How to Test a Steel Wire Rope

Wire rope that's frequently used should be inspected more often than wire rope that's used once or twice a week. Looking at the rope for kinks and obvious damage, like rust, is the largest part of that process. However, although inspection for wire rope may mean giving the rope a good looking over, another important part of the inspection process is testing the wire rope's physical integrity. This is done by physically feeling the rope in an effort to find broken wires, called "fishhooks."

• 1

  Don leather gloves. Broken wires on the exterior of the strands of a wire rope are called fishhooks because, like a fishhook, they will "hook" into your hand, requiring a trip to the doctor for a tetanus shot, if not repair. Leather gloves and a watchful eye help prevent that.

• 2

  Run your finger along one strand -- wire rope is made up of strands made up of individual wires. Commonly, there are six strands to a wire rope -- following that one strand as it winds its way around the core of the wire rope for one full turn, called a "lay."

• 3

  Stop testing the rope and inspect it for visible fishhooks when you feel your glove snag within the length of the lay, Six or seven fishhooks in the length of a lay indicate the rope is unsafe. If there are more than seven fishhooks within a single lay, take the rope out of service immediately.

• 4

  Repeat this surface testing process for all six strands, throughout the full length of the rope