Joining stainless rope / cable

[dashed]

Not sure this it the correct section for this post, but I only have an arc welder so seemed a decent place to start!

I've got some 8mm ish stainless rope that I want to form some loops at the end of to make a simple security cable. A quick bash with the welder and 2mm rods highlighted to flaw in my simple plan - it just burned through the cable and made a right mess! The individual strands are clearly very fine and won't take any heat at all.

Any thoughts on a very simple way of forming a secure loop in the end? Only needs to be large enough to accept a padlock.

 

[123hotchef]

you can get crimps for it

 

[voipio]

Get a fid and splice the rope.

Alternatively, use silver solder.

 

[Migmac]

Bit of pipe over the wire, then splice an eye in. Slide the pipe down an hammer it flat over the splice

 

[dashed]

Can I silver solder with a normal plumbing blowtorch? Only ever done lead soldering before but that sounds like a tidy option.

At 8mm it's really hard to work with and bend so splicing is unlikely to happen. Very springy stuff!!

 

[voipio]

A plumbing blowtorch should be enough, but some firebrick behind, to retain/reflect the heat, will make it easier. Also, the flux you will need to use will be borax-based.

 

[Pete.]

Why not just get some 8mm cable crimps the type that are a u-bent bar with a keeper plate and two nuts to clamp it all up? Once it's done weld the nuts to the bars.

 

[armalites]

Check out https://www.gsproducts.co.uk/

They have everything you need.

That said, there is nothing very secure about some 8mm cable with a padlock through it.

 

[Agroshield]

Alternatively, use silver solder.

From the silver solder's point of view, will the rope not be grossly contaminated with the lubricant used when it is first drawn and then woven/spun? It might need some serious cleaning to get the solder to take.

 

[hotponyshoes]

You can get eye fittings that "crimp" on just by doing the 2 halves up with a spanner.
Not particularly secure but a burglar is more likely to come armed with a cordless grinder than a pair of spanners the right size anyway...

 

[dashed]

It's to secure a relatively low value item in the middle of a wood so only about deterring opportunists / general public from fiddling rather than anyone intent on nicking it. I've used similar (pre made) cables elsewhere for years so was just trying to be a cheapskate and make a couple of cables from stuff I had lying around rather than buy them pre made or have to buy fittings etc

 

[hotponyshoes]

Have you not got a bit of stainless tube knocking about then?
Or even a bit of any old tube?

Just bend a loop and make a rough crimp with a short bit of tube and a hammer

 

[dashed]

Have you not got a bit of stainless tube knocking about then?
Or even a bit of any old tube?

Just bend a loop and make a rough crimp with a short bit of tube and a hammer

Sadly not. Loads of bits of bar, box section etc but none in stainless and no tube. It’ll be outside 365 days a year so stainless makes sense but not the end of the world.

 

[voipio]

The required crimp tool can be quite impressive. See the pic about half way down the page in the link:

Wire Rope Ferrules | Talurit Crimps | Wire Rope Shop

Our Steel Wire Rope Ferrules & Crimps are for forming eyes & stops on stainless & galvanised wire rope, made by industry leaders TALURIT - Wire Rope Shop

www.wireropeshop.co.uk