EHS cable tensioning

[MikePowers321]

Since i purely climb i have always been thinking of the most efficient yet simple way to tension EHS cable with the least amount of tools hanging off me. This has been working well using a cable grab and the cmi rope jack, neon sling around leader

 

[Jonny]

That’ll work nicely, and it’s cool having tools on hand that serve more than one purpose.

We always used a steel cable come-along and while I’m sure we COULD’VE found other uses for it on a job, it only came out for cable jobs. Bulky and cumbersome, and frankly overkill in my opinion.
I got a homemade RopeJack from an old pair of hand ascenders, I’m very impressed how much tension can be applied from such a short lever.

 

[MikePowers321]

Yup. I was trying my best to avoid a whole come along. Rope jack is a cool tool to have for light-medium tensioning. Thanks jb holdway

 

[oldoakman]

I use one of the cable deadends attached mid span or so on the cable with the last 2 wraps undone to hook the comealong to. Eliminates the cable grip.

 

[flushcut]

What system are you using? Rigduy, Wedge Grip, line grips? For my own curiosity.

 

[colb]

Since i purely climb i have always been thinking of the most efficient yet simple way to tension EHS cable with the least amount of tools hanging off me. This has been working well using a cable grab and the cmi rope jack, neon sling around leader

Stick an Enforcer in there and you'd be even more fly.

 

[Reach]

We use a Klein grip and a Maasdam, unless it’s a really long cable or zipline; then out comes the big cable come a long.

 

[oldoakman]

I got my Havens Grip in a $15.00 junk box at an auction. It is probably 60 years old at this point.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I found my Havens left on a utility pole guy wire. Judging by the patina of rust on it the crew forgot it a couple of years before. A bit of penetrating oil and wire brush...score!

 

[LordFarkwad]

When y'all put the havens grip on the cable, do you allow the weight of the Maasdam/come-along to hold the grip on the cable until you get back to the Maasdam to operate it? Last time I used mine (which was also the first time), I had a time keeping the HG on the cable until I had some tension applied. There's no little latch or anything to keep the cable inside the HG when tension isn't being applied.

 

[Reach]

When y'all put the havens grip on the cable, do you allow the weight of the Maasdam/come-along to hold the grip on the cable until you get back to the Maasdam to operate it? Last time I used mine (which was also the first time), I had a time keeping the HG on the cable until I had some tension applied. There's no little latch or anything to keep the cable inside the HG when tension isn't being applied.

I think mine is just stiff enough to stay closed and hang on the cable, I’ve never had trouble with it falling off a cable.

 

[MikePowers321]

I think mine is just stiff enough to stay closed and hang on the cable, I’ve never had trouble with it falling off a cable.

mine too

could always just use a prussik with throwline or thin cordage on the cable and connect to your saddle while you make your way over to the finishing anchor point

 

[LordFarkwad]

mine too

could always just use a prussik with throwline or thin cordage on the cable and connect to your saddle while you make your way over to the finishing anchor point

Good idea

 

[Tony]

I just tension the through bolts. Just need a wrench.

Tony

 

[Reach]

I just tension the through bolts. Just need a wrench.

Tony

That works too, but long spans the cable gets a little heavy by itself, and the Klein grip makes pulling and holding it to terminate it a bit easier.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Old Oak Man shared a clever idea ...use a cable grip as an anchor for your tensioner.

one caution

Deadeye grips are single use items. The crystal crust is an adhesive of sorts. The makers installation go into more details about single use

my guess is that one grip could be used as an anchor for tensioning many times though

 

[Tony]

That works too, but long spans the cable gets a little heavy by itself, and the Klein grip makes pulling and holding it to terminate it a bit easier.

I used a havens grip and come-along for years. Was O. K. Still will if cabling out of a lift. On long spans I will often use my climbing system(s) to tension the points together, then finish by snugging the through bolt.

Tony