cable labels

[essexbasscat]

Hi all

Does anyone know of a good way to label up mic cables at a reasonable cost ? I'm taking more cables to gigs now and want to avoid losing them, as everyone's cables are black.

i'd like to buy different coloured cables over the next few months i.e. blue for FOH, red for monitors etc, but I wouldn't mind keeping the mic leads black.

Anyone know of a way to label up ?

Thanks for reading BC

EBC

[discreet]

Various colours of electrician's tape round the plugs works for me, but I probably have far fewer cables than you.

[essexbasscat]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1416759103' post='2613236']
Various colours of electrician's tape round the plugs works for me, but I probably have far fewer cables than you.
[/quote]

Good idea, so good that other band members are doing it too

[discreet]

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1416759237' post='2613240']
Good idea, so good that other band members are doing it too
[/quote]

Oh dear. OK then, what about these..?
[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Labels-Self-Adhesive-Pack/dp/B007GB82GK"]http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Labels-Self-Adhesive-Pack/dp/B007GB82GK[/url]

[essexbasscat]

[quote name='discreet' timestamp='1416759546' post='2613248']
Oh dear. OK then, what about these..?
[url="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Cable-Labels-Self-Adhesive-Pack/dp/B007GB82GK"]http://www.amazon.co...k/dp/B007GB82GK[/url]
[/quote]

On the plus side, they would be identifiable from a distance and easily recognisable as mine. Not a bad idea, thanks Discreet

[flyfisher]

I don't like things like sticky labels; they're easily torn and damaged and the glue usually 'runs' over time.

I use yellow/green electrical tape to identify most of my cables and have not yet had a situation where anyone else has used the same tape. It's also handy to wrap around things like mic stands, bass stands and other bits & pieces. For things like plug blocks I use write my initials with a thick marker pen. For flight and other cases, I use a stencil to spray paint my initials using a suitable colour.

[rushbo]

Gaffa tape is your friend - it comes in some pretty "distinctive" shades as well as black/silver. A few winds at both ends of the cable, by the plugs and the jobs a good 'un...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/bhp/coloured-duct-tape

[icastle]

I use one of those Dymo label printers and a piece of clear shrink sleeve over the top of it to stop the label from getting worn\peeling off.

[KingBollock]

You could paint the plug casings with something hard wearing like Smoothrite, or enamel.

icastle got his idea in before me, but I was thinking of using silver or gold coloured scratch on lettering and then covering with clear shrink tubing.

[Noisyjon]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1416791675' post='2613691']
I use one of those Dymo label printers and a piece of clear shrink sleeve over the top of it to stop the label from getting worn\peeling off.
[/quote]

+1 to this advice or this: [url="http://www.canford.co.uk/HEAT-SHRINK-SLEEVING-CUSTOM-PRINTED"]http://www.canford.co.uk/HEAT-SHRINK-SLEEVING-CUSTOM-PRINTED[/url]

[flyfisher]

[quote name='icastle' timestamp='1416791675' post='2613691']
I use one of those Dymo label printers and a piece of clear shrink sleeve over the top of it to stop the label from getting worn\peeling off.
[/quote]

Ah well, if you're going to cheat by suggesting a full-on proper professional solution . . . .

[KingBollock]

I didn't suggest this for labelling cables because because I don't know how hardy it would be if gigged regularly, though I do use it for labelling cables that aren't going to be moved much. Unfortunately there is no name, not even a brand, on the dispenser, but it looks like Sellotape but with a milky colour. When you apply it to a surface it goes almost completely transparent, but when you write on it, which is easy to do even with a ballpoint pen, the ink is very visible (even if it's on a black surface and the ink is black) and doesn't rub off. It is quite good for temporary solutions, or in places where it's not going to be seen much (because my handwriting sucks), like labelling all the plugs behind the telly or computer so I don't go pulling the wrong one out by mistake, but it can be difficult to remove. For prettier, permanent solutions I use my Dymo labeller (shame the damned tapes are so expensive! And 9mm tape is getting harder to find, it's all 12mm now, apparently).

[Matt P]

when i'm making up leads i use a small bit of card and seal it under clear heatshrink tubing, works pretty well, if you are labeling up pre-made leads then you will need a heatshrink with a very large shrink ratio, maybe 4:1? i use these guys for my heatshrink

[url="http://www.heatshrink-online.co.uk/"]http://www.heatshrink-online.co.uk/[/url]

this might be a good option [url="http://www.heatshrink-online.co.uk/heatshrink/cat_313195-41-Clear-Glue-Lined-Heatshrink.html"]http://www.heatshrink-online.co.uk/heatshrink/cat_313195-41-Clear-Glue-Lined-Heatshrink.html[/url] but i'm not sure how clear it is once it's shrunk, i use the 2:1 clear tubing without the adhesive lining and it's clear enough to read black biro on white card very easily.

Matt

[stoo]

At work we use something similar to these for network cables - http://www.sharpmark.com/Cable-labels

I think the ones we had are Brady lasertab ones, but I've only seen them in huge packs for silly money if you only need a few. Good quality though!

[essexbasscat]

Thanks for all the ideas folks, cables are costly so it's worth spending a little on some ID system

[xzodar]

I've used cable ties which have a place to write a name on them.

Similar to these.. [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-4-CABLE-TIE-MARKER-I-D-TIES-100MM-WITH-WRITE-ON-TAB-LABEL-TAG-WIRE-WIRING-/221536532843?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item33949b396b"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-4-CABLE-TIE-MARKER-I-D-TIES-100MM-WITH-WRITE-ON-TAB-LABEL-TAG-WIRE-WIRING-/221536532843?pt=UK_Hand_Tools_Equipment&hash=item33949b396b[/url]

Cheers

Pete

[tauzero]

As xzodar says, writeable label cable ties. There is another variety I've encountered where the label bit lies flat. Like these: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CABLE-TIE-MARKER-I-D-TIE-100MM-200MM-WRITE-ON-TAB-LABEL-TAG-WIRE-WIRING-X-100-/371006509843"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CABLE-TIE-MARKER-I-D-TIE-100MM-200MM-WRITE-ON-TAB-LABEL-TAG-WIRE-WIRING-X-100-/371006509843[/url]

[vsmith1]

I am reluctant to go with insulation tape as the glue comes off and gets all sticky. But there are some great ideas above. One thing I have done recently is, just for marking my leads from others, is that I bought some cheap Asda fingernail polish ( £1) in bright yellow (other colours are available). Then I have dabbed a small dot on the plugs of the cable. The colour identifies them as mine and it is cheap, seems long lasting.

I have used velcro cable ties in certain colours.

YMMV

I have bigger battles with the rest of the band coiling [my provided] PA cables properly!

[essexbasscat]

In the end, I went with a system that allows a name to be written on the label. As for getting other band member to coil the cables properly, that's an ongoing task.....

[JapanAxe]

[quote name='essexbasscat' timestamp='1421675143' post='2663799']
In the end, I went with a system that allows a name to be written on the label. As for getting other band member to coil the cables properly, that's an ongoing task.....
[/quote]

If someone coils my cables I have to uncoil them and start again!

[essexbasscat]

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1421675722' post='2663813']
If someone coils my cables I have to uncoil them and start again!
[/quote]

I end up doing the same. The guitarist says I'm a bit obsessive about my gear - this from someone that allows a onboxed PA desk to bounce around in the back of his car.

Edited January 19, 2015 by essexbasscat

[tauzero]

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1421675722' post='2663813']
If someone coils my cables I have to uncoil them and start again!
[/quote]

And me. And Mrs Zero is the biggest culprit. At least she's a good cook.

[tonyclaret]

[quote name='flyfisher' timestamp='1416769667' post='2613408']
I don't like things like sticky labels; they're easily torn and damaged and the glue usually 'runs' over time.

I use yellow/green electrical tape to identify most of my cables and have not yet had a situation where anyone else has used the same tape. It's also handy to wrap around things like mic stands, bass stands and other bits & pieces. For things like plug blocks I use write my initials with a thick marker pen. For flight and other cases, I use a stencil to spray paint my initials using a suitable colour.
[/quote]

That's a great idea. Have used normal insulation before but that electrician tape takes it to the next level! Never thought about doing the same on the 4-blocks! Know I'm unplugging mine now and not someone else's! Cheers

[tonyclaret]

[quote name='JapanAxe' timestamp='1421675722' post='2663813']


If someone coils my cables I have to uncoil them and start again!
[/quote]

God this one as well! There was a video i saw on youtube years ago, explaining the best way. It's ace I'll try and find it. Never a tangled lead since!

[tonyclaret]

[quote name='tonyclaret' timestamp='1422091543' post='2668531']


God this one as well! There was a video i saw on youtube years ago, explaining the best way. It's ace I'll try and find it. Never a tangled lead since!
[/quote]

This is it!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0yPcJD7RVuY