Lubricating cables!?

[Lobster]

I need to get 5 cables down a 8" lengh of plastic ducting (which is already embedded through a wall) - 3 TV/coax and 2 ethernet cables. I've slightly miscalculated, and it's going to be a very tight fit - but I'm sure they'll go. Four are already through OK, it's just the last one which is proving troublesome.

I'm minded to try lubricating them... what would be a good choice in terms of efficiency and cable longevity, bearing in mind they will be in place 'for ever' and will be tightly squeezed together?

And no, making a bigger hole is no longer an option now, OK?!!

Thanks

[Chris French]

In message , Lobster writes

I'd use a bit of silicone spray lube.

e.g

[Tim Watts]

Here you go:

In the old days, they used tallow - but not with PVC and it would probably get a bit rancid after a while...

I've used a drop of talc before - that can be just enough if the cables are binding a bit and it's dry and unmessy (well hoovers up easily)

[dennis]

Take the jacket off a cat 5 cable.

[Dave Liquorice]

Pull out what's already through, bind the ends tightly together, possibly slightly staggered to make a bit of tapered lead in and pull all through as a single unit.

Not doubt ARW will be along shortly... I have a sneaky suspiscion that apart from specialist cable lubricants that do exist, KY Jelly is also suitable.

[Brian Gaff]

Talcum powder, fairy liquid, but not both... Brian

[Nightjar]

Can you take the existing ones out? If so, leave the strongest one sticking out as a pull-through, very carefully align the others to lay straight and parallel to it, then heat shrink tube onto that bundle to lock them together (much better than sticky tape). Finally, pull the bundle through as single entity. That has worked for me when trying to get too many cables through an existing hole in a wall. I lubricated it with washing up liquid, as that was what was to hand.

[John Rumm]

[Andrew Gabriel]

Various options...

Others mentioned lubricants.

Draw them all in together, not one at a time.

Failing that, pull the others back the length of the duct (plus a bit), and then push them all through together.

Push a draw wire/cane through, and pull the extra one back with it.

Get rid of one of the ethernets, and use an ethernet switch instead.

[Adam Funk]

I'm not sure I want another story about wild goings-on in Doncaster...

[Adam Funk]

"(don't use graphite power - it conducts electricity!)"

True, but my first thought on reading that was "so does metal conduit, which you might put cables through". On further reflection, though, I guess the problem is that the graphite can get into other things like the box at the end of the conduit --- is that sort of thing the problem?

[Andrew Mawson]

Hellerman Oil is what you need:

Andrew

[Bill Wright]

You could use miniature 75 ohm coax for one or more of them (it's OK for satellite upto about 5 metres.)

I would have thought you'd pull the normal coax through though, with care. Mr Sheen is very good as a lubricant.

Bill

[Adrian]

Just put one of the Cat5 through, then a small switch or even hub the other end.

[newshound]

• 1, without a doubt. Speaking as a tribologist as well as a DIY person/

[Lobster]

Thanks a lot for all the really good replies!

On 28 Nov 2014, newshound grunted:

I have a can of Servisol Super 10 switch cleaning lubricant... is that similar stuff?

[mail-veil]

Hellermann lubricant is brilliant for this sort of thing, available from Farnell:

I have never tried it but other water-based lube would probably do just as well and that can be bought in Poundland etc!

Mike

[PeterC]

Or from rather more specialised shops ;-)

[Tim Watts]

Does the OP want his cables smelling of strawberries?

[rick]

Plain simple silicone spray ...Halfords stock the one I use ... as I use it a fair bit on the bunk slides of my boat trailer

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