How to Make a Wire Rope Sling

Wire rope slings usually start with a small loop at both ends of the wire rope. The most common sling type is called a “choker hitch.” With that sling one loop is passed through another to form a larger loop that tightens around the load. The key element in all slings is the small loop at both ends of the wire rope, and there are two ways to make those small loops. You can either braid an “eye-splice” into the wire rope or you can use a mechanical device called a wedge socket. Eye splices have about 90 percent of the strength of the original wire rope; wedge sockets about 80 percent.

Things You'll Need

  • Chisel
  • Gloves
  • Wire clip
  • Open end wrench
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on gloves. Begin an eye splice by unbraiding all the strands at one end of length of wire rope. The rope should be about ten percent longer than the diameter of the choker hitch you intend to rig, or long enough to allow the alternative rig you intend to use. Unbraid the wire rope so that the loose strands are about five inches longer than the circumference of the loop you intend to make.

    • 2

      Separate all strands including the wire rope core strand into two equal parts. Wire ropes have an uneven number of braided strands and one unbraided core strand. If your wire rope has seven braided strands divide all the rope strands into two bunches of four strands each.

    • 3

      Tie the two bunches together with an overhand knot. Tie the knot where the top of the loop or eye will be. The knot will keep the wire rope from unbraiding further.

    • 4

      Re-braid each strand of the unbraided rope into the intact section of the wire rope beginning just above the overhand knot. Open the braids in the intact rope with a chisel wide enough to allow the insertion of each strand. Alternate braiding strands from each bunch of strands.

    • 5

      Fasten the loose, or “bitter,” ends of the unbraided section of the wire rope to the intact rope with a “wire clip,” which is a device with a frame and a U-shaped bolt. Both ends of this bolt penetrate holes in the frame and are secured with nuts that fit each end of the bolt.

    • 6

      Tighten the nuts at each end of this bolt using an open end wrench.

    • 7

      Repeat the above steps to tie an eye splice in the opposite end of the wire rope section.

    • 8

      Rig a choker hitch sling by passing one small loop through the other to form a large loop.