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3,200m of 13mm steel cable for $49

Original Post
20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346

Talk about a good deal. Build that next 3.2km long zipline!

graysonline.com/lot/1880-50…

eli poss · · Durango, CO · Joined May 2014 · Points: 525

theres no way this shit is strong enough for a zip-line... either that or it has something illegal to it.

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
eli poss wrote:theres no way this shit is strong enough for a zip-line... either that or it has something illegal to it.
Quick Google search shows 18-8 1/2" stainless steel cable holds roughly 22000 lbf. That's plenty strong normally, although at that length I would be worried about the cable failing under its own weight.

It's $49 because that's the opening bid and no one has bided on it because no one wants the cable. This is not exactly unheard of. I have seen stuff that could be worth $250,000 new go for less than $10,000 on that site. Not everyone needs a million pounds of some random material that is used.
eli poss · · Durango, CO · Joined May 2014 · Points: 525
20 kN wrote: Quick Google search shows 18-8 1/2" stainless steel cable holds roughly 22000 lbf. That's plenty strong normally, although at that length I would be worried about the cable failing under its own weight. It's $49 because that's the opening bid and no one has bided on it because no one wants the cable. This is not exactly unheard of. I have seen stuff that could be worth $250,000 new go for less than $10,000 on that site. Not everyone needs a million pounds of some random material that is used.
Really? because ive looked at some cable at the hardware store incase one of my stoppers ends up outliving its wire and, if my memory serves me correctly, the 1" stuff was more like 2200 WLL. i don't remember what material it was but my guess is that it wasn't stainless if .5" can hold 22k lbf
20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
eli poss wrote: Really? because ive looked at some cable at the hardware store incase one of my stoppers ends up outliving its wire and, if my memory serves me correctly, the 1" stuff was more like 2200 WLL. i don't remember what material it was but my guess is that it wasn't stainless if .5" can hold 22k lbf
The hardware store is not going to sell 1" aircraft grade steel cable... That's industrial level, special order thickness. We are talking winch cables for semi truck wreckers here. The thickest I have ever seen the hardware sell store sell is maybe 3/8", and it was not stainless steel. Also, 1" stainless steel cable can hold roughly 90,000 lbf.

secosouth.com/mm5/merchant.…
Morgan Patterson · · NH · Joined Oct 2009 · Points: 8,945
John Marsella wrote:Would this make good cordolettes though is the real question.
PERMADRAWS GALOR!!!
slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103
20 kN wrote: Quick Google search shows 18-8 1/2" stainless steel cable holds roughly 22000 lbf. That's plenty strong normally, although at that length I would be worried about the cable failing under its own weight.
no problem, although a 3.2km line at 22000lbs tension would have about 418 feet of sag at the midpoint under it's own weight... guess you would want to set it up over a deep canyon.
germsauce Epstein · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jun 2010 · Points: 55

is that enough cable to get from the top of the 1st flatiron to the bar via zipline?

Scott McMahon · · Boulder, CO · Joined Feb 2006 · Points: 1,425
germsauce wrote:is that enough cable to get from the top of the 1st flatiron to the bar via zipline?
Now we are getting somewhere!!!!
Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665
eli poss wrote: ...and, if my memory serves me correctly, the 1" stuff was more like 2200 WLL.
Better recheck the memory!
caes.uga.edu/departments/ba…
The Call Of K2 Lou · · Squamish, BC · Joined Mar 2012 · Points: 20

Anyone happen to notice it's pick-up only? And that it's located in Australia?

Mikey Seaman · · Boise, ID · Joined Sep 2010 · Points: 5

His name was Robert Paulson.

20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
slim wrote: no problem, although a 3.2km line at 22000lbs tension would have about 418 feet of sag at the midpoint under it's own weight... guess you would want to set it up over a deep canyon.
Except 22000 lbs tension would break the cable. To stay within the SWL you would need no more than 2200 lbs tension, which is physically impossible considering the cable weighs almost double that.
20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
The Call Of K2 Lou wrote:Anyone happen to notice it's pick-up only? And that it's located in Australia?
I am sure you could get someone to ship it over for you. Money talks.
slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103
20 kN wrote: Except 22000 lbs tension would break the cable. To stay within the SWL you would need no more than 2200 lbs tension, which is physically impossible considering the cable weighs almost double that.
an FOS of 10? that's getting a little out of hand. 1/2" likely wouldn't break at 22k, though i wouldn't want to bet my life on it...
20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
slim wrote: an FOS of 10? that's getting a little out of hand.
That's the industry standard for life support gear. Typically static lines rated for 6000 lbf have an SWL of 600 lbs when used in rope access work. I have even heard of 15:1 standards in some cases. Overhead lifting uses 7:1 to 10:1 when the object being lifted is running over an occupied structure. Otherwise the standard is 5:1 or 6:1 depending on the company, and that is for non-life-critical lifting.
Tony B · · Around Boulder, CO · Joined Jan 2001 · Points: 24,665

Well, depending on the steel, as well, there is also a fatigue life load Vs new load rating...
But... you know. I don't think anything climbers use is 10:1 Vs a hard fall.

slim · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Dec 2004 · Points: 1,103
20 kN wrote: That's the industry standard for life support gear. Typically static lines rated for 6000 lbf have an SWL of 600 lbs when used in rope access work. I have even heard of 15:1 standards in some cases. Overhead lifting uses 7:1 to 10:1 when the object being lifted is running over an occupied structure. Otherwise the standard is 5:1 or 6:1 depending on the company, and that is for non-life-critical lifting.
what industry do you work in that requires 10:1 or 15:1? lifting nuclear power plants over daycare centers where the kids play with endangered baby seals?

having designed and reviewed a lot of rigging/lifting plans, i haven't ever seen anything over 6:1. besides, very few lifting accidents are the result of something breaking. it is usually operator error (using damaged equipment, not staying within the boom envelope, forgetting there is a powerline behind you, etc).
Chris Rice · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jan 2013 · Points: 55

It sold for $599

Dan Felix · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Aug 2012 · Points: 35
slim wrote: what industry do you work in that requires 10:1 or 15:1?
NFPA standards require 10:1 for rope rescue I believe. And it's been a while but ANSI Z133 (standard for arborists if memory serves) also states 10:1 for life support.

Hell, even 1" webbing exceeds a 10:1 safety factor for most average people....
20 kN · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Feb 2009 · Points: 1,346
slim wrote: what industry do you work in that requires 10:1 or 15:1? lifting nuclear power plants over daycare centers where the kids play with endangered baby seals? having designed and reviewed a lot of rigging/lifting plans, i haven't ever seen anything over 6:1. besides, very few lifting accidents are the result of something breaking. it is usually operator error (not staying within the boom envelope, forgetting there is a powerline behind you, etc).
Standard rope access. There is a reason why we use 60kN steel carabiners to lift a dude with a broken leg that weighs 170 lbs. Overhead lifting is typically 5:1 to 7:1 as I said previousaly. 5:1 or 6:1 for standard lifting, and sometimes 7:1 where a load failure would be really, really bad such as lifting 50 I-beams 1000' over NYC rush hour traffic. I cant speak for every company, but when I worked as welder we had to use 7:1 anytime the failure of the sling or shackle would "likely result in death."

I'll leave you with these videos:

youtube.com/watch?v=EvnPQ2s…

youtube.com/watch?v=hfh2yOb…

First video seems like something out of The Office.
Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

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