How to fix old cables?

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Some of my cables are old and shedding the insulation (outer rubber). How can I repair this?  Electrical tap works until the first spark hits it orit get rubbed on the ground. Was thinking about running it through a cheap water hose, but I dunno.  Money is tight right now so new ones are out. Any suggestions?
Reply:use splicing tape it is stretchy rubber and after you wrap the area it the layers bond to each other and with the heat it turns to a single layer of rubber .Lincoln Power Arc 4000 Thermal Arc Fabricator 252 iThermal arc 186Thermal Arc 26 tigTweeko 200 amp spool gunHobart AirForce 400WP-17V-12R
Reply:Originally Posted by LinepipeSome of my cables are old and shedding the insulation (outer rubber). How can I repair this?  Electrical tap works until the first spark hits it orit get rubbed on the ground. Was thinking about running it through a cheap water hose, but I dunno.  Money is tight right now so new ones are out. Any suggestions?
Reply:Try your local auto supplier. Heat shrink tube. Cut to fit the area plus and inch or two extra on each side. You'll have to take off one end of the cable to slip it on.200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:how old are theymaybe 30 years or 40 yearsi have 200' of 1/0 there going on 20 years oldand look great
Reply:I had 120' of 1/0 that was dry rotted from sitting still in the sun for so long. I bought them that way as part of a package deal with some equipment. I ended up stripping them and scrapping for $75.00. I don't think using tape on 120' would be a good idea. I hope there was not an alternative, I would hate to waste 120' of 1/0."Where's Stick man????????" - 7A749"SHHHHHH!! I sent him over to snag that MIC-4 while tbone wasn't looking!" - duaneb55"I have bought a few of Tbone's things unlike Stick-Man who helps himself" - TozziWelding"Stick-man"
Reply:yeah ive seen the heat shrink used pretty effectively patching old cable. i do know here osha gets pretty crappy bout using stuff like that. but it works well better than electrical tape wich is also used alot. if u start using electrical tape might as well buy a ton to redo pretty regular! lol!
Reply:Originally Posted by dyrvaleyeah ive seen the heat shrink used pretty effectively patching old cable. i do know here osha gets pretty crappy bout using stuff like that. but it works well better than electrical tape wich is also used alot. if u start using electrical tape might as well buy a ton to redo pretty regular! lol!
Reply:Originally Posted by technoidYup heat shrink tube does work but there is a voltage thing. Automotive stuff only good for up to 24 volts dc. Buy the high voltage shrink tube. But then again the price gets in the way... Dammed if you do, dammed if you don't.
Reply:Yup, just trying to do the outside.And yeah, they are pretty old.  Thought about getting some Plastidip to cover where the rubber fell off and then wrapping it. Some of the oldtimers around here will wrap it with an innertube and then cover it with electrical tape.  Works, but thought someone would have a better way.
Reply:Are you saying my way is not better? Well, fine then!!! 200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:No way Bert!  You got shrinking rubber, way better than half of a tractor innertube lashed and taped to the cables.
Reply:i have used a cheap garden hose to cover an old ground lead was cheap and fast and no more cracks as for the the stinger lead if its to far gone  then think about replacing ( but if you want it would work for that2idealarc 250/250 ac-dc tigidealarc 250/250 ac-dc tig #2 used for sticklincoln sp100hh125dual arbor grinder polisher30 yrs of hand tools52 pitch blocks 6p-26prake gauge -pitch gaugeG&D prop repair 918-207-6938Hulbert,okla 74441
Reply:Take old leads and scrap them out for the copper.Buy new leads.Done.Rubber and/or plastic insulation doesn't always last forever.  Add in possible heat cycling, UV exposure (sun and welding arc), and physical abuse (being dragged around on the ground, sparks falling on the insulation, etc) and the insulation is not going to last forever.Sticking a piece of rubber hose over the outside of the damaged leads sort-of works, but makes the lead even bigger in the OD and looks kind of like crap.  Also not OSHA approved, if that matters.  If you are a business in the USA, then OSHA matters.  Damaged insulation on electrical leads has to be repaired or replaced, if the damage is widespread over pretty much the entire wire/cable then the wire/cable really has to be condemned, scrapped, and replaced.Money tight?  Add up the cost in time and money and effort to -try- and wrap the appropriate electrical insulation tape over some dry-rotted electrical insulation on some cables.  Then think of how stiff the cables become in the cold because the tape is hard in the cold (most 'common' electrical tape is some sort of vinyl, which gets stiff in the cold).  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:They make a product that is almost like fiberglass wrap.. It is a tube, used for heat insulation on wires.. I have a roll of it laying aorund from an IT stint at a transformer factory. Fireproof solution..  In fact, I think the winding in my campbell hausfield had it as a shield on the internal wires.  If you cant find it, email / PM me and I can find it in the garage and get you the brand name of the stuff.  I have used it as heat shield for 2 guage wire in battery relocation for mid engined cars