Fix a Stripped Wire on Your Headphones
by StumpChunkman in Living > Music
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Fix a Stripped Wire on Your Headphones
I bought a nice pair of headphones a few months back, and noticed recently that plastic has started pulling away from the joints, exposing the wires. Before it got any worse, I went to Noah to ask his advice. Turns out, he was having a similar problem and had a fantastic suggestion: Plasti Dip!
With those two words, I set off of gathering the vast amounts of materials that would be needed to fix our headphones. All one item.
(This all seems very self explanatory, but I've ran into many people who've never heard of this product or what it does. It's for that reason that I'm putting this here!)
With those two words, I set off of gathering the vast amounts of materials that would be needed to fix our headphones. All one item.
(This all seems very self explanatory, but I've ran into many people who've never heard of this product or what it does. It's for that reason that I'm putting this here!)
Materials
Plasti Dip
Seriously...that's all you really need. I found types of Liquid Electrical Tape type products when searching for this, but I haven't tested any of them so I can't really recommend them.
If you want to take things the extra step:
Bowl (you wouldn't mind throwing away)
Toothpick, Small Stick or Small Brush (that you wouldn't mind throwing away)
Prepare to Dip!
Grab your headphones (or whatever wire you want to dip), and make sure nothings very dirty.
Open up the Plasti Dip container and prepare to dip.
(if you want a little more flexibility in your dipping, you can pour the dip into a wider mouthed bowl, so you have some extra room to maneuver).
Open up the Plasti Dip container and prepare to dip.
(if you want a little more flexibility in your dipping, you can pour the dip into a wider mouthed bowl, so you have some extra room to maneuver).
Dip!
Dip just the section of your headphones that you want to apply the coating to, and ensure that you completely engulf that section of the wire in the dip. I would suggest a couple of consecutive dips, just to ensure a proper coating.
Once completely coated, hold over dip, and shake off excess liquid still stuck to headphones. No need for huge lumps, try to shake it out a little bit and get things as smooth as possible.
If you're happy, blow on it a little bit, and it will harden the outside of the dip on your headphones cord. Make sure you blow away from the open container of dip, as the fumes will not put you in a happy mood.
Once completely coated, hold over dip, and shake off excess liquid still stuck to headphones. No need for huge lumps, try to shake it out a little bit and get things as smooth as possible.
If you're happy, blow on it a little bit, and it will harden the outside of the dip on your headphones cord. Make sure you blow away from the open container of dip, as the fumes will not put you in a happy mood.
Wait for It...
Set your headphones in a place where the drying plastic won't touch anything. You can either let them hang down from a hook (hanger, nail, etc.), or place them horizontally over a bowl or something similar so it can dry.
No go relax for a half an hour and bask in the knowledge that you're not going to have to worry about stripping the wires in the spot soon.
Make sure your dip is sealed while you wait...you don't want it drying out!
No go relax for a half an hour and bask in the knowledge that you're not going to have to worry about stripping the wires in the spot soon.
Make sure your dip is sealed while you wait...you don't want it drying out!
Second Coating!
Now that it's had a half an hour, you're welcome to call it quits, but I'd recommend a second coat.
Do the same thing you did earlier. Make sure you get a nice, complete even coating, and then shake off any excess.
If it's not looking good, you can use a brush or stick to try to direct it to your liking.
Do the same thing you did earlier. Make sure you get a nice, complete even coating, and then shake off any excess.
If it's not looking good, you can use a brush or stick to try to direct it to your liking.
A Little More Patience...
It's time to leave your headphones hanging up again, and let them dry. This time they're going to need to hang out for three hours.
Pop in a movie, start another project, or just browse other projects on the site figuring out what else you need to do while you wait...
Pop in a movie, start another project, or just browse other projects on the site figuring out what else you need to do while you wait...
Victory!
Congratulations! You now have a pair of headphones that's not straining the wires nearly as much every time you put them on.
Looking at my headphones and Noahs, the dip is fantastic. It completely coated over the exposed wires, and it's strong enough that I'm not worried about that joint anymore.
Once again, I can listen to my music with peace of mind!
Looking at my headphones and Noahs, the dip is fantastic. It completely coated over the exposed wires, and it's strong enough that I'm not worried about that joint anymore.
Once again, I can listen to my music with peace of mind!