Subject: [CR]straddle wire / cable ends question (again!)
Jay asked:
> A question for you metals experts. I am considering reproducing
> straddle cable wires since the ones I need are harder to find than hens
> teeth, so my question is this:
>
> What is the composition of the cast ends to most cables? Pure lead?
> Lead, bismuth, tin? Antimony, bismuth, lead? If I have any luck at
> this, theoretically I could make any length straddle cables for center
> pulls and canti's.
I believe most of the cable ends you see are die cast zinc.
I'd suggest making your own ends from brass and then soldering them to the cable using a "soldering pot".
Making up cables is a little unusual for bike shops these days but motorcycle shops some times still make up cables so you could check the catalogs of motorcycle wholesalers like Flanders that have lots of cable assembly parts that could be adopted or modified for your use.
Another possibility is to look for "wire rope" swedge fittings that might work. These are industrial items but may also be found in the catalogs of homebuilt aircraft suppliers such as Aircraft Spruce or Wicks.
Or you could just search for the cables you need.
Hugh Enox