Interested In Buying Bulk CAT5e Cable

[Cody Shepherd]

Hi Technibblers!

I have been looking around for some bulk 5e cable and have run into some troubling questions. I like to create/sell my own ethernet cables when doing network jobs and have had good success in doing so with my current spool of CAT5. I would like my next purchase to be 5e, for a multitude of relatively obvious reasons. My concerns are:

1. What is a reasonable price for CAT5e? I've read that it should be roughly 30% more/foot than CAT5, not sure if this is accurate.
2. What brand would you suggest? I know a lot of brands advertise "Authentic Copper Wires" and "Industry Code Compliant" when they are actually quite the opposite.
3. What brand of RJ45 ends do you recommend? I'd hate for the wire to be good but the ends to be unreliable.

Thanks a bunch for your help.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Patch cables are cheap and they work well. Why would you waste your time building your own? I can buy 7ft patch cables for $2 each and sell them for $20.

 

[Digital Micro]

I wouldn't buy Cat 5e, I would buy Cat 6.

Like previously mention patch cables are cheap. I would buy an assortment of patch cables and a box of Cat6. I hate making cables with RJ-45 jacks. I will if I have to, but I prefer a good factory made cable.

 

[trevm999]

If I had a colleague still using cat5 I would probably murder them. I second that CAT6 is the way to go. Have you ever made a CAT6 cable? Takes at least twice as long, make sure you get the 2 piece plugs and not the 3 piece plugs. (I think C2G sells the 3 piece, and Startech is what I get now)

For patch cable it should be stranded wire, not solid, so you will have to get a separate 1000FT box of cable just for your patch cables. Also, your plugs need to be compatible with stranded wire. Then you should certify each patch cable you make.

All-in-all, not worth it, just buy pre-made.

 

[Cody Shepherd]

Thanks for the honest opinions guys. I'm going to put some more time into researching patch cable options and see if it will fit what I need.

 

[Markverhyden]

Yeah, what the others said. Just buy what you need. By the time you factor in labor and materials you cannot even touch the price of machine made patch cords. And remember that patch cords really need to be braided and not solid core. All that being said that does not mean I don't produce my own customer patch on an as needed basis. If I'm doing an ISP install, cutover, rack build out, etc I'll usually make my own so the length matches and I don't end up huge service loops. But for things like work station and rack patches, all pre-made.

 

[GTP]

I get a "mixed box"of about 100 different length cables (30cm to 30m) for about $50
I just check before use with a "Fluke" to make sure they're ok first.

 

[brandonkick]

Buy it pre made in several different lengths, just to throw something out like:

2ft, 5ft, 10ft, 25ft, 50ft, and 100ft.

Normally in pre made cables... you get a much better deal on longer cables.
I saw a listing for a 25ft Cat6, for $3.50 shipped.

I can't find 2ft Cat6 on the same site for anything less than $1 each. Big box
stores mark this up to insane levels. A 100 ft cable at something like staples
would cost 60, 70 dollars or more.

You can buy it on ebay for $10 shipped, sell it for $40 and still look like a hero
compared to the big box store.

The real problem is how much time it would take you. It's not worth it, unless
you love cramps, carpel tunnel and arthritis. You just make more money
per foot on the longer cables. You can easily mark the cables up 100% and
no one will gripe, even more on longer cables. Buy a 2ft cable for $2 and
sell it for $4.... buy a 100ft cable for $10 and sell it for $30 or $40. Still decently
cheaper than walmart or best buy, and you tripled your money or better.

 

[roborobs computer repair]

You could try here, https://www.cablewholesale.com/products/network-phone/cat-6-cable.php