Page 250 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

Figure 6-55. Wire service is begun by putting on place. How many turns short depends on the mate-
safety glasses—on you! Next, insert one end of the rial and application; elsewhere in the text I’ve said
seizing wire under a strand of the wire rope, or clamp five, and that is a good default, but with non-slick
it lightly in place with Vise Grips. Thread the seizing twine three turns will be sufficient for finishing nor-
wire onto the serving iron and serve over the end. mal service, while seizing a thimble in with the end
of service is usually better off having seven turns,
with a pair of pliers, and get out your heaving mal- because there will be more lateral loading at the
let. Figure 6-56E shows “Mallet de Mer” with the end, with the legs of the eye trying to force the ser-
seizing wire belayed to its head and handle, ready vice apart. No matter how many turns you use, the
to pull the last turn taut—too much of a job for a trick is to measure how much length those turns will
marlingspike. Apply just enough tension to bring take up, and pause at that point. To do this, stop
the turn down snug, then put the mallet over on the when you think you are in the neighborhood, and
other side so that the strand will be pulled to that use a caliper gauge to measure, say, five turns. Then
side, wedging itself permanently between the rope measure how much space there is between you and
and the turns of service. If the service is very tight where you want to stop. If it is farther, add service
the strand will shear off cleanly at its exit point with until the gap is correct. If it is closer, unwind service
a good haul on the mallet. until the gap is correct.
If it won’t shear, but you’re sure the fit is snug,
just bend the seizing wire sharply back and forth
repeatedly until it breaks off at the exit point. Tightening the Lay
The one place you shouldn’t mix rigging met- of Seizing Wire
als is on splices that do spend a lot of time under When applied as a seizing, seizing wire some-
water, like the lower ends of bobstays and boomkin times will unlay and flatten under load, prevent-
shrouds. Also check to see that the wire rope itself is ing it from lying fair. To prevent this, tighten the
compatible with hull fittings lay of the wire before using: clamp one end in a
vise, the other end in a pair of Vise Grips, and
The best way to stop service is to pause when twist the lay tighter.
you are several turns short of your desired stopping

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