\"Relaxing\" PVC cables...

[Don Y]

Most jackets seem to be PVC, nowadays. Unfortunately,
it exhibits a fair bit of \"memory\" when left in a
particular position for long periods of time. E.g.,
coiled back on itself \"in storage\". Power cords
being the biggest offenders.

In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.

But, now it\'s cool (75F) and that\'s less effective.

Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

 

[Don Y]

On 1/12/2023 5:59 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:

On 2023-01-12, Don Y wrote:
[...]
In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.
[...]
Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Shouldn\'t be the end of the world. But why not hang them from one end,
rather than trying to hold them?

I don\'t hold them. I referenced \"tolerate holding\" as a metric
by which to decide if I\'ve heated them too hot. I.e., heat, hold,
decide if it\'s \"had enough\" (sorry, that may not have been clear)

 

[Don Y]

On 1/12/2023 5:59 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:

On 2023-01-12, Don Y wrote:
[...]
In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.
[...]
Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Shouldn\'t be the end of the world. But why not hang them from one end,
rather than trying to hold them?

I don\'t hold them. I referenced \"tolerate holding\" as a metric
by which to decide if I\'ve heated them too hot. I.e., heat, hold,
decide if it\'s \"had enough\" (sorry, that may not have been clear)

 

[Don Y]

On 1/12/2023 5:59 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:

On 2023-01-12, Don Y wrote:
[...]
In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.
[...]
Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Shouldn\'t be the end of the world. But why not hang them from one end,
rather than trying to hold them?

I don\'t hold them. I referenced \"tolerate holding\" as a metric
by which to decide if I\'ve heated them too hot. I.e., heat, hold,
decide if it\'s \"had enough\" (sorry, that may not have been clear)

 

[Carlos E.R.]

On 2023-01-12 15:36, Jeroen Belleman wrote:

On 2023-01-12 14:41, Don Y wrote:
On 1/12/2023 6:33 AM, Dean Hoffman wrote:

The hot air gun gives me results in a few minutes -- as long as
I don\'t overdo it...  (OTOH, if the jackets could tolerate
100+C or more, then I could speed this up considerably by using
a higher heat setting on the gun)


I once made the error to hang scope probes where they could be
seen by the sun. After a while, they got rigid. Don\'t do that!

I have an \"earth wrist\" with black coiled connection wire, similar to
those in telephones handsets, where the plastic is rotten. Sticky and
peels off.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

 

[Carlos E.R.]

On 2023-01-12 15:36, Jeroen Belleman wrote:

On 2023-01-12 14:41, Don Y wrote:
On 1/12/2023 6:33 AM, Dean Hoffman wrote:

The hot air gun gives me results in a few minutes -- as long as
I don\'t overdo it...  (OTOH, if the jackets could tolerate
100+C or more, then I could speed this up considerably by using
a higher heat setting on the gun)


I once made the error to hang scope probes where they could be
seen by the sun. After a while, they got rigid. Don\'t do that!

I have an \"earth wrist\" with black coiled connection wire, similar to
those in telephones handsets, where the plastic is rotten. Sticky and
peels off.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

 

[Carlos E.R.]

On 2023-01-12 15:36, Jeroen Belleman wrote:

On 2023-01-12 14:41, Don Y wrote:
On 1/12/2023 6:33 AM, Dean Hoffman wrote:

The hot air gun gives me results in a few minutes -- as long as
I don\'t overdo it...  (OTOH, if the jackets could tolerate
100+C or more, then I could speed this up considerably by using
a higher heat setting on the gun)


I once made the error to hang scope probes where they could be
seen by the sun. After a while, they got rigid. Don\'t do that!

I have an \"earth wrist\" with black coiled connection wire, similar to
those in telephones handsets, where the plastic is rotten. Sticky and
peels off.

--
Cheers, Carlos.

 

[Dean Hoffman]

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 5:29:15 AM UTC-6, Don Y wrote:

Most jackets seem to be PVC, nowadays. Unfortunately,
it exhibits a fair bit of \"memory\" when left in a
particular position for long periods of time. E.g.,
coiled back on itself \"in storage\". Power cords
being the biggest offenders.

In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.

But, now it\'s cool (75F) and that\'s less effective.

Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Would it be practical to set up something like the old clothes lines? You evidently don\'t have
to worry about ice forming on them.

 

[Dean Hoffman]

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 5:29:15 AM UTC-6, Don Y wrote:

Most jackets seem to be PVC, nowadays. Unfortunately,
it exhibits a fair bit of \"memory\" when left in a
particular position for long periods of time. E.g.,
coiled back on itself \"in storage\". Power cords
being the biggest offenders.

In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.

But, now it\'s cool (75F) and that\'s less effective.

Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Would it be practical to set up something like the old clothes lines? You evidently don\'t have
to worry about ice forming on them.

 

[Dean Hoffman]

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 5:29:15 AM UTC-6, Don Y wrote:

Most jackets seem to be PVC, nowadays. Unfortunately,
it exhibits a fair bit of \"memory\" when left in a
particular position for long periods of time. E.g.,
coiled back on itself \"in storage\". Power cords
being the biggest offenders.

In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.

But, now it\'s cool (75F) and that\'s less effective.

Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Would it be practical to set up something like the old clothes lines? You evidently don\'t have
to worry about ice forming on them.

 

[Clive Arthur]

On 12/01/2023 13:33, Dean Hoffman wrote:

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 5:29:15 AM UTC-6, Don Y wrote:
Most jackets seem to be PVC, nowadays. Unfortunately,
it exhibits a fair bit of \"memory\" when left in a
particular position for long periods of time. E.g.,
coiled back on itself \"in storage\". Power cords
being the biggest offenders.

In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.

But, now it\'s cool (75F) and that\'s less effective.

Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Would it be practical to set up something like the old clothes lines? You evidently don\'t have
to worry about ice forming on them.

Kites would be more fun.

--
Cheers
Clive

 

[Clive Arthur]

On 12/01/2023 13:33, Dean Hoffman wrote:

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 5:29:15 AM UTC-6, Don Y wrote:
Most jackets seem to be PVC, nowadays. Unfortunately,
it exhibits a fair bit of \"memory\" when left in a
particular position for long periods of time. E.g.,
coiled back on itself \"in storage\". Power cords
being the biggest offenders.

In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.

But, now it\'s cool (75F) and that\'s less effective.

Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Would it be practical to set up something like the old clothes lines? You evidently don\'t have
to worry about ice forming on them.

Kites would be more fun.

--
Cheers
Clive

 

[Clive Arthur]

On 12/01/2023 13:33, Dean Hoffman wrote:

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 5:29:15 AM UTC-6, Don Y wrote:
Most jackets seem to be PVC, nowadays. Unfortunately,
it exhibits a fair bit of \"memory\" when left in a
particular position for long periods of time. E.g.,
coiled back on itself \"in storage\". Power cords
being the biggest offenders.

In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.

But, now it\'s cool (75F) and that\'s less effective.

Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Would it be practical to set up something like the old clothes lines? You evidently don\'t have
to worry about ice forming on them.

Kites would be more fun.

--
Cheers
Clive

 

[Don Y]

On 1/12/2023 1:59 PM, Dan Purgert wrote:

On 2023-01-12, Don Y wrote:
On 1/12/2023 5:59 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:
On 2023-01-12, Don Y wrote:
[...]
In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.
[...]
Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Shouldn\'t be the end of the world. But why not hang them from one end,
rather than trying to hold them?

I don\'t hold them. I referenced \"tolerate holding\" as a metric
by which to decide if I\'ve heated them too hot. I.e., heat, hold,
decide if it\'s \"had enough\" (sorry, that may not have been clear)

Oh, that makes a lot more sense. I read it as \"I\'m gonna hold them
while blasting them with the hotair gun.

I have a \"clip\" that is located almost at the end of my upstretched
reach. I place one end of the cord in that and let the balance dangle.
Then, move up and down the length (concentrating on the areas of
greatest deformation) with the hot air gun. While hot, I \"unbend\"
the cable -- which is how I gauge if it is \"too hot to handle\".

 

[Don Y]

On 1/12/2023 1:59 PM, Dan Purgert wrote:

On 2023-01-12, Don Y wrote:
On 1/12/2023 5:59 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:
On 2023-01-12, Don Y wrote:
[...]
In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.
[...]
Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Shouldn\'t be the end of the world. But why not hang them from one end,
rather than trying to hold them?

I don\'t hold them. I referenced \"tolerate holding\" as a metric
by which to decide if I\'ve heated them too hot. I.e., heat, hold,
decide if it\'s \"had enough\" (sorry, that may not have been clear)

Oh, that makes a lot more sense. I read it as \"I\'m gonna hold them
while blasting them with the hotair gun.

I have a \"clip\" that is located almost at the end of my upstretched
reach. I place one end of the cord in that and let the balance dangle.
Then, move up and down the length (concentrating on the areas of
greatest deformation) with the hot air gun. While hot, I \"unbend\"
the cable -- which is how I gauge if it is \"too hot to handle\".

 

[Don Y]

On 1/12/2023 1:59 PM, Dan Purgert wrote:

On 2023-01-12, Don Y wrote:
On 1/12/2023 5:59 AM, Dan Purgert wrote:
On 2023-01-12, Don Y wrote:
[...]
In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.
[...]
Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Shouldn\'t be the end of the world. But why not hang them from one end,
rather than trying to hold them?

I don\'t hold them. I referenced \"tolerate holding\" as a metric
by which to decide if I\'ve heated them too hot. I.e., heat, hold,
decide if it\'s \"had enough\" (sorry, that may not have been clear)

Oh, that makes a lot more sense. I read it as \"I\'m gonna hold them
while blasting them with the hotair gun.

I have a \"clip\" that is located almost at the end of my upstretched
reach. I place one end of the cord in that and let the balance dangle.
Then, move up and down the length (concentrating on the areas of
greatest deformation) with the hot air gun. While hot, I \"unbend\"
the cable -- which is how I gauge if it is \"too hot to handle\".

 

[Don Y]

On 1/12/2023 2:08 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2023-01-12 15:36, Jeroen Belleman wrote:
On 2023-01-12 14:41, Don Y wrote:
On 1/12/2023 6:33 AM, Dean Hoffman wrote:


The hot air gun gives me results in a few minutes -- as long as
I don\'t overdo it...  (OTOH, if the jackets could tolerate
100+C or more, then I could speed this up considerably by using
a higher heat setting on the gun)


I once made the error to hang scope probes where they could be
seen by the sun. After a while, they got rigid. Don\'t do that!

I have an \"earth wrist\" with black coiled connection wire, similar to those in
telephones handsets, where the plastic is rotten. Sticky and peels off.

I\'ve heard that described as the plasticizer failing, oozing out.

Sun products have a tendency to have their \"rubber feet\" turn to that
sort of sticky goo -- worse than freshly chewed bubble gum!

[Some of my older GPUs exhibit similarly sticky surfaces -- usually
because the manufacturer wanted to \"decorate\" the item. <frown>]

And, if the feet were being relied upon to protect the surface
on which the item sat, you now end up with the item *adhered*
to that surface and a gooey mess that doesn\'t easily clean off.

[I remove feet, as a matter of course, from kit to avoid this.
Instead, I place self-adhesive felt feet on the items. So,
I can put an item on a piece of furniture or other surface
that I\'d not like to get mucked up or scratched]

 

[Don Y]

On 1/12/2023 2:08 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2023-01-12 15:36, Jeroen Belleman wrote:
On 2023-01-12 14:41, Don Y wrote:
On 1/12/2023 6:33 AM, Dean Hoffman wrote:


The hot air gun gives me results in a few minutes -- as long as
I don\'t overdo it...  (OTOH, if the jackets could tolerate
100+C or more, then I could speed this up considerably by using
a higher heat setting on the gun)


I once made the error to hang scope probes where they could be
seen by the sun. After a while, they got rigid. Don\'t do that!

I have an \"earth wrist\" with black coiled connection wire, similar to those in
telephones handsets, where the plastic is rotten. Sticky and peels off.

I\'ve heard that described as the plasticizer failing, oozing out.

Sun products have a tendency to have their \"rubber feet\" turn to that
sort of sticky goo -- worse than freshly chewed bubble gum!

[Some of my older GPUs exhibit similarly sticky surfaces -- usually
because the manufacturer wanted to \"decorate\" the item. <frown>]

And, if the feet were being relied upon to protect the surface
on which the item sat, you now end up with the item *adhered*
to that surface and a gooey mess that doesn\'t easily clean off.

[I remove feet, as a matter of course, from kit to avoid this.
Instead, I place self-adhesive felt feet on the items. So,
I can put an item on a piece of furniture or other surface
that I\'d not like to get mucked up or scratched]

 

[Don Y]

On 1/12/2023 2:08 PM, Carlos E.R. wrote:

On 2023-01-12 15:36, Jeroen Belleman wrote:
On 2023-01-12 14:41, Don Y wrote:
On 1/12/2023 6:33 AM, Dean Hoffman wrote:


The hot air gun gives me results in a few minutes -- as long as
I don\'t overdo it...  (OTOH, if the jackets could tolerate
100+C or more, then I could speed this up considerably by using
a higher heat setting on the gun)


I once made the error to hang scope probes where they could be
seen by the sun. After a while, they got rigid. Don\'t do that!

I have an \"earth wrist\" with black coiled connection wire, similar to those in
telephones handsets, where the plastic is rotten. Sticky and peels off.

I\'ve heard that described as the plasticizer failing, oozing out.

Sun products have a tendency to have their \"rubber feet\" turn to that
sort of sticky goo -- worse than freshly chewed bubble gum!

[Some of my older GPUs exhibit similarly sticky surfaces -- usually
because the manufacturer wanted to \"decorate\" the item. <frown>]

And, if the feet were being relied upon to protect the surface
on which the item sat, you now end up with the item *adhered*
to that surface and a gooey mess that doesn\'t easily clean off.

[I remove feet, as a matter of course, from kit to avoid this.
Instead, I place self-adhesive felt feet on the items. So,
I can put an item on a piece of furniture or other surface
that I\'d not like to get mucked up or scratched]

 

[Don Y]

On 1/12/2023 6:33 AM, Dean Hoffman wrote:

On Thursday, January 12, 2023 at 5:29:15 AM UTC-6, Don Y wrote:
Most jackets seem to be PVC, nowadays. Unfortunately,
it exhibits a fair bit of \"memory\" when left in a
particular position for long periods of time. E.g.,
coiled back on itself \"in storage\". Power cords
being the biggest offenders.

In the Summer months (April-Sept), I just hang these
from one end, outside, and let gravity and the sun slowly
relax the kinks.

But, now it\'s cool (75F) and that\'s less effective.

Hot air gun is my fallback. As long as I limit the
temperature to something I can tolerate holding,
I figure this should be OK for the cables?

Would it be practical to set up something like the old clothes lines? You evidently don\'t have
to worry about ice forming on them.

I have places from which they can be hung. My concern with that
approach in the non-summer months is how *long* they would have to
be there. I.e., if the outdoor temperature is essentially the
same as indoor, then why not hang them *indoors* (i.e., there\'s
no benefit from hanging them in \"cool\" weather).

The hot air gun gives me results in a few minutes -- as long as
I don\'t overdo it... (OTOH, if the jackets could tolerate
100+C or more, then I could speed this up considerably by using
a higher heat setting on the gun)