Wire rope passes through many hands before reaching yours. Manufactured, transported, stored, distributed, possibly stored again, and then used. During this time, the wire rope may be exposed to conditions such as moisture, extreme conditions, or substances that may affect its integrity. In order to prevent these situations, we give the following suggestions.
Transportation
Ropes are supplied in reels or coils and should be lifted rather than lowered, tilted, or rolled up to avoid damage. When transporting, care must be taken not to damage the rope due to contact with other cargo, and the rope should be inspected immediately upon receipt to check for possible shipping damage.
Storage
Ropes on reels or coils should be stored on blocks away from the floor to protect against moisture and corrosion, covered in dry conditions, and protected from corrosive agents such as grinding dust, sulfur, or acid fumes.
Warm or hot conditions can cause the lubricant to flow to the underside of the reel. If the rope is to be stored for extended periods of time in warm or hot conditions, the drum should be mounted on a horizontal shaft and turned periodically to keep the rope evenly lubricated.
Disassembled ropes awaiting further use should be thoroughly cleaned, inspected, lubricated, and stored under the same conditions as new ropes.
Handling
Improper handling of the rope on the spool and coil can lead to bouncing and kinking of wires and strands. This type of injury is rarely fully corrected and can greatly reduce the useful life of the rope.
These drawings show the correct and incorrect ways of winding a rope from a shipping reel onto a drum or other reel. A suitable reel holder is also shown, and the shipping reel should be securely mounted and braked to prevent spillage and give tight rewinding.