[quote=tamumpower1][quote=Dogboy]A basic hand swage tool is simply not going to produce the same product as a professional hydraulic swaging equipment. The pro shops also have the know how and tools to properly inspect and proof test wire rope assemblies - something that home builders simply can not do.
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Well a hydraulic swage literally is a different product so yes it's different but more professional is not true since professional shops use thimble fittings as well. However a h16 doesn't have any hydraulic fittings on its rigging, minus diamonds id guess, so is it unsafe to use the same nicopress ittings any professional shop would use? A h18 had many hydraulic fittings that I switched to nicopress. If we are talking hydraulic vs thimble it doesn't matter since the h18 has thimble nicopress ends already on the top of each shroud end and on both sides of the forestay pig tail so it's clearly not a matter of strength, safety, or professionalism.
And as far as nicopress fittings go it's well within the ability of the average DIY guy to do, in fact it's really hard to screw one up. I mean really, show me a "pro" nicopress operator. Lol it's just a crimper. I've done tons of them and have gotten faster but quality wise there's not a whole lot you can do besides the correct number of crimps.
And I don't know about everyone else's equipment but the bench swage I use came with a go no go gauge for testing the finished fitting. It's really hard to do a complete crimp and mess it up in my opinion.
I think there's a stigma around rigging like there's some black magic involved. Maybe one mans definition of what expert knowledge and skill is differs from mine but stuffing a cable in a fitting and pressing go on the swage machine or looping a cable and going crimp crimp doesn't exactly qualify as an unachievable ability in my book... I don't know. I've just never considered any of the work or things I've made myself as evidence of being cheap. What happened to America? Go learn, build, and believe in yourself.
As for testing go lightly tow a car with it and see if the cable slips in the fitting at all. I just go winch my truck up a slight incline with the cable for peace of mind. My 5/32 rigging has a 3300lb breaking strength so that's a good % of load.
Maybe I'll send off an extra cable I make to a materials testing lab and have them break it just for the heck of it<!-- editby --><em>Edited by tamumpower1 on Apr 23, 2016 - 12:04 PM.</em><!-- end editby --> [/quote]
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