What the heck would this be called?

[drventure]

In the above image, notice the white insulator at the top right of the image, and the little brass clip that's screwed to the top of it (it's holding a wire)?

Anyone have any ideas what that brass clip would be called (or where to get one)?

I've searched all over. It looks like a pretty standard piece of hardware, but I can't think of what it'd be called.

[Hoopz]

Cable clip?  Wire clip?  Wire/cable hook?

[drventure]

That's what I would have thought, but I got bupkus with those keywords

[ark_ader]

Yes I have seen them before too.  I had to make some of those for a repair project.

I used perforated metal strips, a butane torch, metal cutters and some good pliers.



I believe you should always try to make them yourself before you go out and try to resource.

Probably take less time to make it yourself then trying to find an alternative.

Looks like Build Your Own is also the apt way to go? 

[drventure]

Well, yeah, I've done plenty of that 

I do have some sheet brass, but I don't have a break or a decent way to bend it like that. I might give it a go if I can't turn up something though.

Looks like they my be called "P clips". I'm hunting in that direction now.

[JustMichael]

I have heard them referred to as "tubing clamps" also.

[Kevin Mullins]

Are you wanting a one sided clamp like the one pictured or more like an adel clamp which completely surrounds whatever you are mounting ?
(adel clamps are also refered to as P clips)

[bkenobi]

I have also seen these called a "loop".

[drventure]

Ahh. Adel clamps.

I've been looking for "p clips" and variations. Closest I've found is something like this:


http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/320

Which would certainly work, but I can't find anyone in the states that sells them, only OK auto parts houses <sigh>

If you look closely, I don't think that one is one sided. Looks more like a P shape that's been formed out of flat stock and you have to run the wire/cable through it (instead of like the adel clamps clamping it +around+ the wire/cable.

Either would work, but I like the looks of the solid formed P better. They'll be completely visible in my cab (hence the brass  )

I've used "clip", "Clamp", 'hanger", "retainer", "stay".

Those p clamps might be the only option (other than making my own).

[Deadly]

Home Depot carries those plastic clamps over in the electrical isle. Lowes also carries them (unsure of isle)

[SavannahLion]

You want to find them in brass?

Search under antique or vintage. I tried as well but I keep getting jewelry making stuff. Even searches under "electric" or "electrical" keeps coming back with that jewelers crap.

Why not try someone that does antique restorations? Like this guy that does fans or radios or whatever? That kind of ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- sells like hotcakes to collectors and they're always scrounging for those parts. Even if they won't sell you the brass things (if they have any) they could tell you what it is.

Failing that, what about finding suitable clips (clamps, whatever) then painting or plating them in brass?

[Thenasty]

here is something from homedepot

http://www.homedepot.com/Building-Materials/h_d1/N-5yc1vZ1xr5Zaqns/R-100485909/h_d2/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10051&catalogId=10053


I do believe I have seen copper ones too. Just stop in at any Homedepot.

It looks like nothing special to wjhat you want to use it for.
You could use/make one from the parts that came with car stereos brackets.

[drventure]

You know, spraying the plastic clamps just might work. I've got some of those lying around, so I think I'll have a go at that first. These will just be used to hold wires in place. It's not like they're going to get any rough treatment, so they don't have to be tough.

It'd be nice to find the brass version though.

Thanks for all the ideas!

[garnerb350]

You could go with painting em...but do that as last resort...

Look around anyplace that would sell Gas Heating/Air conditioning supplies perhaps...
(I saw a bunch of em in a outdoor shelter that secured wiring for a gas heater and a couple of AC units today in fact)

Also if you are going steampunk by chance, check out the SP sites, see what they might offer...

Doc, reading your prior posts...you might can try this( if it can be done perhaps?)...Take that sheet brass you have, find a table...take the sheet and clamp it down with say an inch overhanging...get a hammer/pliers and gently bend the brass 90 degrees...flip over and bend it back 180 degrees...flip,repeat,flip, repeat till the 1 inch strip breaks off... then cut to size, wrap it around a pipe and bend it into the shape you want...take a screwdriver or punch and mark a hole and drill it ...whoa-lah...jerry-rigged p clip!

[bkenobi]

There might be an option that is 2 parts that clamp together to hold the wire (like taking the P-clamp and cutting it at the end so the screw holds the two parts together).  It looks like the ones you originally posted are solid rather than bent.  I highly doubt that the only way to use those is to feed long lengths of cable through it.  I mean, if you decided to add another support, you would have to pull that whole length out and redo it.

[SavannahLion]

There might be an option that is 2 parts that clamp together to hold the wire (like taking the P-clamp and cutting it at the end so the screw holds the two parts together).  It looks like the ones you originally posted are solid rather than bent.  I highly doubt that the only way to use those is to feed long lengths of cable through it.  I mean, if you decided to add another support, you would have to pull that whole length out and redo it.

Huh? None of the clamps are like that. The one pictured by the OP looks like it has an open end through which you loop the wire under and tension simply keeps it in place. The Adel clamps take slack better being closed off. If you want to run more wiring (or more likely, replace wiring), you simply unscrew the clamp, slip it around, spread it open, slip the wire in, then position and screw it back into place. There's no reason not to "release" the clamps to run wiring through.

[drventure]

Well, it's hard to tell for sure. It looks to me like it's a solid piece, not like the adel clamps

Here's a bigger picture, a little closer up, from the side (unfortunately, there's not really any build pics of that particular part, though I did put an email out to the builder for a little more info if possible).




It also looks like heavier stock than could be easily "bent" without some proper equipment, but then, I'm no metal worker, so maybe it wouldn't be too tough to make em myself....

@garnerb350  Yeah, don't really like the idea of painted plastic, but...

I do have some scrap brass sheet, I might give your idea a whirl. I won't need but maybe 5-8 clips.

[Thenasty]

what is that thing anyway ? I can't make it out.

[drventure]

It's a pc. 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/steampunkfrankenstein/

That's right, something like a 400lb pc case mod.

It's really pretty incredible. My cab isn't quite as, involved as that, but it's given me a lot of ideas. I'm running a lot of my wiring exposed and using ceramic insulators to route the cables, similar to what he's done.

[garnerb350]

I cant think of the actual name of that "clip"...Its justa simple peice of metal with a hole drilled at the ends and looped over...( my father did farming on the side and the farm looks like Sandford & Son) Ive always seen them, but Ive never had any use for them myself...I wonder if you can just find some scrap sheet metal and get a pair of tin-snips and cut you out pieces...and then maybe paint them brass, gold, etc...

[nox771]

Not sure if this would have the necessary strength, but what about just cutting a piece of tubing (for the "O" part of the P), and soldering it to a small strip (for the flat part of the P).  Works for copper pipes.  You wouldn't have a color match at the solder joint, but if the joint is hidden behind a wire maybe it doesn't matter.  Just a thought.

[bkenobi]

I glanced through the pictures and realized something.  I thought the "wire" he was running through the insulator was rope (to save money I guess).  Turns out, it's actually old school insulated wire.  The funny thing is that you wouldn't need to use that kind of insulator if you were running that type of wire.  Oh well, it's a look thing rather than one of functionality I guess.

[Kevin Mullins]

From that angle you can clearly see the two layers beneath the mounting screw.

So it does appear to be of the "adel" clamp variety, meaning it's a complete loop.
(or "P" clamp as some call them)

[drventure]

I think your right. From some of the other pictures I could get, they sure LOOK solid, but I think they are, in fact P clips, like what has been suggested.

I did find some online.

One here http://www.autoelectricsupplies.co.uk/product/693

and http://www.vintagecarparts.co.uk/en/1080~brass+P+clip-details/

and the best picture I could find (and a decent price till your throw in shipping)
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320480180873

Yikes, it'd be a good chunk of change for just a few clips, and I still can't find these things anywhere stateside.

I've already got a pile of black plastic clips in all sorts of sizes, and I can get them cheap just about anywhere.

A little primer, some bright brass spray paint, a wash of india ink, and a dip in Future, viola! brass p clips for cheap!










(Sorry the pics aren't particularly good)

Not the ideal solution, but, it's cheap, I can do this right now, and it's easy to replace if I ever stumble across real brass p clips locally.

Thanks again to everyone that commented. At least now I know what those things are actually called!

[SavannahLion]

I glanced through the pictures and realized something.  I thought the "wire" he was running through the insulator was rope (to save money I guess).  Turns out, it's actually old school insulated wire.  The funny thing is that you wouldn't need to use that kind of insulator if you were running that type of wire.  Oh well, it's a look thing rather than one of functionality I guess.

You've never seen that before? I have a spool of the single strand fabric wound old school stuff. It's been out in the shed, so I hope it isn't all moldy and ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- by now. My old cottage was originally wired with that. The new wiring was simply installed in parallel to the old. My dads shop also had it. I didn't exactly grow up with the stuff, but it was a pretty common sight up until I moved out.

He may not have "original" wiring, but use the newer double jacketed UL listed wire instead. It's a bit more readily available.

[drventure]

Yeah, I've found a few suppliers of "new old look" wiring like that. It's basically standard black lamp cord in a woven polyester "jacket". Looks great though.

For the low voltage stuff (led wiring, etc), I've been using Macrame cord, gutted, with 22guage wires threaded up inside it. It looks even better, but it's a real pain to put together. Wouldn't want to use that for 110 though 

You're right about the insulators and wiring. Technically, you wouldn't need the insulators with jacketed wire. But, this cab is about a far from "technically necessary" as you can get