Straightening Black Rubber Straight Handset Cord

[gands-antiques]

Looking for a good way to straighten straight rubber handset cord for a 302 with rubber insulated conductors.

I've already tried two 170 degree oven bake cycles at 15 and 20 minutes.  Some improvement but still not real straight.


Thanks,
Gary

[Jim Stettler]

Here is as theory I have heard:
Use  a 1-1/2- 2" PVC pipe. suspend the cord down the center and add a weight to stretch it straight.
That is the basic part.
The next step is to use a hair dryer blowing into the PVC  to heat the cord to help straighten it.
Sounds like it would work. I have never tried it.
Good-Luck,
Jim S.

[gands-antiques]

Thanks Jim,

I had heard about the PVC pipe process before but never tried it.  I would think hair dryer heat would be less likely to damage the cord than an oven. Thanks for the reminder.

Thanks,
Gary