Jim spends a lot of his time supplying Goat Milk Stuff with what it needs to keep growing.  I love it when he is able to use the business as a way to teach the children new skills.

We don’t use wi-fi in the soap room or in our house.  As a result, we use many, many ethernet cables.  If you’ve ever shopped ethernet cables, you know they can become very pricey, especially if you need a long length.

So Jim makes them for us when we need them.  And this time, he taught Greyden how to do it.  Greyden said it’s not hard, but you do have to be careful.

What you will need:

1. Ethernet Wire.  We are using the leftover CAT 5E that we asked our electricians to leave when they were finished wiring our new house.  You may be able to find some leftover pieces if you ask around, or you can purchase the wire directly at your local hardware store.

2. RJ-45 Ethernet Connector Plugs. Jim picked up a bag of plugs at our local hardware store.

3. Ethernet Crimper.  Our tool was labeled “Stripper CAT 5” and a similar one is available through our Amazon affiliate link as a crimper tool.

Step 1 – Cut the wire.  Cut the ends of the wire to the desired length.  You may want to give yourself some extra room because if you make a mistake wiring the cord, you can simply cut the connector off and try again.

Step 2 – Remove the insulation. Place the wire in the wire stripper part of the tool.  Squeeze carefully and then slide the insulation off the end of the wire.

Step 3 – Align wires in color order. This is one of the most important steps because if you do not get the wires in the correct order, your ethernet cord won’t work. (But don’t worry, you can just cut it off and try again.  Greyden had to do that on his second cable.)

A diagram will come with your connectors, showing you the correct order.

Step 4 – Flatten wires in correct order.  Make sure all the wires are flat, tight, and in the correct order so they are ready to be placed in the plug.

Step 5 – Cut extra wire length. Allow yourself 1/2″- 1″ of wire to work with.

Step 6 – Insert wire into the connector.  Firmly place the wires into the connector. If you keep the prong face down, makes it easier to see the wires going in.

Step 7 – Crimp the wire connector. Place the wire with the connector attached into the crimp place on the tool. Press down firmly to get the connector on tight.

Step 8 – Test it. If all the steps were followed correctly, it should connect to the internet! If not, you can just cut the connector off and start over.

Greyden was so excited when his cord worked.  He threw his arms up into the air and yelled, “YEEESSSSSSS!!”  I think he may now want to start his own side business making and selling ethernet cords.

Whether he does or not, I now know who to go to if I need a new cord or need an old cord repaired.

What practical skills have your children learned lately?