Roll Swaging vs Copper Swage and Thimble

[Wotname]

Originally Posted by Dove

...... but that was with a stainless body turnbuckle, not a proper bronze body one like the ronstan.
.....

I won't be put off by an "unproper" satainless body turnbuckle - assuming it's a quality turnbuckle.

[David M]

For your application a nicopress fitting would work fine. They are not as elegant looking but then they are a lot less expensive.

I have one at the end of a stainless steel wire on a hydraulic cable winch. I have pretty much abused it for years, including shock loading it pulling very heavy things off the bottom. I have never had one fail.

[Dove]

That's sold me!!...
I figure the wire has a breaking strain of 2000kg, so as long as the turnbuckle is the same or more it should be sweet.
Double nicopress/ferrule/swage, for a bit of extra security and it should be sweet.
I'll take some photos when done and post them on the site.
Thanks to everyone for your fantastic input, see you out on the water!!!

[s/v Jedi]

There's something I don't understand, I hope someone can explain it to me. When you use those Nicopress crimps on stays or shrouds, the bitter end of the wire is facing up, isn't it? So how do you prevent water ingress into the wire that way?

cheers,
Nick.

[Dove]

I wouldn't think it mattered...i assume with a roll type swage water could find it's way down to the bottom of the terminal fitting and sit there too, at the end of the wire? At least with the nicopress i can keep an eye on the end of the wire!!!

[s/v Jedi]

Well.... no! A swage fitting is filled with sealant before it is swaged. A Norseman type fitting too, plus it can be opened for cleaning and re-sealing periodically.

If water gets into the wire (we're talking stainless steel, right?) you get corrosion. I think your best bet would be that "liquid whipping" stuff some people use for rope, but seal it, this is the most crucial part for keeping the wire good!

cheers,
Nick.

[Dove]

Cheers Nick, i'll use that liquid tape stuff, maybe coat the whole thing to be sure! It'd look tidier too...i use a similar type liquid sealer on all my electrics, lovely.

[hellosailor]

"So how do you prevent water ingress into the wire that way?" Traditionally by applying anhydrous lanolin (aka Lanocote) or oil, both of which can be soaked up by the jute or other fiber core in a cable.

Water gets in between the strands of standing rigging in any case, and migrates all the way through it. That's one reason why one meathook, one rust spot, is reason to suspect the entire cable. (You can't see what's going on inside it.)