Best DIY power cable. Why not make?


Ok perhaps I don't get it.  You have hot, neutral, ground and connectors.  I am looking for advise from those that have found the secret sauce in making power cables or at least those that have had great success.  With all the quality cable and connectors why not make your own?  I refuse to pay $2,000 plus for a power cable that would take a hour to build.  I am seeking your guidance and suggestions.  Thanks!   
goose
@dgarretson - I agree with your design approach - specifically for that application - it makes a lot of sense.

May I suggest braiding the three main conductors - not twisting them - it should improve dynamic performance and noise floor even further.

My helix design is for individual component power cables only.

I’ve never dealt with balanced power - thanks for that info.

Regards - Steve
I may try your recipe for the next one.  So far, I'm using a variation of a VH Audio recipe: hot and neutral in a twisted pair, surrounded by the ground wire in a counter-spiral.  For shielding, that bundle is slipped inside a braided copper tube that is grounded at the pronged plug and floated from the IEC plug.  These PCs are killers with Furutech FI-48 ends.  For the next one I'm trying the new Oyaide AP-and AC-004 connectors.  The Oyaides are more economical and look well designed.
Nanotec Systems #308 wire and Furutech FI-11 connectors make a nice PC at reasonable cost. Add a few pennies worth of black heat shrink tubing to the ends for a professional look. 
Nanotec Systems #308 wire and Furutech FI-11 connectors make a nice PC at reasonable cost. Add a few pennies worth of black heat shrink tubing to the ends for a professional look. 
Nothing but solid-core for the last 30 years in my system, no tiny threads like AQ/Nordost or whatever