Who provides/cuts their own surgical tubing?

[FunkyKikuchiyo]

I know major manufacturers generally provide all the mounting screws and springs/tubing for use, but do the folks here generally do that?

Screws are easy to find, but the surgical tubing is weird. I can only find it at guitar parts places, and it is always kinda pricy. Added to that, my pickup design doesn't use a cover so it needs a longer piece, so I have to buy the bulk lengths. I can't figure out how to cut this stuff evenly, I always get ugly pieces. Is there a trick to it? I'm about ready to bag it and just order up some springs, but I really do like the tubing more.

[copperheadroads]

I use a sharp pair of scissors & have the tubing in the jaws of scissors as far as the can go for a clean cut, But they don't always cut straight
if you want to cut them more squares, a pair of wire cutters works good

[SonnyW]

McMaster-Carr has it. The 1/4"OD x 1/8"ID size is I think the same as Mojo supplies. It is $1.04 /foot. up to 25 feet and there is a good price break after that.

McMaster-Carr

[copperheadroads]

That's roughly what the going price is $1.00 per ft
It's a little cheaper here
50FT LATEX RUBBER TUBING-SURGICAL GRADE-1/4" & 1/8"-NEW | eBay

[SonnyW]

That is good to know (half the price). It looks like enough to do 500 sets or more. By the way cutting it with a wet single edge razor blade works too for a smoother cut. For some reason the tubing seems to cut better when wet.

[big_teee]

It's $1.05 a foot at StewMac.
STEWMAC.COM : Pickup Spring Tubing
I don't special order it, but if I'm getting something else anyway I order the tubing.
I like there humbucker paper tape.
They have Alpha Pots for a good price also.
Terry

[Magnut]

You can find tubing a local pharmacy supply store. Someplace they sell home care products. I have also found some at hobby shops but they mostly have the silicon tubing for fuel lines.

To cut it, create a V-groove in something, lay the tubing in that and with a razor blade, like one you would find in a widget type scrapper, cut into it. You will need to create a slot for the blade to move through. It also helps if you create a stop at the proper length you want. The wet blade is a good idea Sonny. I will have to try that. Oh and tilt the blade like a guillotine for a better cut. Cutting flat will squish the tubing.

If you cut it by hand with scissors, start the cut straight but about half way through lean the scissors toward your fingers a little and you will get a fairly straight cut. As you cut through the tubing leans away from you and that creates the uneven cut, so leaning the scissors in will counter that.

[David Schwab]

I like there humbucker paper tape.
They have Alpha Pots for a good price also.

You can get very similar black paper tape from art supply stores. I get some from Pearl.

The Stew-Mac Alpha pots are Alpha's low end stuff. I stopped buying them because I got a few that were scratchy when new. Now I use Bourns Guitar pots which are also inexpensive. I get them either from Mouser or CE Distribution.

[FunkyKikuchiyo]

Thanks for the responses! I had been trying slicing with a razor blade and using wire cutters, and neither worked for me. I like the idea of wetting it - the stuff gets squirrelly under a blade, so I can see how that'll help.

I also thought one of those heavy duty paper cutters might work well, but I certainly wasn't going to go out and buy one for an application wherein it might not work. I mean something like this: Amazon.com: X-ACTO 12-Inch Base Guillotine Style Plastic Paper Trimmer with Carrying Handle, 10 Sheet Capacity, Black (26232): Office Products

If you want decent black tape, find some Scotch 235. It is light block tape for film cameras, and it is very nice to work with. I have a pile of 1/2" here, I'm sure they make 1/4" as well. I won't nail any vintage look, but aesthetically it is about right for pickups.

$1/foot really isn't that bad on the tubing, considering how little gets used for pickups. I just checked the stewmac price again, and it is about the same. Did it go down recently? I had it in my head that it was a huge rip off for some reason.

[FunkyKikuchiyo]

The Stew-Mac Alpha pots are Alpha's low end stuff. I stopped buying them because I got a few that were scratchy when new. Now I use Bourns Guitar pots which are also inexpensive. I get them either from Mouser or CE Distribution.

It is probably worth noting that the Alpha's can be had from Mouser as well. I forget how the prices compare, but for me it is all about how I can consolidate shipping costs - so, the more places I can order something, the better.

I haven't found a pot that I like so much to stay loyal to... CTS has weird tapers, Alphas aren't very robust, and I need to check out the Bourns... I've had issues with their OEM stuff, but I don't know how the stuff that everyone is using now is. I've also been told to check out the brand that Gibson uses (three letters, but I can't remember what it is...)

[StarryNight]

you could try cutting with a sharp chisel and use the reflection on the back of the chisel to make a straight cut, like luthiers do when cutting binding.

[copperheadroads]

If you want decent black tape, find some Scotch 235. It is light block tape for film cameras, and it is very nice to work with. I have a pile of 1/2" here, I'm sure they make 1/4" as well. I won't nail any vintage look, but aesthetically it is about right for pickups.

Isn't Scotch 235 tape suppose to be conductive ?

[FunkyKikuchiyo]

No, it is insulating. How good of a dielectric is it? That is another matter, but it isn't conductive. With my own little incredibly informal tests, it is about average.

I just did a search on scotch to see if I could find more information, and now I'm thirsty.

[copperheadroads]

Sorry ,I was reading this old thread
http://music-electronics-forum.com/t8936/

[FunkyKikuchiyo]

Interesting. I have stopped using it to insulate cores, but I still use it for the outsides. It isn't the best dielectric out there, but I'd hardly call it "highly conductive" as Dave says. Then again, I don't have a perfect way to test dielectric strength, just a couple meters.