Uses for old rigging wire

[gandy]

Hi,

We're starting a bit of a clear out. I hate throwing things out and tend to keep them instead. This time I'm under pressure to throw out stuff that's useless, like the knackered water pump for a tractor we don't have any more.

Anyway we replaced the rigging last winter, so I have a full set of old rigging complete with galled SS rigging screws lying around "in case it comes in handy".

Are there any uses for time-expired SS rigging wire?

 

[duncanmack]

Gosh yes! Where to start?


Stanchion wire, safety strops for outboards, securing dinghies to pontoons in "iffy" places - or in the dinghy park. That's just a few. Think man!

And if you have any left, to let man's competitive acquisitional instinct assert itself. eBay.

 

[capt_courageous]

Hanging iffy surveyors who condemn rigging to cover their a***.

 

[gandy]

[ QUOTE ]
Hanging iffy surveyors who condemn rigging to cover their a***.

[/ QUOTE ] While I agree with the sentiment in general, one of our backstay rigging screws stripped last year when I was setting the tension.

 

[Spuddy]

Saw a bunch of buskers in La Rochelle last week who had similar wire rigged up from a post attached to a dustbin - bit like the old tea chest bass. Or could use for supports for a suspended tree house. Or could dangle down stairwell ( need several storeys for this ) with a plate and contact mike attached at bottom; connect to an amp then scrape wire with a fine toothed saw for equally fine noises. Expect your wire is too big diameter for music functions though.

 

[jonathankent]

Seen a good use for some..... use it when mooring to a large visitors buoy.... tie the warp into the eye on either end, then drop the rigging wire over the buoy.... this then rubs against the chain as supposed to your warp.

Neat idea I thought.... and it does work to!!

 

[scarlett]

To help threading cables through the mast by using it as a pusher or puller.

 

[Searush]

Make up safety wire loops for trailer brake operation.
Cycle/ motorbike/ caravan gas bottle/ladder lock loops.

 

[Lakesailor]

[ QUOTE ]
securing dinghies to pontoons in "iffy" places

[/ QUOTE ] I've had a rigging wire strop for my tender for 5 years and it's never had any probs. Nearly impossible to cut unless you come prepared and hasn't corroded at all. Which is more than you can say for chains. Just make sure you get the soft loops swaged on.

 

[William_H]

The security uses for rigging wire especially if it has eye and thimble swaged on the end is endless.
A relative had a camping goods shop with tents errected in a yard. A long stay was threaded through the peg loops of the tent and padlocked to something strong,,, that slowed em down a bit.

But I do agree it is a bit hard to find a use for all the rigging wire.
Scrap merchants will buy SS here. so try one. olewill

 

[CliveG]

I use one length as a drain clearing rod.
The trapped gully from the kitchen gets blocked with grease once in a while.
The 5mm wire is just flexible enough the get round the bend.

 

[Lakesailor]

Only put a thimble on one end. Put a larger soft loop at the other end. Then you can thread the thimble end through it after passing around tree, fence etc. saving the use of two padlocks.

 

[Davy_S]

I have a pick up buoy for my mooring, it is attached to chain to concrete block. I have had it cut twice by idiot Italians in ribs. So now I have run rigging wire from the buoy to the chain, alongside the rope, That will snare the buggers! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[oldharry]

Not sure I would want to use old rigging wire for safety wires in stanchions - unless you have the kind that is purely decorative!

I have about 300 ft of old wire in my shed that I dont want to throw away, so keep coming with the ideas:

Pretty well everything I have that needs securing is done with SS wire! The garden shed, the dogs lead, the bikes, the dinghies, various ouboard motor attachments, a variety of security devices, SWMBOs veggie garden (its particularly good for supporting runner beans apparently) - etc etc, but still loads left over.....

 

[bigwow]

We use it for TIG welding