What Is a Wire Stretcher?
A wire stretcher is a tool for pulling wires, cables, and other wires and ropes that are too limited to be stretched by bare hands.
The clamper grips the wire stretcher firmly and assists the stretcher in pulling the wire. The wire can be tensioned by turning the handle of the main body while gripping the wire.
The specifications of a wire stretcher are defined as its wire stretching capacity and wire gripping capacity. Tensile capacity refers to the pulling force; if it is weak, the wire will become slack. Gripping ability refers to the force to grip an object. The larger this value is, the more it can hold onto a thick, heavy, or long object. By turning the handle on the main unit, the wire can be stretched with many times the force of a person.
Uses of Wire Stretchers
A wire stretcher is a tool used to secure wires and other objects temporarily. Applications include wire tensioning works for overhead electric lines and communication cables, as well as shelf tensioning, and fence tensioning in orchards.
They are also used for temporary fixing of welding, load tightening, and moving heavy objects. Wire stretchers for electrical installation are mainly used for overhead wire work in the electric power, electrical installation, and telecommunications industries. For horticultural use, it is used for pole-to-wire stretching or wire-to-wire stretching.
Automotive wire stretchers are used for frame modification and repair, moving heavy objects, as well as house-raising and centering work.
How to Select Wire Stretchers
There are different sizes and load ranges for wire stretchers. Devices are also available for construction, electrical installation, and farm use, and should be used in combination.
- Wire Grabbing Device
Select a wire-grabbing device according to the thickness of the wire to be pulled and the force with which the wire is pulled. The appropriate type should be selected mainly according to the target and the material. In the lowest tension category, such as wire tensioning in farms, the gripping range (thickness of the object) is 1mm to 10mm at 5kN. On the other hand, for wire tensioning, there are devices that can handle wires up to 32mm in diameter at a maximum of 100 kN. - Tensile Force (Tensile Strength)
This is the pulling or lifting force, which corresponds to the wire tensioning capacity. There are mainly 5kN, 10kN, and 15kN specifications, which are selected according to the strength of the wire to be pulled. - Winding Wire
There are 3 to 5 types. The wire is classified according to the degree of tension, with Type 3 being used for weak tension, followed by Type 4 and Type 5, which are used for situations requiring strong tension. - Winding Belt
Conventional belts are wound with wire, but frequent use of this type of belt causes the wire to break or wind unevenly, which interferes with safety and workability. The improved winding method is the belt type, which eliminates concerns about wire winding. - Butt-Handle
The shape should be selected according to the area where the butt wire is to be hooked. The most common shape is a hook, but some are hooked. - Insulation
If there is a risk of electric current passing through the wire, it must be insulated. Nylon, or reinforced plastic called FRP is suitable as a material. These materials are mainly used in the selection of handle and rope materials.