I wrote a post about gaffers tape last week explaining that while most people might automatically reach for the duct tape during a shoot, gaffers tape is a much better alternative and universally used in the film community. Just one of those things you might not know if you’ve never come across it.

Cable wrapping techniques are another one of types of things that you automatically do one way and you eventually learn how to do the right way. I remember when I was early into my high school career I was out helping on a local shoot and started wrapping cables around my arm. An old roadie quickly noticed and verbally accosted me, kindly showing me the right way.

So here for your reading and viewing pleasure is a short guide and some great videos on how to wrap cable.

First of all, can I wrap this cable properly?

Not all cables are created equal. The $4 video cable for connecting your DVD player isn’t going to be the same as a $40 6 foot Mogami XLR cable, obviously, but the quality of the cable has a lot of bearing on whether or not you can wrap it correctly in the first place.

Quality cable has a natural bias, meaning that it really wants to be a certain shape. This comes from the manufacturing of the shielding, which means that when you obey the natural bias, you keep the shielding in tip top shape as well.

Bottom line: if you are having a hard time finding the cable’s natural shape bias, you might consider that the cable just sucks.

Author’s tip – Christmas light have no natural bias.

Why? Oh, so so many reasons.

You might ask – why? Why should I do this? So what if it’s wrong, I like my way. Well one reason is the just described above possible damage to the shielding that might result. Cables are not invincible. They need to be handled with some care, and when they are, you are much less likely to plug in something and have it not work when it’s mission critical.

Also, wrapping cable with the proper technique means virtually eliminating the twists and knots that arise from general cable usage. This cuts down of frustration and you looking like an idiot. Seriously, you can throw the cable and it just unfurls perfectly. It’s a beauty to behold.

Did I mention that girls love proper cable wrapping technique?

Make sure you do the over/under technique

Once you find the cable bias, it is really easy to wrap cables just like that and call it a day. Unfortunately, it’s more complicated than that. See the video tutorials below for some guidance on these techniques. You pretty much just fold over the cable every second wrap though.

Don’t tie it in a knot

Wrapping a cable up properly then tying the ends in a knot is like carefully parking a car and then scraping a wrench across the front hood.

For the love of God use these. They’re cheap.

Don’t over think it..too much…

People can really get weird about how they wrap their cable and will have debates over such things as what size the wrap should be, whether to connect XLR heads, and other various minutiae. These people typically use cable all day every day for their job, and have dreams about wrapping cable and having conversations with individual cables they admire. As a DiY filmmaker, you just need to know how to do it to get the most out of your cables and be efficient when shooting. Don’t get too caught up in the craze that is sweeping America (the proper cable wrapping craze).

Check these guys out

Here are some of our favorite cable wrapping tutorials online that’ll steer you in the right direction.

Gospel John of Filmmaker IQ is very excited about cable wrapping, and has a great POV shot of how to do the over/under.

Ric Wallace, appearing in what appears to be a cable dungeon, takes his cables very seriously. All 7 1/2 minutes are worth it, but don’t miss his passionate plea to “do right thing by ‘em (cables)” at the beginning. I like Ric a lot.

If you don’t trust any of the above tutorials, let this wizard show you how to do it.

Perhaps you’d prefer to get your cable advice from a dispassionate headless man?

That’s it! There are many more of these on YouTube so if you find one that is good please post it in the comments so everyone can get their learn on.

Author’s note: check out the comments by our boy Yootoobsuchs who appears to be the self-appointed policeman of proper cable wrapping techniques in YouTube-ville. He’ll set you straight!