[TowerTalk] Re: Kellum Grips/THHN wire

[Bill Coleman AA4LR]

On 8/5/97 5:21 AM, Scott Bullock at twoway@scoden.ma.ultranet.com wrote:

>BTW for those interested in how it's done, you take the THHN wire and wrap
>it several times around cable and supporting member, then take pair of blunt
>nosed pliers and twist the two legs tightly for an inch or so, then cut the
>excess off and push the tail so it faces down, and voila down 3-5' and do it
>all again.

I was just thinking that a special tool might be handy here. In the 
aviation world, whatever bolts aren't held with locking fasteners or 
cotter pins are safety wired. To make safety wire installations clean and 
consistant, there's a special kind of pliers with long handles, a lock 
and a knob on the end.

Basically, you put the ends of the wire into the jaws, squeeze until the 
handles come together then lock them. Then you pull the knob, which puts 
about 7 even twists into the wires. Release and pull again, 7 more 
twists. Repeat until the wire is twisted as much as you need, then 
release, and use the built-in cutters to trim off the excess.

My set of pliers is probably too short (6") to allow the handles to flex 
enough to close on 14 guage wire. But others are typically 8-10" long, 
and might be useful, especially up on the tower.



Bill Coleman, AA4LR, PP-ASEL        Mail: aa4lr@radio.org
Quote: "Not in a thousand years will man ever fly!"
            -- Wilbur Wright, 1901


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