Tech enthusiasts and professional technicians working in electronics repair, IT, networking, audio/video production, automotive, telecommunications, and other fields need to use certain tools and cable management items on a regular basis. Some of their usage can depend on the nature of the work they are performing.
What are a few of these tools that professionals and DIYers may use?
WIRE CUTTERS
This is just one of the tools a professional tech or DIYer is bound to need for wire terminations, electronics repairs, and cable management projects. Wire cutters work to precisely cut through cables and wires of various gauges, without damaging their conductors.
WIRE STRIPPERS
A wire stripper cleanly removes the outer layer of insulation from electrical wires, while keeping conductors intact. Many technicians and DIYers can benefit from having a wire stripper because it prepares a wire for splicing, connections, or termination. Wire strippers are designed for different tasks, and to handle specific gauges and insulation thicknesses.
WIRE CRIMPERS
Crimpers create connections that are secure and reliable between terminals and wires. Crimping bonds withoutsoldering. There are different varieties of wire crimpers, depending on the application. CableOrganizer® has a generous selection of ethernet crimping tools, for example. Some of them are combined crimp and compression tools, or ratcheting crimping tools.
HEAT GUNS
A heat gun can be used for many applications where directed heat is required. One is the cable management wonder, heatshrink, which contracts and secures tightly to a wire once it is properly sized and heated.
HOT KNIVES
Any technician or do-it-yourselfer can use a hot knife when a sealed cut is required. It is especially helpful for cutting braided sleeving, sealing the ends to prevent fraying after the sleeve has been cut.
SOLDERING TOOLS
Techs of all fields use soldering tools to create connections and a secure joint between two or more metal components. Soldering tools are used in electronics repair, circuit assembly, and DIY projects.
FISH TAPE
Technicians working on electrical wiring projects often count on fish tape to route wires through walls, conduit, and other spaces. It is a flat, thin, flexible metal tape that guides cables into areas that are often difficult to navigate.
CABLE PULLERS
Cable pullers are specialized tools used on larger scale projects. They differ from fish tape, which is intended for tight spaces, while cable pullers are appropriate for network installations, industrial settings, and similar longer wire runs.
TEST INSTRUMENTS
CableOrganizer® has an array of test instruments for various wire projects, to ensure currents and signals are strong and working correctly. Depending on the need, a technician can choose from different electrical testers, network testers, CCTV testers, and security testers.
Tech tools don’t necessarily need to be instruments, with cable management items among the things professional and DIY technicians may keep on hand to complete a job, including:
BRAIDED SLEEVES
Braided sleeving is a cable management solution with a multitude of options that techs and DIYers can use to organize, protect, cover, conceal, or color code wires. Standard sleeving is useful for bundling cables in different applications, including residential, office, networking, some automotive, and audio/video. Flexo® PET Expandable Braided Sleeving expands to 150% to cover even oversized connectors, for a professional finish or to create a particular aesthetic for wiring. Flexo® PET is also available in more than 80 colors and patterns. Another type of standard sleeve is the standard wrap-around type like Flexo® F6®. This split tube, semi-rigid braided sleeving is beneficial on existing wire runs for the applications mentioned already. Some braided sleeves may have specialty functions, like Flexo® Thin Cable Sleeving, which techs may use on precision electronics and micro optics. Metal and shielding braided sleeves can reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI), radio frequency interference (RFI), and electrostatic discharge (ESD), with Flexo® Anti-Stat a choice for technicians working on sensitive cables. Automotive techs may apply high temperature braided sleeving to wires in the high heat areas of an engine, like Insultherm®, which is fiberglass braided sleeving. Another option is ThermaShield® with materials that reflect radiant heat, while insulating wires.
CABLE CLIPS
Cable clips route cables along a wall or other surface and can be utilized indoors or outside. Many clips are self-adhesive while others are screwed on and mounted to a surface.
CABLE MANAGEMENT BOXES
The BlueLounge® CableBox is perfect for DIY techs, as well as pros, to simply clean up areas with cable clutter. This visually appealing product works, for example, in offices and entertainment center areas to keep a power strip or surge protector filled with plugs and wires covered in a fire retardant plastic box.
CABLE RACEWAYS
IT and networking techs often count on cable raceway to keep cables protected and concealed. These metal or plastic channels self-adhere or are screwed into surfaces, neatening the look of cables along flooring or walls. Many cable raceways can be painted to match walls and other surfaces. Raceways can come in different styles. WireRun®, for example, has the Snapper® Raceway, which true to its name is a latching raceway that snaps over the cables it covers. WireRun® additionally makes a J Channel Raceway that can be mounted to any flat surface whether it is a wall, desk, table, or baseboard. It sticks to surfaces in seconds with an adhesive backing.
CABLE TIES
Cable ties are used by techs of all fields to bundle wires, from IT to automotive. These are additionally a DIYer cable management favorite because they are fairly easy to apply. In many cases, zip ties are inexpensive. Nylon ties are a frequent favorite, especially because they are available in an array of colors, which makes them useful for color coding. Some cable ties have special features, like clamps, pipe clips, connectors, and identification tags. Releasable cable ties are items techs should consider keeping on hand while working on wire runs that may be modified in the future. These are an option versus traditional zip ties, which are one-time use.
CABLE TRAYS
Cable trays are often basket style, made of wire and run under or along desks to keep computer wires both accessible and organized. There are specialty fiber optic trays intended for fiber optic cables. Fiber optic cables can be run through cable tray systems like the Panduit® FiberRunner®, which provides a protective pathway for these cables. There are cable tray systems for more intricate wiring projects like the Snake Tray® products, designed to coil and climb around rooms, under flooring, and beneath ceilings.
HEATSHRINK
Heat shrink tubing is a heat-activated "cable management product that shrinks onto wires and cables to finish, organize, protect, insulate, and color code. Electronics, IT, networking, and automotive techs use heat shrink for both strain relief and waterproofing as well. Some types of heatshrink have dual walls and are adhesive lined to reinforce connections, providing greater environmental protections. Some types resist fuels, solvents, acids, flames, oils, fluids, and other threats to wires.
HOOK AND LOOP WRAPS AND FASTENERS
For techs or DIYers looking for a reusable cable tie option, hook and loop wraps and fasteners may do the trick. The self-adhesive wraps like the VELCRO® Brand ONE-WRAP® General Purpose Cable Wrap and HellermannTyton® Grip Tie Straps are releasable and can easily be installed and removed. They are also suitable for multiple bundle sizes, securing to themselves to keep cords, cables, and wires orderly. The Panduit® Plenum Rated Tak-Ty® Hook and Loop Cable Ties are intended to keep harnesses organized in air handling spaces. These ties are UL listed and certified, with the ability to pass most building code inspections. RIP-TIE® additionally manufactures cable wraps, some with carabiners and swivel hooks for easy carrying.
LABELS
Cable identification is a necessary task for most techs to perform, especially for future maintenance. Label printers can be used to customize labels, with some simple and others with advanced functions. Wire markers are numbered, lettered, or color-coded.
MAGNETIC CLIPS
Magnetic cable clips like the Mag Daddy™ are made to easily stay on metallic surfaces with neodymium magnets. Techs working on automotive, IT, office, manufacturing, and home theater applications are among those that may use them. The Mag Daddy™ works for data cables, speaker wires, coaxial cables, and other low voltage wires.
SURGE PROTECTORS
Techs and DIYers may purchase surge protectors to safeguard sensitive electronics, while organizing wires and plugs. A power surge or power outage can fry delicate equipment. A surge protector prevents issues by safeguarding electronics before trouble strikes. WireRun® makes the Grouper™, a standard six outlet surge protector that comes with a keyhole mounting slot to hang it to a desk or table. The 15-foot cord on the Grouper™ makes it even more convenient because it can reach even the furthest corner of a space. Some surge protectors feature power-saving capabilities and individual switches to shut off separate electronics. Items with high amperage should never be plugged into a surge protector.
WRAPS
Some products in the braided sleeving category come in wrap form. Techs working in industries where wires, cables, hoses, chains, and similar items need protection from the elements, chemicals, moisture, dirt, and other threats, may turn to abrasion resistant sleeving. This category features wraps like Dura Wrap, made of a ballistic nylon resistant to UV rays, engine chemicals, gasoline, water, and saltwater. It comes with a heavy duty, industrial oversized hook and loop closure that creates simple to install, flexible and protective sleeving. Network technicians can use Dura Wrap in applications, fastening it to surfaces. F6® Battle Wrap is an impact resistant, split wrap sleeve that automotive techs can apply to high voltage cables in electric vehicles. Its orange color makes wires highly visible to emergency personnel in EV emergencies.
Shop here at CableOrganizer® for our complete line of cable management items and tools.
