The versatile Watlow coil/cable heater can be formed into a variety of shapes. Cable heaters are small diameter, high-performance units, fully annealed and readily bent to a multitude of configurations. The cable heater can be formed into a compact, coiled nozzle heater supplying a full 360 degrees of heat with optional distributed wattage. A straight cable heater can snake through an equipment application. Flat spiral configurations can be used in high-tech manufacturing while a star wound cable can be used for air and gas heating. Different applications require different construction methods, including one, two or four resistance wires; parallel coil or straight wire; drawn or swaged sheaths; with or without internal thermocouples; leads exiting from one or both ends, and round, rectangular or square cable cross sectionals. Whatever the application, the Watlow coil heater and cable heater can be shaped to fit.