Cut these months ago, Alan. Tinned the ends with solder. Fortunately I've got a big ol' threaded rod to make up the difference between the cable lengths and the bottom of the stick.
I put the ends on tonight. Didn't like how little past the set screws the cables went.
Dabbed a little JB Weld on the cable ends before sliding them in and tightening the set screws nice and snug. By tomorrow afternoon they should be good to go.