1mm 2mm 3mm 4mm To 12mm 316 Stainless Steel Steel Wire Rope Lifting Metal Cable

7×7 rope consists of 7 strands each containing 7 individual wires (49 wires total). It is stiffer and has lower stretch, making it well suited to static tensioned applications such as balustrade infill, trellis wires, and fixed rigging where the cable does not bend around a sheave. 7×19 rope consists of 7 strands each containing 19 wires (133 wires total). The greater number of finer wires makes it significantly more flexible, which is required when the cable must pass over a pulley, through a block, or be coiled repeatedly in running rigging and dynamic load applications.

316 stainless steel contains approximately 2–3% molybdenum, which 304 grade lacks. Molybdenum significantly improves resistance to chloride-induced pitting corrosion — the mechanism that causes rust spotting in coastal, marine, and poolside environments. For indoor or low-humidity applications away from salt exposure, 304 may be adequate. For any outdoor, marine, or poolside installation, 316 is the appropriate specification to ensure long service life without surface corrosion.

For residential timber or steel-framed balustrade infill, 3.0 mm or 4.0 mm diameter 7×7 wire rope is the most common specification, providing the required tensile strength while remaining visually unobtrusive. For heavier structural or commercial applications, 5.0 mm or 6.0 mm may be specified. Always consult your local building code or structural engineer for load-rated specifications, as requirements vary by jurisdiction and post spacing. For trellis and garden tensioning, 1.0 mm–2.0 mm is typically sufficient.

This wire rope accepts standard swage fittings (jaw, eye, stud, and fork terminals), ferrule-and-stop systems, and thimbles for eye splices. The critical requirement is that the fitting bore matches the wire rope diameter you select — for example, a 3.0 mm swage terminal must be used with 3.0 mm wire. Do not mix diameters. For tensioned balustrade systems, threaded jaw-to-jaw or jaw-to-eye assemblies with a turnbuckle are the most common termination method.

This wire rope is suitable for light-duty workshop lifting and rigging where the working load limit (WLL) is calculated from the wire's minimum breaking load with an appropriate safety factor (typically 5:1 or 6:1 for lifting). The breaking load varies by diameter and construction — refer to the variant specifications or contact us to confirm. For certified lifting slings or safety-critical overhead lifting in commercial or industrial environments, a certified and tested sling assembly with documented WLL is required by regulation. This product is sold as raw wire rope and is not a certified lifting sling.

Measure the total horizontal run of each wire, then multiply by the number of wire lines required (typically 8–12 lines per panel at 100 mm spacing for a 1000 mm high balustrade). Add approximately 300–400 mm per wire for termination tails at each end. Order the next available length above your calculated total to avoid joins. For example, a 5-metre panel with 10 wire lines requires approximately 10 × (5 m + 0.6 m) = 56 m of wire — a 100 m coil would cover this run with margin for re-tensioning or replacement.

316 stainless steel wire rope requires minimal maintenance in most environments. In marine or coastal installations, periodic rinsing with fresh water to remove salt deposits is recommended to maintain appearance and prevent surface staining. Inspect termination points annually for signs of fraying, kinking, or corrosion at the fitting interface, as dissimilar metal contact (e.g., with mild steel fittings) can accelerate localised corrosion. Avoid contact with chlorine-rich pool chemicals in concentrated form. No lubrication is required for static balustrade or trellis applications.