Painting cables (for WAF) - bad idea or collosally stupid mistake?

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dburna

OK, the title is completely: :roll:.  But the question is more-or-less serious.  I have "adopted" some active monitors recently, and the small speaker footprint allows me to mount the speakers in a variety of places......some that will leave the (black) balanced cables more exposed along a light green wall. 

For WAF, if I offered to paint the signal (and power) cables going to these monitors, would I be committing a huge audio "sin"?  In other words, would this result in a big decrease in sound quality?  Wanted to ask this of the cognoscenti before I offered to do this for my spouse since I know she would want me to do this if I asked.

Thanks in advance for your help and guidance,  -dB   

jtwrace

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Yes, bad idea as the paint will flake off.  You need either a mechanical bond or chemical bond. 

I'd recommend you just use some Techflex in whatever color would suite her. 

FullRangeMan

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Dont paint it, you may dress the cable with a jacket/spaguetti tube of a suited colour.


dburna

Thanks, folks -- Techflex it is.......

-dB (who didn't want to paint the cables anyway)

DaveC113

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Techflex is the solution, lots of colors to choose from... also remember to get some heat shrink tubing to keep the ends tidy. It's easiest if you tape the ends of the techflex down near the connectors then apply heatshrink over that. Techflex sells some nice black fabric heatshrink that I use on my cables, it looks really nice (imo). They also sell the conventional poly stuff too.

Don_S

As the Rolling Stones would say--"Paint it Black"  (the wall that is).  :lol:

OK, stupid idea but I know someone had to say it so we could move on.

I covered wires with white plastic spiral cable covering like used in offices.  I will look for a link. It can be put on without disconnecting the cables if necessary.

Don_S

Could you use something like this and paint it to match?



I used something like this but it did not show gaps. 



Both items are available at Office Depot.  Best Buy or Radio Shack may have other options.

Don_S

Two different sizes of channel specifically designed to hide cables on walls and it can be painted.

http://frys.com/product/5653841?site=sr:SEARCH:MAIN_RSLT_PG

Folsom

They won't stay pained. It'll crack and look silly. Under carpet/trim is better.