UKC

Does anybody know where I could some steel wire rope with loop terminations? I'm looking specifically for one where the breaking strain of the loops is known.

I've come across sites like https://www.s3i.co.uk/wire-rope-sling-soft-eye.php?pid=10194 , where 3mm wire with a 7kN breaking strain is available, but all the manufacturer seems to know about the loops is that they are "a loop termination with copper ferrule". I have no idea whether that means they're climbing grade or not.

I'm trying to use the blade of a BD Transfer 3 (old model) snow shovel as a fluke. DMM et al don't seem to sell Deadman wires separately.

In reply to BlueTotem:

Considering what your doing with the wire, ie. building a slightly dubious snow anchor where the anchor will rip out or the shovel head will bend in two at relatively low loads, you don't really need crazy strong wire rope.
I'd get yourself to a ships chandlers, there's a powerboat shop on Gibraltar street IIRC, they may have something for you.
I'd consider using 5 or 6 mm accessory cord, maybe not as durable but plenty strong enough, much lighter, easy to get hold of and use and cheap as chips to replace if need be.

In reply to BlueTotem:

Try a caving supplier e.g Inglesport: http://inglesport.com/products/lyon-belay-wire-with-eye-ends-lo4

In reply to BlueTotem:

Those are typically for construction items, eg. suspending a glazed canopy overhead, that sort of thing. Iv'e used them in the past but it's always been a specialist designed item, so they calculate the loads and specify the appropriate connections. Not much help to you, sorry!

In reply to Elevator:

Elevator, gethin_allen, Fraser, thanks very much for your help, I appreciate it.

I think gethin_allen raised a good point about the fact the rest of the runner will probably fail before the wire terminals do, so perhaps I'm worrying too much about this, but it sounds like there are some good options here. Thanks very much for your ideas everyone.

In reply to BlueTotem:


My homemade deadman uses bulldog clamps, which allows you to make the loop through the blade yourself. Obviously you wouldn't know the strength, but then again, do you know the strength of the blade? As others have said, breaking strength is probably not an issue for a snow anchor...

In reply to BlueTotem:

The copper ferrule will be related to using stainless steel ropes. You could also use galvanised steel rope for which you'd use an alu ferrule. There are lots of places yo could buy ferrules, the main thing is that you have to have a swaging tool which can form the ferrule correctly. As long as the correct ferrule and tool are used, they should meet the manufacturers specification. But thinking laterally, why not use a length of spectra cord? It'll be lighter and easier to source.

In reply to beardy mike:

That's a very good point. The weight issue alone makes it worthy of careful consideration. I'm just worried the holes in the shovel might be a little sharp on the inside. I'll try it, see what happens. Thanks for your help.

In reply to BlueTotem:
If you really want wire then try 'Jimmy Greens' or Petersen custom rigging. They cater for small 'rigging' requests and it won't cost the earth. Diy solution is to use a liros dyneema cord. however whilst the cord is exceptionally strong (it'll probably exceed the failure load on your proposed fluke) I'd be cautious where it passes through the holes unless adequate grommets are fitted.

In reply to BlueTotem:

Not sure if you're still after it, but if you go on here and select one of the top three rigging ends, you'll be able to make something up fairly cheapish.

https://www.jimmygreen.co.uk/item/996/3mm-1x19-stainless-steel-wire-standin...

In reply to RyanOsborne:

Thanks very much for your advice. I did go with Jimmy Green in the end - it looks good.