John Slade Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I've been searching for some guy wire for my 25' mega tree and there is just WAY too many options! galvanized, stainless, aircraft... 1 x 7, 7 x 7, 7 x 19.... 1/16, 3/32, 1/8...Is less more or more is less? SO CONFUSED!!:?What do you guys use? Attached files Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimswinder Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I use 3/16" Galvanized Wire Rope...would have to look at it when I get home to see how it is bundled...It was on sale...1000' for $85...I guess you would need to know approximately what kind of load you think you might experience to get the correct size/weight... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Don Gillespie Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I dug a hole four feet deep and poured concrete (my wife still loves me ) insert a sleeve and my 20 foot angel sits in there, if you can't dig a hole ( my wife still loves me ) then refer to the above response from Jim it depends on your load but really its what you use for anchors that will bear the brunt of the wind so steel cable might be overkill and a simple nylon rope might work just as well, make sure what ever you are tying it off to is strong enough to hold a major wind storm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Slade Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 I'm planning on 48 strands of lights, strobes and a mega star. I do plan on digging a 3' foot hole with sleeve (hoping wife still loves me ) and anchoring the wire to 2- 16"x16"x36" fence pillars and to the house. We do get the very rare 40-50 mph wind gust here in the valley, but I'm just not sure on the wire strand count, size of wire or type of wire....THX for any and all advice!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Don Gillespie Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 John Slade wrote: I'm planning on 48 strands of lights, strobes and a mega star. I do plan on digging a 3' foot hole with sleeve (hoping wife still loves me ) and anchoring the wire to 2- 16"x16"x36" fence pillars and to the house. We do get the very rare 40-50 mph wind gust here in the valley, but I'm just not sure on the wire strand count, size of wire or type of wire....THX for any and all advice!!!Are you going to put concrete in the hole John? if you are make sure you go deep enough and bell out the bottom sounds like you have good strong anchors so your choice of wire becomes easier now airplane cable is more than likley your best bet make sure it is fastened correctly. good luck. ( PS I don't know if you are requred to call and get line locates so you don't hit any cable lines or water lines might want to check that out better to be safe than sorry) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimswinder Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 John Slade wrote: but I'm just not sure on the wire strand count, size of wire or type of wire....THX for any and all advice!!!go check out what Home Depot or Lowes has in stock...they will have the load strength on it somewhere...I might be wrong, must most of the weight of the lights are pulling the mast pretty much straight down, so the guy wires are there just to stabilize the mast...so not much weight will be exerted to them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I agree most of the weight will be straight down. Now depending on how many strings of lights you have around the tree. Will determine how it reacts with wind. Fuller the tree the more it will act like a solid wall to the wind. and if you have a topper and how it is made will determine how much wind load is present. And needless to say, the taller the more it will effect it.Frankly I would think that the 1x7 would be good enough for our use. I also recommend that you get those little things that look like a tear drop, that you use to protect the cable where it goes around an eyelet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JBullard Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 I would also advise against using nylon rope, it will stretch when the wind blows, setting up oscillations on the mask, leading to failure.Use a "metal" guy wire, with turnbuckles that you can keep tight and equal tension on, just my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Don Gillespie Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 JBullard wrote: I would also advise against using nylon rope, it will stretch when the wind blows, setting up oscillations on the mask, leading to failure.Use a "metal" guy wire, with turnbuckles that you can keep tight and equal tension on, just my opinion.Good point John, and Max paul brought a valid point also that I overlooked make sure the pole you are going to use will hold the wieght of the lights, Jim can attest to this, an aluminum pole may snap with all that wieght it will not matter what type of guy wires you are using. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimswinder Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 Don Gillespie wrote: Jim can attest to this, an aluminum pole may snap with all that wieght it will not matter what type of guy wires you are using.my aluminum pole had thin walls and had NOTHING to do with the weight of the lights (about 150lbs) but the weight of my streamers pulling it in down and out in one direction...hopefully replacing my streamers with CCB's will correct that problem... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis p Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 jimswinder wrote: John Slade wrote: but I'm just not sure on the wire strand count, size of wire or type of wire....THX for any and all advice!!!go check out what Home Depot or Lowes has in stock...they will have the load strength on it somewhere...its on the end of the spoolI might be wrong, must most of the weight of the lights are pulling the mast pretty much straight down, so the guy wires are there just to stabilize the mast...so not much weight will be exerted to them Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
travis p Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 guy wires i had a 70 foot ron 22 tower in my yard my dad and i put up in 1980 we used 5/16 gal strained wire the tower stood till it was removed in 2010 went tru 5 hurricanes i only lost the star off top of it twice this is just a personal thought i never use nylon rope for guying down ny yankees worst dog it streches way too much for me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Slade Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 Don Gillespie wrote:Are you going to put concrete in the hole John? if you are make sure you go deep enough and bell out the bottom sounds like you have good strong anchors so your choice of wire becomes easier now airplane cable is more than likley your best bet make sure it is fastened correctly. good luck. ( PS I don't know if you are requred to call and get line locates so you don't hit any cable lines or water lines might want to check that out better to be safe than sorry)Definitely going to use at least 3 bags of concrete (I'm a huge fan of overkill, thats why I'm here ) already had the yard blue staked (good call BTW!!) THANKSjimswinder wrote:go check out what Home Depot or Lowes has in stock...they will have the load strength on it somewhere...I might be wrong, must most of the weight of the lights are pulling the mast pretty much straight down, so the guy wires are there just to stabilize the mast...so not much weight will be exerted to themGood idea on HD or Lowes! I'm also considering using the 1/16 or thinner for the weber tree... so that should aid in support as well right??Max-Paul wrote:I agree most of the weight will be straight down. Now depending on how many strings of lights you have around the tree. Will determine how it reacts with wind. Fuller the tree the more it will act like a solid wall to the wind. and if you have a topper and how it is made will determine how much wind load is present. And needless to say, the taller the more it will effect it.Frankly I would think that the 1x7 would be good enough for our use. I also recommend that you get those little things that look like a tear drop, that you use to protect the cable where it goes around an eyelet.Well just 48 strands this year... keeping it mellow:)So is the fewer strand wire stronger or just less likely to fray? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Slade Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 jimswinder wrote:hopefully replacing my streamers with CCB's will correct that problem...If only there were a summer sale that could help you acquire those CCB's you need.... Just playin Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Slade Posted August 10, 2011 Author Share Posted August 10, 2011 t purser wrote:guy wires i had a 70 foot ron 22 tower in my yard my dad and i put up in 1980 we used 5/16 gal strained wire the tower stood till it was removed in 2010 went tru 5 hurricanes i only lost the star off top of it twice this is just a personal thought i never use nylon rope for guying down ny yankees worst dog it streches way too much for me70 FEET... NOW THAT WOULD MAKE A GREAT MEGA TREE!!!!:D:DI used nylon one time to keep my driveway arches straight...Well, needless to say that didn't last long!! Last time I did that!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EARLE W. TALLEY Posted August 10, 2011 Share Posted August 10, 2011 This is what I use.http://www.harborfreight.com/3mm-x-100-ft-wire-rope-97514.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted August 12, 2011 Share Posted August 12, 2011 Ok, here is my logic to using fewer strands in a cable. for a given diameter cable the fewer strands means that each strand is a larger diameter. Also this will be stiffer and I think it will stretch less also. Where as a cable that uses more strands is more flexible, and each strand is smaller. This makes me wonder if each strand is more suspectable to damage such as rubbing through. And each strand that fails weakens the cable. I used to go down to a fellow Ham Radio Operators place. He has a 190' tower that I climbed. I dont remember the actual size of his guy wires, but I remember that it looked like a 1X7 or some other low count cable.A high strand count cable is for things like an over head hoist. Something that requires a cable that repeatedly is flexed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Slade Posted August 12, 2011 Author Share Posted August 12, 2011 Thanks Max-Paul that makes total sense!!This site seems to have some pretty good prices -http://www.teksupply.com/farm/supplies/prod1;ts1_chain_rope_cable-ts1_cable_accessories_1;b1a14c72.htmlDo ya know of any others?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Max-Paul Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 Sorry, Never had a need to buy any myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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