Lashing wire is a type of stainless steel wire used in the utility and telecommunications industries to “lash” or hold together a ground cable and telecom cables from hydro pole to hydro pole. Lashing wire is usually sold with over 50 other components needed per pole. These poles carry telecom services from community to community so it is absolutely necessary to choose the right type. In this article, we'll go over the types of stainless steel lashing wire we can offer and what kind you may need depending on the environment you're operating in.
As you can see in the video to the right, once all the hardware is in place and the cables have been strung, the lashing wire is then wrapped around them using a neat piece of equipment called a lasher. This lashing wire is exposed to all elements of weather and, naturally, some atmospheric conditions are far more corrosive than others. If the lashing wire fails, the cables can detach and even break leaving the whole community without service.
So which wire is best for a long-lasting installation?
CWI Series Stainless 316
Type 316 is an austenitic chromium-nickel-molybdenum stainless steel with good general corrosion resistance and improved pitting resistance. 316 stainless steel wire is the most corrosion-resistant to most chemicals, including chlorides and sulfides. This alloy is also resistant to pitting and pin-hole corrosion, commonly associated with salt and humidity in oceanside atmospheres. For this reason, 316 is the ideal wire for use in areas near salt water or in areas with high levels of industrial pollutants. It is considered the best choice and go-to-wire for most lashing jobs where corrosive failure and atmospheric conditions are a concern. Alloy 316 is composed of 10-14% nickel and 2.0-3.0% molybdenum.
CWI Series Stainless 302
For non-coastal areas that are exposed to normal weather conditions, type 302 is commonly used. This alloy is comparable to alloy 430, except it offers more flexibility (easier bending and unwinding) and better elongation (less chance of breakage from stress). In comparison to other alloys, it's a good grade because it's less expensive than alloy 316 and offers better corrosion resistance than alloy 430. Alloy 302 is generally made with 17-19% chromium and 8-10% nickel.
CWI Series Stainless 430
If you're looking for a lashing wire that would work in ordinary weather conditions or for general use, we often see type 430 being used. Alloy 430 is ferritic stainless steel with good corrosion resistance and formability characteristics. It's considered the most affordable option for lashing wire and offers the best bang for your buck. We produce 430 with a max of 0.12% carbon and between 16-18% chromium.
At Central Wire, we have “manual” coilers that take our .038"/.045"/.061"/.065" soft wire and coil it into small, 650’/1200’/1600’ coils. The manual machines allow us to produce it at custom lengths and add flags to the wire. Flags are at set intervals to alert the lineman how close to the end of the coil they are. Not every company requires this, it's a manual process that adds value and ease of use to your application. We also have an automatic coiler. This machine is our newest lashing coiler, it doubles our output on a shift and allows us to complete large orders with ease.
Whether you need 302, 316, or 430 lashing wire, you can expect CWI's experts to fulfill your order with precision and accuracy. Get yours today by contacting us via email sales@centralwire.com, phone 800-435-8317, or by filling out our form for a quote. You can also visit our website at https://centralwire.com/ for more products and information.