How to Rig a Wedge Socket

A wedge socket is an easier alternative to braiding an eye splice on the end of a metal cable or wire rope. The point of both eye splices and wedge sockets is to put a small loop or eye at the end of a cable. Commonly, but not always, the cable is attached to a crane or a pulley. Workers or sailors can fasten a hook to or pass another cable through this terminal eye. Wedge sockets thread the supporting cable through a tapered socket, around a wedge and out of the socket again. The heavier the load applied to the cable, the more upward force is applied to the wedge and the tighter the cable is locked in the device.

Instructions

    • 1

      Insert at least 1 foot of cable or wire rope into the socket following the instructions engraved on the wedge. The cable end that goes into the socket is called the "dead end." The end that goes to the crane or pulley is called the "live end."

    • 2

      Lay the cable in the indentation on the bottom (broad end) of the wedge and feed the dead end of the cable back through the socket. Feed the cable into the socket so the dead end of the cable is at the front or angled end of the socket and the live end of the cable is at the back or straight end of the socket.

    • 3

      Pull up on both the live and dead ends of the cable while simultaneously pulling down on the socket to seat the wedge. Ensure that at least 6 inches of the dead end of the cable is above the edge socket.

    • 4

      Hold the live end of the cable and look at the wedge socket. If the straight end of the socket hangs straight under the live cable the socket is installed correctly. If the straight end of the socket hangs at an angle under the live end of the cable the positions of the live and dead ends of the cable in the socket probably need to be reversed. Do not attempt to support loads with incorrectly installed wedge sockets.