craftgrrl | |3|)5|\/|

This picture really doesn't do it justice. It's very glossy and pretty.

4x 7' cat5e patch cables (possibly more)
electrical tape
hollow metal mop handle or metal tubing
hacksaw

1. Saw about 9" off the end of a metal mop handle using a hacksaw (that was a real bitch)
2. Cut cables in half
3. Wrap them together with tape (I used duct tape for this part, actually) so that the bunch will fit inside the tubing with effort. The tape helps it stick. I had to worry the cables inside, and then once in I tugged at them to make sure they were secure.
4. Tightly wrap the entire handle and the first inch or so of cables with electrical tape for several layers.
5. I put knots in the cables about once every six inches, but I'm thinking of going back and adding more. Un-knotted cable will be more whippy, more knots will make it more thudding.

I plan to make a whole kit of things like this, and I'll post as I do.