Making cat5e cables - an easier way to insert the wires??!!??

You know, of all the hunting around the internet that I did, no-one listed hints for how to avoid the fiddliness of getting the wires into the connector. Lots of info on wiring standards but no info on actually successfully landing them in their holes without taking so long that if I was charging for the time making these things, I'd be charging a fortune! I've a few more to make up to customise our network so all suggestions welcome!

 

I, for one, enjoy fiddliness! But I've had poor success in cat5e cable work.
Wish you luck,
Port-O-San

 

Cat5 is a pain to put the connectors on, end of story. But what I do, after you remove the sheilding and outer insulation(remove about an inch more than you need), untwist the pairs. Then for each wire you do, put it in between your thumb and forefinger(don't use your finger nails) and slide your fingers down them. This should pretty much straighten each one out, the end will be a little curved, this is ok. Twist the pairs together in the order you are going to use, hold them together really tight and wiggle it back and forth. Ok...keep wiggleing until they are nice tight and flat. once you get them the way you want trim off the excess. slide the rj45 on and crimp. Hope that helps...it's still a pain in the butt, I think it makes it easier though. Good luck.

 

Hmm, well I don't mind fiddliness on some things but cat5e isn't one of them, Port-o-San! I prefer to end up with works of art for my fiddliness and I wouldn't say cat5e cables quite matches that description for me.

Thanks, xratedsoldier, I'll try that next time I'm making cables. I do straighten them out but it's getting them all to go in happily without one bending backwards that is the annoying part.

Sounds like someone could make a bit of money by coming up with a useful device for keeping the wires straight or changing the connector to make it easier to make up cables - any takers?? I'll buy one!