noromance
I don’t use bare wires touching each other in the same sheath, like lampcord.
Both Cat 5 and Cat 8 are small diameter solid, individually insulated,
Cat 8 wraps twisted pairs with insulation, thus 4 twisted pairs, next those 4 pairs insulated, then outer sheath.
mitch2
you can get Cat 5 or Cat 8 with pure copper, some 6 nines. (99.9999).
originally I thought I was the first person using Cat 5. Then my friend shows me this crazy 'make your own' Cat 5 like you noted. What? Why? maybe I didn't read enough about why, I just found it laughable when Cat 5 was already assembled.