Earbud cables: Insulating plastic coming off

October 7, 2016 8:07 AM

Hi. I want to know if this is dangerous, how, and what alternatives there are.

On one of the cables of my Brainwavz M3s, right up under the bud's stem, i.e., the beginning of the covered cable, a small section of the plastic coating has worn or chipped off, exposing the wire bundle beneath. I would like to keep using them if I can -- have had them for years, once got a sound-break fixed for more than they were worth, and they're the best. I know there are all kinds of YouTubes involving soldering or fixing anything like this yourself, but I have no aptitude for that. I can understand that the break occurred probably as a result of years of wearing them looped behind the ear for better microphonics -- and perhaps even my sometimes fussy but careful reinsertions for better seal -- but would I at least be OK wearing them stem-down and not letting so much as a raindrop fall on them?

posted by noelpratt2nd to Technology (16 answers total)

Sugru is your friend here. Shit's super easy to use, I promise you even you can do it.
posted by phunniemee at 8:08 AM on October 7, 2016 [3 favorites]

Is there a reason simple electrical tape wouldn't work? (Although Sugru looks awesome and now I need some.)
posted by mudpuppie at 8:21 AM on October 7, 2016 [2 favorites]

As long as the wires themselves are intact, there's nothing to solder. I just keep electrical tape on hand and wrap a bit around the stripped section, but you can also use Plastidip.
posted by quiet coyote at 8:23 AM on October 7, 2016

There is also heat shrink tubing. Slide it over the frayed area, hit it with a hair dryer and it'll shrink in place.
posted by Karaage at 8:25 AM on October 7, 2016

Yeah, Sugru! Great for fixing frayed cables like that.
posted by EndsOfInvention at 8:27 AM on October 7, 2016

Sugru is the thinking, responsible person's choice. I will also submit, however, that I once fixed a similar problem by melting the plastic from a twist tie onto the cord with a lighter and then quickly shaping it with some gloved fingers.
posted by ryanshepard at 8:35 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

I've used electrical tape for this and it's held up for months.
posted by ellieBOA at 8:53 AM on October 7, 2016

To answer the part about danger: nope! The voltages and currents going through the headphones are tiny enough to be irrelevant in every situation I can think of that you'd reasonably encounter.
posted by Alterscape at 9:03 AM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

Sugru is good for this. I will note that when, in a similar situation, my Sugru patch wore/scuffed thin, I found myself getting tiny electrical shocks to my cheek--like a static discharge. (At that point I decided it was time for new earbuds.)
posted by praemunire at 9:23 AM on October 7, 2016

Seconding Sugru. I apply it to all my new headphones to avoid this, and even used it on a space heater with a fraying cord (not totally recommended.) It is basically magical, insulating modelling clay that sticks to almost everything: glass/metal/plastic/etc., dries in 24 hours, and stays flexible. Also comes in nice colors: yellow and red, in addition to black and white. Never had it wear thin in any way, but i always apply a nice thick glob of it and form it into a nice shape. It's never worn through or budged. YMMV.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 9:53 AM on October 7, 2016

Response by poster: Walgreen's didn't have Sugru just now, but I'll keep looking. And the outer surface of this stuff isn't sticky itself?
posted by noelpratt2nd at 9:56 AM on October 7, 2016

No, sugru sets into a firm, non-sticky material. It has just the right amount of give in it for this kind of application.
posted by pharm at 10:05 AM on October 7, 2016

Sugru you'll probably have to order. I've never seen it in a store. Specialist DIY/hobby stores might have it.

The stuff is kind of rubberized plastic, similar to the insulation on conventional headphone cables. Not sticky.

(*goes to order some Sugru*)
posted by neckro23 at 10:09 AM on October 7, 2016

Best answer: Sugru is expensive and while it sounds like it would probably work for this, it has let me down enough times that I no longer bother to stock it. I would probably use epoxy putty, which is just as easy to work with as sugru and much stronger. It's rigid, but I can't see how that would matter. I might also turn to a product like liquid electrical tape or the aforementioned plasti-dip. There's also self-sealing silicone tape which I've never used but which I'm probably going to try out at some point because I've heard great things about it. Heat shrink tubing would be ideal except I can't think how you could possibly get it onto the base of your earbud without cutting a wire at some point, which obviously won't work. Frankly if all I had on hand was a bit of electrical or duct tape then that's what I'd use, though I'd expect it to get gummy after a while.

The exposed wiring is not dangerous.
posted by Anticipation Of A New Lover's Arrival, The at 1:06 PM on October 7, 2016 [1 favorite]

You'll have to order the Sugru; I've never seen it in a store. It's a lot like mounting putty in texture. Pressed against (many) surfaces, it will bond as it dries. The exposed surfaces are tacky to the touch when it is fresh but become non-sticky when they dry.

I think too much rigidity could actually be a problem on these wires, as they will get bent/curled frequently in use.
posted by praemunire at 1:39 PM on October 7, 2016

phunniemee:

Thanks for introducing me to Sugru!
posted by james33 at 5:37 AM on October 8, 2016 [1 favorite]