[TowerTalk] wrapping a big grip on phillystran

[k8isk at comcast.net]

FYI - 

One important point that I learned the hard way is the difference between Phillystran and EHS grips is the direction that the strands are wound. I put up a Rohn 45 tower for a friend and he ordered grips for EHS, which is what we were using for guys. The tower was completed and after the first big wind storm I got a panic call from him that the guys were all loose - the guys had slipped in the grips!!! Not living close to him, I advised him to get some good old cable clamps to cinch the grips down until I could get there and determine what happened. After examining the grips, they actually had a small label on them stating they were for Phillystran ONLY, but since I had never used Phillystran, I didn't know what the difference was. We called the place where we got the grips from and to their horror, they shipped us the wrong ones. After many apologies, they shipped the correct ones, I replaced them and all is well but it could have turned out much different. 

So when you look at EHS, the strands are twisted together to form the overall diameter (1/4" in this case) and the grips have to be wound or twisted in the same direction to grip properly. Phillystran must be wound the opposite direction or by design the grips are wound opposite and after comparing the two it is quite evident the difference.

I guess the moral of the story is NEVER take anything for granted. I guess if we had read the labels when we installed them, we would have known; but after installing hundreds of grips over the last 35 years without a single issue, it was a shock.

Terry