How do you manage all your cable wires??

[madmax]

It's out of CONTROL!!!!! Is there some type of cord manager available or are twisty ties the only way to go. It's driving me crazy - they're always getting sucked into the vacuum cleaner and they look messy. There is the cable modem, speaker wires, printer, router, etc.
I know it doesn't sound important but, it's the little things that send me over the edge.

Ok, I'm neurotic :evilgrin:

[Kolesar]

1. put your PC on a desk, not on the floor!

Seriously, I bet you could find cable looms and ties at Radio Shack or the computer store.

[madmax]

2. LOL

I've been checking Staples and OfficeMax on the net but haven't found anything. It's really wild. My son connected everything and due to a shortage of electrical outlets I also have two surge protecters to accomodate all the plugs.

Thanks for mentioning Radio Shack - forgot about them.

[TrogL]

3. Big notice on the front door

Watch the wires

Meatspace has low priority in my household.

[XNASA]

4. Listen, calm down. I'm a professional.

Don't use tie wraps. Too permanent.

Go down to Radio Shack. They sell a lot of products to deal with what's called "Cable Management", in the bidness.

My favorites are velcro straps, about 4 inches long, and.....

There's a product that looks like a plastic corkscrew that comes in a couple of colors and that you can cut to length. You just wrap it around a bundle and can remove it later on if you add or subtract wires/cables.

IMPORTANT" Do not bundle power cables (120VAC cables) in with other cables. They add a lot of noise and hum, especially with things like audio cables. And try not to run the power cables parallel to other cables. But if you can't avoid it, try to keep them at least 4 or 6 inches apart.

[CanuckAmok]

6. and cross them (if you have to) at right angles! n/t

[madmax]

10. XNASA

Thanks for adding that IMPORTANT caveat. I know me I would have bundle them all together!

[CanuckAmok]

5. Cable looms...

You can get them at Radio Shack, but they're cheaper at auto-parts places, and you can get them by the foot instead of pre-packaged.

the Velcro company makes multicoloured cable ties, which are reuseable, and you can colour-code your wires as you tie them.

All this advice aside, I've done nither, and my office is a black spaghetti pigstye. I'm hoping to go wireless in the next couple of months...

[onehandle]

7. I strip all of the plastic and rubber coverings....

Then twist them all together into one fat wire. Finish by wrapping in duct tape.



(kidding. this will kill you)

[radwriter0555]

8. IKEA sells LOVELY black or grey plastic cord managers...

the plastic flex tube stuff that you cram all the wires into, and feed out as needed along the seam.

I use it on my pcs and teevees, and everything is VERY neat and tidy. Makes it easier for the maid to dust and vacuum too, without eating the cords like she used to do (and almost set the house on fire, oy).

Gotta love IKEA!

[madmax]

9. Wow - Thank you all

Lot's of good advice. I feel so much better now ;) I'm really trying to simplify my life.

Since the selection of 2000 I've noticed that a lot of things that didn't bother me before drive me nuts.

Thanks for all the tips. I'm going to check out some of these things today. Love ya all big time!