Which leadout wire rope?

[steven yampolsky]

I am completely lost in McMaster-Carr catalogs.    Which rope should I get for the leadout wire?(.60 size)?

[Randy Cuberly]

Stainless Steel, .031 Nominal OD, 7 or more strands.
Can't be more specific at the moment...can't find my catalog...think someone borrowed it!

Randy Cuberly

[Mike Haverly]

I get lead out cable (wire rope) from a sporting goods store.  Downrigger cable comes in several sizes, I get 150 lb. rated which measures .027 and have never had a failure.  The price is less than $20.00 for 200 feet.  I buy mine locally, but here is link for you non-fishermen.  http://www.sportco.com/store/pc/Scotty-Premium-Stainless-Steel-Downrigger-Cable-W-Terminal-Kit-From-18-04-756p42512.htm 

[Al Rabe]

Since returning to modeling in 1999, all of my leadouts came attached to bellcranks made by Tom Morris.  I never found a need to improve his product.

Al

[Dave_Trible]

Melvin Schuette sells .027 on spools whatever length at MBS model supply-very reasonable.

Dave

[Brad Smith]

I use the Brodak lead out kits they are complete

[Randy Ryan]

http://www.mcmaster.com/#standard-wire-rope/=k9goc2

Sorry, this link doesn't take you all the way. Look for Stainless, under 1/8", 7 strand

.027 is good to 125lbs

$.07 a foot, 50 foot min

[dirty dan]

The option I prefer is to simply buy a set of lines from SIG every few years. While I don't know who uses them to actually fly with, a reel of .027" x 70' will keep one in good leadout material for quite a spell.

Dan
 

[Howard Rush]

The leadouts in my current dog are kinda rough, so it has more friction than it should.  I recently got some .027" 7-strand, some .031" 7-strand, and some .031" 19-strand from McMaster-Carr.  The 19-strand is noticeably smoother.  I'll use it next time.  My next plane will have access allowing leadouts to be changed easily, so if strands start breaking it won't be a big deal. Nylon-coated cable, in case you are inclined to try it, snags on brass leadout tubes. 

[Randy Cuberly]

The leadouts in my current dog are kinda rough, so it has more friction than it should.  I recently got some .027" 7-strand, some .031" 7-strand, and some .031" 19-strand from McMaster-Carr.  The 19-strand is noticeably smoother.  I'll use it next time.  My next plane will have access allowing leadouts to be changed easily, so if strands start breaking it won't be a big deal. Nylon-coated cable, in case you are inclined to try it, snags on brass leadout tubes.  

Yeah Howard...when I went out to the shop and checked my 100 ft spool from Mcmaster-Carr it says it's .031, 19 strand stainless.  I've used about 20% of the spool and it works great.
For what it's worth I tried some testing on the nylon coated stuff a number of years ago (didn't really get far enough to have it stick in brass tubes) and had problems with the crimps slipping.  Tried wrapping with wire and it was worse.  The closure loops invariably slipped at about 1/3 of the breaking point for the uncoated wire of the same size.  I say breaking point because I could never get any of the crimps to slip on the uncoated wire.

Randy Cuberly
PS:  The testing was done on a precision dynamometer at Raytheon...don't tell them please...

[Howard Rush]

Thanks, Randy.  I was a little hesitant about using the 19-strand.  Now I might even change the leadouts on my current dog to 19-strand-- the one I can get at, anyhow.