The lifetime of your wire rope depends on it receiving proper care and protection. For the wire rope to work efficiently, you need to keep up with the maintenance; and proper installation. Also, make sure you are following the guidelines provided by the manufacturer. Here are some protection tips!
Protection Tips
The first tip is proper installation. If you don’t install your wire ropes properly from the start, it won’t matter how much maintenance you do to fix them, they will not last long. When you go to install your wire rope, make sure there are no twists in the rope system. To ensure there are no twists you should handle the cable from the reel or coil. Then, you want to spool the wire together tight and close with wraps.
The second tip to keep in mind is, when you have finished installing your wire rope, you want to break it in. One of the best ways to break in your rope is to run it a few times without a load. When you start to add loads, you want to add them at controlled loads and speeds. The strands and wires will automatically adjust themselves when the loads are controlled.
The last tip is to make sure you keep up with proper maintenance on your wire rope. Maintaining your rope is the best protection. All wire ropes require lubrication. There are three choices of lubrication to pick from coating lubricants, penetrating lubricants, and environmentally friendly lubricants.
The 3 Types of Lubricants
The type of lubrication you choose will depend on your needs. Coating and penetrating lubricants both have different properties, here are their differences:
Coating Lubricants
A coating lubricant will slightly penetrate the wire rope and at the same time, seal the outside of the cable from moisture. This will reduce the wear, rust, and corrosion on your rope. A few examples of coating lubricants are Almasol Coating Grease, Almasol Coating Lubricant, and Almasol Syn Coating Lubricant.
Penetrating Lubricants
Penetrating lubricants differ from coating lubricants because they contain an evaporative solvent that facilitates the migration of the lubricant into the core of the wire. When it reaches the core it evaporates and leaves a heavy lubricating film that lubricates each strand to protect it. Examples of penetrating lubricants include Monolec Penetrating Lubricant and Low Tox Penetrating Lubricant.
Environmentally Friendly Lubricants
There is no exact definition for the term ‘environmentally friendly,’ but factors such as eco-toxicity and biodegradability must be taken into consideration. Lubricants that are petroleum-based are a bit of an environmental concern because large quantities have been disposed of irresponsibly. If a lubricant is biodegradable, bio-based or green, it is deemed as environmentally friendly.
Biodegradable refers to the chemical degradation of the substance. If a lubricant is bio-based, it means the fatty acids used to make the grease thicker qualify as being bio-based even if it in itself is not biodegradable. Lastly, if a lubricant is green, means they may contain vegetable oil and don’t use heavy metals or other potentially toxic substances.
Silver State Wire and Rope
If you are looking to purchase wire rope or wondering what are the best ways to protect your wire rope to get the most use out of them, call the experts at Silver State Wire and Rope! Check out our product catalog, and if you have a need that isn’t addressed on our website, we’d love to help!