Seizing wire: cheaper alternative to Monel?

[jerrytug]

Hello,is this a bright idea?... I was going to buy some monel seizing wire, for securing the galvanized shackes connecting my galvanised chain to my galvanised anchor. It`s £10 for a tiny roll in the chandlers, and similar on the internet. However,I can buy 700g (about 1.5 lbs!) of 0.8mm stainless steel MIG welding wire for twice that price,which is a lot of seizing. Is there any reason I shouldn`t use it, on galvanised shackes under water? Or indeed for mousing 316 stainless rigging screws etc?
I was thing of some sort of disastrous potential for galvanic corrosion etc. Please some expert tell us it`s safe! Thanks a lot Jerry.

 

[Keen_Ed]

Or you can buy a packet of cable ties for under £5.

 

[vyv_cox]

For mousing an anchor shackle it would be perfectly acceptable. On a mooring I might think twice. My shackle and swivel connector are both stainless steel, with a galvanised anchor and chain. After several years the only change is that a small amount of galvanising, around three links, has been lost from the chain.

Your only problem with stainless steel wire is that it work hardens very rapidly. It would be easy to twist it once too many times, causing it to crack and fracture. I don't mouse at all, use Loctite stud lock instead.

You will see on my website that most stainless steel shackles are stronger than most galvanised ones. Unlikely that you will break either but I like to use the best available.

 

[Poignard]

I use galvanised wire on my galvanised anchor shackle.

 

[jerrytug]

Cheers for that guys just what I wanted to hear! Good watch Jerry

 

[Evadne]

Hello,is this a bright idea?... I was going to buy some monel seizing wire, for securing the galvanized shackes connecting my galvanised chain to my galvanised anchor. It`s £10 for a tiny roll in the chandlers, and similar on the internet. However,I can buy 700g (about 1.5 lbs!) of 0.8mm stainless steel MIG welding wire for twice that price,which is a lot of seizing. Is there any reason I shouldn`t use it, on galvanised shackes under water? Or indeed for mousing 316 stainless rigging screws etc?
I was thing of some sort of disastrous potential for galvanic corrosion etc. Please some expert tell us it`s safe! Thanks a lot Jerry.

Use galvanised multi stranded wire (chicken or fencing wire) on your galvanised shackles. You could use it on s/s shackles as well, but it may leave rust stains and the galvanising will disappear within a couple of years.

 

[prv]

I use galvanised wire on my galvanised anchor shackle.

All the seizings on Stavros's galvanised shackles use galvanised wire. Specifically, old rigging wire pulled apart to its individual strands. Waste not, want not.

Those are in the rig rather than underwater, though.

Pete

 

[Evadne]

All the seizings on Stavros's galvanised shackles use galvanised wire. Specifically, old rigging wire pulled apart to its individual strands. Waste not, want not.

Those are in the rig rather than underwater, though.

Pete

You've just given me an idea for my old s/s rigging. May have to anneal it to make it usable, but that's not a difficult thing (heat it up then let it cool down).

 

[prv]

You've just given me an idea for my old s/s rigging. May have to anneal it to make it usable, but that's not a difficult thing (heat it up then let it cool down).

I did this the first time we rigged KS, as I'd forgotten to get any monel wire but had the old mizzen shrouds in the boot of the car. Used to pulling galvanised wire apart I just went and did the same with the stainless. It was a bit stiffer than galvanised, but I didn't need to anneal it.

The mizzen shrouds on a Cornish Yawl are fairly thin, of course. If you've got 12mm 1x19 then your experience will be different

Pete

 

[VicS]

Use galvanised multi stranded wire (chicken or fencing wire) on your galvanised shackles. You could use it on s/s shackles as well, but it may leave rust stains and the galvanising will disappear within a couple of years.

No don't use multi-stranded wire or even several turns of light wire.

It wont last significantly longer than one strand.

Use one strand of the heaviest wire you can bend and twist.

 

[Vara]

I was a bit shocked at the price and the amount of Monel wire you had to buy.

I now have a spool of it which at present rate of consumption will last me about 57 years.

A marketing opportunity, £2/m inc pp

 

[jerrytug]

The thickest wire possible is right,it's for ground tackle to scrape over the rocks.Poole Asda has a recycle bin full of galv. wire coathangers! Plastic tie wraps no way imho. Thanks for the tips!

 

[prv]

A marketing opportunity, £2/m inc pp

I probably get through a couple of metres or more each spring, so I think I'll stick to buying my own roll

Agree with the surprising price of it though.

Pete

 

[Vara]

The thickest wire possible is right,it's for ground tackle to scrape over the rocks.Poole Asda has a recycle bin full of galv. wire coathangers! Plastic tie wraps no way imho. Thanks for the tips!

I wouldn't have thought that coat hangers are galvanised, ie zinc coated. Unlikely to be suitable for task.

 

[Poignard]

I bought a reel of galvanised fencing wire from my local hardware shop. That's what I use. It didn't cost much and I have enough to last for years.

 

[Angele]

A marketing opportunity, £2/m inc pp

Have you looked at the price of a stamp recently??

 

[Hoolie]

I bought a small reel of Monel some years ago (7?) and I've still got most of it. A £10 reel is probably a lifetime's supply for most people so why bother looking elsewhere? There's usually a host of more important issues on a boat ... ... ...

 

[Tranona]

I bought a small reel of Monel some years ago (7?) and I've still got most of it. A £10 reel is probably a lifetime's supply for most people so why bother looking elsewhere? There's usually a host of more important issues on a boat ... ... ...

Agree. I have only just bought my second reel in over 30 years!

 

[wotayottie]

You've just given me an idea for my old s/s rigging. May have to anneal it to make it usable, but that's not a difficult thing (heat it up then let it cool down).

At 1050 to 1100c? And for some time to allow the martensite to change to austenite

 

[Lakesailor]

I bought a reel of galvanised fencing wire from my local hardware shop. That's what I use. It didn't cost much and I have enough to last for years.

If you are rural get some spare sheep wire from a farmer. Some offcuts are all you need. The mesh is sufficient but for the ultimate the fencing wire you hang it on. Need some bloody strong pliers to twist it though.

Here is a shackle with wire, cable tie and fencing wire.