Information on Seizing Steel Wire Rope - Why and How to Perform it.

Steel Wire Rope Seizing

Seizing Steel Wire Rope is a common procedure being done during daily steel wire-rope slings manufacturing / production, but why do this? one may ask...

Seizing can prevent the unlaying/ loosening of the steel wire rope strands (brooming) when we perform cutting on the wire rope, as such binding of a wire material (also known as seizing wire) on each side of the wire rope (to be cut) is usually necessary.

The seizing wire should be soft or annealed and the dimension to be used varies with the wire rope's diameter & construction.

It should also be noted that not performing or improper seizing may result in flattening, distortion to wire ropes and also possibility of  uneven load distribution to wire ropes, that results in shortening the lifespan of the wire rope.

Steel Wire Rope Seizing Procedure

Prior to the procedure proper, determining the seize wire size is important. Steps as follow:  

Rules of Thumb to Sizing / Calculating Seize Wire

• Number of seizing to be applied ~ 3X diameter of wire rope
• Width of each seizing ~ 1 to 1.5X diameter of wire rope
• Seizing should be spaced a distance 2X diameter of the wire rope

For ease of visualising and applying the rules of thumb,  we'll use an example to go through the calculation.

Sample Calculation: 1/2 inch steel wire rope (example)

• Number of seizing to be applied ~ 3x diameter of wire rope:
  • 3x ½ inch-diameter wire rope = 1 1/2 inches; Round up - use 2 seizings
• Width of each seizing ~ 1 to 1.5x diameter of wire rope:
  • 1x ½ inch-diameter rope = ½ inch; 1.5x ½ inch-diameter rope = ¾ inch (seizing width: ½ - ¾ inch)
• ​​​​Seizing should be spaced a distance 2X diameter of the wire rope:
  • 2x ½ inch-diameter rope = 1 inch; Seizing space = 1 inch apart
     

Steel Wire Rope Seizing Procedure 

For steel wire rope >2.5mm 

1. Place seizing wire in the groove between the 2 wire strands^*1 
2. Bend the long-end around the wire rope in counter-clockwise direction^*2
3. Wind the seize wire tightly and closely over itself and the wire rope
4. Trace all the way back to the seizing wire starting point or when the seizing length has reached.
5. Twist both the ends of seizing wire alternately in a pulling and twisting manner to tighten the seizing

Note:  Refer to Illustration below: Steel Wire Rope Seizing Procedure Card for  ^*1 *2 

For steel wire rope <2.5mm 

1. Wind the seize wire tightly and closely over the wire rope till the seizing length has reached
2. Twist both the ends of seizing wire alternately in a pulling and twisting manner to tighten the seizing

Finding it hard to follow? Check out the Procedure Cards below to follow through the steps :)  

Seize Wire Sizing Procedure Card

Steel Wire Rope Seizing Procedure Card

Any further question/ doubts? feel free to contact us on any enquires on steel wire rope treatment for your required application. 

Looking for any Steel Wire Ropes for your project? Do check out the Steel Wire Ropes that STL carries.

LINK:  STL - STEEL WIRE ROPES