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Wire Rope & Aircraft Cable

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Galvanized & 304 Stainless Steel Wire Rope | Aircraft Cable | Guy Wire

Choosing a Wire Rope (also known as stainless steel cable, airplane cable, aircraft cable, guy wire for the first time, or even the tenth time can be a daunting task. We start off with a strange term like aircraft cable, which is deceiving if you are trying to buy a wire for construction or marine rigging rather than aerospace applications. Since aerospace was the first place where Wire Rope was used commonly, the stringent requirements associated with this industry were the guiding force behind how wire rope is broken into specific categories. Thankfully here at U.S. Rigging, we have put together a guide that should help to simplify and demystify some of the important factors associated with picking out a Wire Rope.

What is Your Most Top of the Line Steel Cable?

It may be easiest to start out using one of our premium stainless steel cables as an example to break things down a bit. Unless you are using your guy wire in a marine rigging application or another context that involves saltwater or extreme moisture, you are going to want to use 7x19 Nylon Coated Galvanized Wire Rope for your most heavy-duty uses. While Galvanized Steel does not resist saltwater or moisture as stainless steel does, it is very resistant to wear, corrosion, and abrasion. the 19 wire, 7 strand design of this rope means that this particular model is also engineered to be especially flexible. Just to add another element to this rope’s Nylon Coating adds resistance to friction and heat.

Some Features of Swage’s 7x19 Nylon Coated Galvanized Wire Rope:

  • A WLL Ranging From 400-840 LBS
  • A Breaking Strength Ranging From 2000-4200 Lbs
  • Galvanized Steel Materials is Resistant To Abrasion
  • 19 Wire/7 Strand Construction Gives Added Flexibility
  • Nylon Coating Gives Extra Protection Against Friction & Heat
  • Excellent For Heavy Applications- Rigging, Lifting, Towing, Heavy Construction

How Are Airplane Cables Measured?

Wire Ropes are measured by two factors - how many wires are included in each line and how many strands are included within these wires. If you try to read this sentence too many times, it may give you a headache, so here are some examples.

Breakdown of A Rope Measurements:

  • 1x16 Ropes Have 1 Strand And 16 Wires
  • 1x19 Ropes Have 1 Strand And Wires
  • 7x7 Ropes Have 7 Strands In A 7 Wires
  • 7x19 Ropes Have 19 Strands In A 7 Wires

What Are the Benefits of Different Wire Rope Size?

When you are choosing your wire cable, there is a general rule of thumb. Large wires generally stand up very well to abrasion but are not as resistant to fatigue as smaller wires. the size of the rope will help to determine both its strength and flexibility.

Benefits of 7x7 Ropes:

  • Good Flexibility
  • Great For Rigging, Towing, & Moving Heavy Objects
  • Ideal For Jobs Where Slight Bends Will Be Required

Benefits of 7x19 Ropes:

  • Even More Flexibility Than 7x7 Ropes
  • Ideal For Extremely Heavy Duty Jobs Requiring Heavy Force

Is It Better To Use Stainless Steel Or Galvanized Steel?

For the most part, Galvanized Steel is a little easier on your wallet than Stainless Steel and it will take a lot of abuse without much damage to show. However Galvanized Steel is not quite as strong as Stainless Steel and it can’t be used in jobs where the rope may be exposed to saltwater or excessive moisture.

Does Wire Rope Need Coating?

If you really need to save some cash, bare guy wire cables can hold up pretty decent in some applications. However, if you want your cable to hold up against the elements and friction, you are going to want to look into something with some kind of coating on it. You can choose between a Nylon Coat or Vinyl Coating.

Benefits of Nylon Coating:

  • Resists Heat
  • Resists Friction
  • Protects Cable From Fraying

Benefits of Vinyl Coating:

  • Resists Water
  • Resists Sunlight
  • Makes Wire Rope More Resilient

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