[TowerTalk] wrapping a big grip on phillystran - Tension

[Dick Green WC1M]

I found it was somewhat easier to wrap the Phillystran if it was being held
straight, under light tension. This freed up both hands to wrap the two legs
more or less simultaneously after the first few wraps (which are done one
leg at a time.) It was also more convenient to have both hands available
when jockying the last turn neatly onto the Philly, which almost always
required a screwdriver to straighten the strands.

I rigged the setup by extending the Philly a few inches past the thimble and
clamping it with a small Klein grip attached to a hook in the garage wall. I
had a friend grab the other end of the Philly a foot or so past the end of
the grip and pull it taut while I wrapped. Very little tension was applied,
just enough to keep the material straight. After wrapping, I cut off the
excess Philly so that it ended inside the thimble area, with enough exposed
to epoxy the end cap in place. That way, the section of Philly that had been
gripped was discarded.

A couple of times, when my friend wasn't available, I put another Klein grip
at the other end of the Philly, a few inches past the desired guy length.
That grip was attached to a come-along, which in turn was attached to the
end of the towing hook on my car out in the driveway (which, at 1100+ feet,
is more than long enough to accommodate tower guys!) I used the come-along
to put very light tension on the Philly. I cut off and discarded the portion
of Philly that had been gripped at both ends. Of course, once I had a grip
installed at one end, I could connect that end to the come-along directly to
provide tension for putting a grip on the other end.

The whole thing probably cost me less than 10 feet of Philly that had to be
discarded.

73, Dick WC1M



> -----Original Message-----
> From: W3YY [mailto:w3yy at cox.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 11:11 AM
> To: TowerTalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] wrapping a big grip on phillystran - Tension
> 
> 
> Tensioning the Phillystran is a good point if you find it easier to
> install
> the guy grips with the Phillystran held tight, but it is not a
> requirement.
> Phillystran recommends tensioning only as an option and I confirmed
> that on
> the phone this morning with Phillystran.  Grips installed without the
> Phillystran under tension work just as well and mine have lasted 6
> years
> without any slipping whatsoever.  In fact the Phillystran installation
> bulletin drawings even show the grips being installed on untensioned
> cable.
> 
> In my case, I didn't have or want to rig some kind of tensioning
> device (no
> welding bench here, HI) so I just installed the grips as shown on my
> web
> site.  Personally I didn't find the lack of tension to be any problem
> at
> all, but do what you find easiest.
> 
> 73, Bob - W3YY
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Roger (K8RI) [mailto:K8RI-on-TowerTalk at tm.net]
> Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 4:09 AM
> To: W3YY
> Cc: TowerTalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] wrapping a big grip on phillystran
> 
> W3YY wrote:
> >
> > Steve -
> >
> > You can see step-by-step pictures on my web site www.w3yy.com.  The
> > pictures are contained in the Projects section under Phillystran.
> The
> > direct URL is http://www.w3yy.com/phillystran_assembly-1.htm  That
> > will be the first picture.  Click "Next Step" to see the next
> picture,
> etc.
> >
> 
> You missed one very important part as recommended by the company: The
> cable
> should be under tension when the grip is installed.  I was able to use
> a
> comealong to pull the guy tight and then wrap the end.  Of course
> while
> figuring out how to do this I managed to slide my welding bench half
> way out
> the shop door.
> 
> Roger (K8RI)
> > 73, Bob - W3YY
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: towertalk-bounces at contesting.com
> > [mailto:towertalk-bounces at contesting.com] On Behalf Of Steve Litwins
> > Sent: Tuesday, November 11, 2008 11:23 PM
> > To: TowerTalk at contesting.com
> > Subject: [TowerTalk] wrapping a big grip on phillystran
> >
> > Guys (no pun intended);
> > I have the Phillystran bul. 105-2/06 telling how to wrap a big grip
> > onto the Phillystran...but...having never seen one done nor seen a
> > completed one I am a bit hesitant to start.  I have looked at stuff
> offered on the IN as well.
> > I can't seem to figure which get wrapped onto what...rope onto grip
> or
> > the opposite.  What are the painted marks for?  Splitting the grip
> at the
> end??
> > Anybody feel like guiding me through this?  Much obliged for any
> > assistance...73/dx steve, k8wk
> > ***********
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TowerTalk mailing list
> > TowerTalk at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > TowerTalk mailing list
> > TowerTalk at contesting.com
> > http://lists.contesting.com/mailman/listinfo/towertalk
> >
> >
> 
>