Cable Construction, Strength, Steel Cable Material Type, E-Rigging 5 Star Rating System Guides
CABLE CONSTRUCTION GUIDE
- Very Flexible
- Excellent Strength
- Fatigue Resistant
- Resists Crushing
Commonly used on small diameter pulleys, running rigging on sailboats, exercise equipment, winches and control cables. 7x19 is the best all around cable for most applications.
- Not Flexible
- Best for Cable Railings
- Stronger than 7 x 19 cable
- Good for Sailboat Rigging
- Suitable for guying applications
- Doesn't kink
Commonly used on cable railings, stationary rigging on sailboats, guy wires and push pull control cables. 1x19 is best suited for stationary applications.
- Stiffer than 7x19, more flexible than 1x19
- Stainless 7x7 commonly used for cable railings, and marine applications
- Diameters less than 1/8" exhibit great balance of flexibility and strength
Small diameter 7x7 cable is great for use on pulleys and general use when diameters are needed smaller than available in 7x19 construction. Coated Stainless 7x7 cable is commonly used in marine applications or cable railings, while the galvanized offerings are used in general industry and agriculture.
6 x 19 Construction
- Flexible in relation to diameter
- Excellent Strength
- Excellent Abrasion Resistance
- Resists Crushing
Each 6x19 wire rope strand begins with one large center wire that is covered by a layer of nine smaller wires and then an outside layer of nine larger wires. The 6x19 wire rope has larger outer wires than 7x19 which adds to an increased abrasion resistance but also decreases its fatigue resistance. This rope can stand up against abrasion or crushing on the drum.
CABLE STRENGTH GUIDE
NOTE: These are the listed Working Load Limits of each cable type and size.
STEEL CABLE MATERIAL TYPE GUIDE
Zinc (galvanized) coated steel cable is the most common type of cable. It offers moderate corrosion resistance, and remains ductile over long periods when running over sheaves. Galvanized cable is stronger than stainless steel cable.
304 stainless steel cable (also known as 18-8) is the most common type of stainless steel cable. It offers better corrosion resistance, but lower strength than galvanized cable.
Learn all about Stainless Steel with our Stainless Steel Knowledge Base
316 stainless steel cable offers the most corrosion resistance and is ideal for marine environments, but lower strength than Type 304 stainless steel and galvanized cable.
Learn all about Stainless Steel with our Stainless Steel Knowledge Base
This is galvanized cable with a clear vinyl coating. It provides additional corrosion resistance, high flexibility, superior appearance and abrasion resistance.
Vinyl Coated 304 Stainless Steel
This is 304 stainless steel cable with a clear vinyl coating. It provides additional corrosion resistance, high flexibility, superior appearance and abrasion resistance.
E-Rigging Cable Feature Comparison Chart
| Cable Type | Corrosion Resistance | Flexibility | Strength | Ductility & Fatigue Resistance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 x 19 Galvanized Cable | 2/5 Stars | 5/5 Stars | 5/5 Stars | 5/5 Stars |
| 7 x 19 Vinyl Coated Galvanized Cable | 3/5 Stars | 4/5 Stars | 5/5 Stars | 5/5 Stars |
| 7 x 19 Type 304 Stainless Steel Cable | 4/5 Stars | 4/5 Stars | 4/5 Stars | 4/5 Stars |
| 7 x 19 Type 304 Vinyl Coated Stainless Steel Cable | 4/5 Stars | 3/5 Stars | 4/5 Stars | 4/5 Stars |
| 7 x 19 Type 316 Stainless Steel Cable | 5/5 Stars | 3/5 Stars | 3/5 Stars | 3/5 Stars |
| 1 x 19 Type 316 Stainless Steel Cable | 5/5 Stars | 1/5 Stars | 4/5 Stars | 2/5 Stars |
| 7 x 7 Hot Dip Galvanized Cable | 2/5 Stars | 2/5 Stars | 5/5 Stars | 5/5 Stars |
| 6 x 19 IWRC Galvanized Wire Rope | 2/5 Stars | 3/5 Stars | 5/5 Stars | 5/5 Stars |
E-Rigging 5 Star Rating System
You'll see E-Rigging's 5-Star rating system throughout our site. We rate the cable's properties in relation to each other.