[TowerTalk] Coiling cables

[Bob K6UJ]

I am always having problems when I lower my tower and let the coax lines and rotor cable coil up on the ground.
I have been trying to form big 4 foot or so diameter coils and still always have problems.
I will try the figure 8 flake and see how things go.   
Thanks for sharing this you guys !

Bob
K6UJ



On Aug 13, 2013, at 5:53 AM, Patrick Greenlee wrote:

> Flaking is especially useful for items with a neutral lay. Cordage with a right or left hand twist like common 3 strand can be a pain if not handled correctly.  Little things like taking the cordage off the spool by rotating the spool versus taking it off the side of a stationary spool like an open faced spinning reel makes a huge difference.  We rag sailors tend to get "into" the topic  a bit more that the average lubber.
> 
> Patrick AF5CK
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- From: Jim Lux
> Sent: Monday, August 12, 2013 11:12 PM
> To: towertalk at contesting.com
> Subject: Re: [TowerTalk] Coiling cables
> 
> On 8/12/13 9:01 PM, Grant Saviers wrote:
>> or the "figure 8 flake", very useful when the "cable" is too heavy to
>> hold, such as the bundle of cables when lowering a crank up, 200' of
>> garden hose, or a 1" mooring line.  There is no twist put in the cable.
>> Saw this also used by a fiber-optic underground pull team. They
>> unspooled way more than a thousand feet and figure 8 flaked it, 30'
>> long, I guess so they could control the tension by hand instead of
>> pulling from the 5' diameter reel.  Light cables can be 8 flaked by
>> holding one loop.
>> 
> 
> or steam lines from a boiler or air hoses from a big compressor. Do much
> work in an industrial setting dragging stuff around and you learn this.
> I learned it doing special effects work on set and location.
> 
> Also works for climbing ropes at an intermediate belay stance.   Either
> on the ground, or between your knees, and then onto the ground.
> 
> The other thing you learn for the above is how to coil a rope/cable/hose
> with alternating twists, holding the coil in one hand, and coiling with
> the spare hand.
> 
> They all become second nature in a month or two.
> 
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