't like or would like to see improved.

Your experiences who be helpful to my understanding.

Thanks

1. Ability to reuse product. Say you run another cable into a bundle and need to undo the lacing product. Having to throw out the current lace (assuming it could handle more) is a waste.

2. Lacing product that does not crush the cable.

3. Installs quickly.

I don't do much lacing, and when I do, I like the two-sided velcro strips. Fits the bill on those requirements. Cheap as well.

If you're speaking of waxed cable lacing twine, then there's not much to say about it. I mean, it's not really a very high-tech product, is it?

Seriously - depending on the kind of lacing you're doing will depend on the kind of cord you use. I usually lace 72 strand fiber optic or 32 pair ABAM, but I recently had to lace miles and miles of 750MCM copper. We needed a much heavier cord to lace the power cable then we did to lace the fiber or the ABAM.

If your company doesn't make a variety of sizes maybe that's the problem? Or maybe there's too much or too little wax on the product?

What complaints are you hearing?

Sam

I guess you don't do too much lacing. The OP isn't talking about Velcro, ty-raps or anything like that. He is talking about the time-honored waxed lacing cord that has been around since before ty-raps and Velcro were even imagined.

As to the original question, I can't imagine how your product could be improved after probably 100 years of being in use. Whether it's the traditional cord or "tape", everybody has a preference but that's about it.

In this industry your products wouldn't really be used except for central offices. We are mainly concerned with premises wiring within buildings and for that ty-raps and Velcro straps are the norm.

-Hal

If you're looking to increase sales of the product, you are better off finding an alternative market or use of the product. Like it was stated wax twine is pretty much used in C.O.'s on ABAM cables and the like, not much room for improvement when it's been doing it's job just fine for a hundred years. Find another market.

When Arm&Hammer found sales of baking soda dropping because moms weren't baking as much they marketed baking soda as odor absorbing. Now everyone has Arm&Hammer baking soda in their fridge to fight odors. Making it bake better would not have helped sales.

Please disregard my post to the thread.

You might look into replacement for leather lace for wallets, purses etc. (See Tandy Leather's web site.) But, multiple colors will be needed. John C.

I am surprised there is much of a market for it, at least in this country. Lacing cables is a very elegant way of making up a pretty cable but it is labor intensive and time is money.
I see zip ties and tape.

Other then certifying it as cat-6 compliant and putting it in IT/PC magazines I have no idea.

It would be nice if I new how to lace cable, even though I would never really have a need to.

James -

If you're halfway serious I'll send you a PDF of a cable lacing manual. We could also have lacing classes at the next meet.

The old time carriers (Baby Bells in their current incarnations, AT&T etc.) and a lot of the Internet carriers (Level 3, Global Crossing etc.) require it - and are very, very strict about the quality. But really, it's all about longevity.

Tie wraps dry out and break off after a year or three. Lacing tape is forever. And if done right it looks great.

Sam