Stainless Steel Wire Rope Clear PVC Plastic Coated Metal Cable Rigging 0.38~12mm

For residential stainless steel wire rope balustrade infill, 3 mm (7×7) and 4 mm (7×7) are the most common choices. The 3 mm cable suits shorter horizontal spans up to approximately 1.5 m between posts, while 4 mm is preferred for spans up to 2 m or where local building codes specify a minimum breaking load. Always check your local balustrade code requirements before finalising diameter selection.

The numbers describe how the individual wires are grouped into strands and then into the rope. A 1×7 rope has one central wire surrounded by six outer wires — it is stiff and resists elongation, making it suited to short, straight runs. A 7×7 rope has seven strands of seven wires each, giving a good balance of flexibility and tensile strength for most balustrade and tensioning work. A 7×19 rope has seven strands of nineteen wires each, making it noticeably more flexible and better suited to applications with tighter bend radii, such as rigging blocks or curved architectural runs.

304 stainless steel performs well in most outdoor and light coastal environments. It resists general atmospheric corrosion and occasional salt spray. For direct immersion in seawater or highly aggressive salt-air zones within approximately 200 m of breaking surf, 316-grade stainless is typically recommended. If your installation is in a moderate coastal location — such as a suburban property near the coast — 304 with the PVC jacket provides a practical and cost-effective solution. Contact us if you need guidance on your specific site conditions.

Yes. Wire rope can be cut with bolt cutters, an angle grinder with a cutting disc, or a dedicated wire rope cutter. A wire rope cutter gives the cleanest cut and prevents the strands from splaying. After cutting, apply a small amount of clear silicone sealant or heat-shrink tubing to the cut end to prevent the PVC jacket from peeling back and to keep the steel strands bundled neatly before fitting your end termination.

This cable is compatible with standard wire rope accessories sized to the cable's outer diameter (OD), including swage ferrule sleeves, jaw-and-jaw or eye-and-eye turnbuckles, wire rope grips (bulldog grips), and swageless tensioners. Because the PVC coating adds to the overall OD, always measure the coated diameter when selecting ferrules or swage fittings. For example, a 4 mm bare steel cable with PVC coating may have an OD of approximately 5–5.5 mm — confirm the coated OD from the product listing or contact us before ordering fittings.

Thread the cable through your posts or standoffs, attach end fittings, and use a turnbuckle or inline tensioner to take up slack. Tighten gradually and evenly — over-tensioning in one pass can bow timber or aluminium posts. A correctly tensioned balustrade cable should deflect no more than approximately 30 mm under a firm lateral push at mid-span. Re-check tension after the first few weeks as the cable and fittings bed in. Avoid using tools that grip the PVC jacket directly, as this can crush or score the coating.

The PVC jacket is a protective sheath only and does not contribute to the tensile strength of the cable. The breaking load is determined entirely by the stainless steel core — its diameter, strand construction, and grade. The coating does, however, protect the steel strands from surface corrosion and abrasion, which helps maintain the cable's rated strength over its service life. For specific breaking load figures, refer to the variant specifications or contact us to confirm.