‘Chinese finger-trap’ in steel wire?

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

Is there a better name?

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

In olden times, mechanics used a tube of steel mesh to pull oil-seals into place, and I need one now to pull wiring through sleeving etc. So, do they still exist as a tool, and what are they called? I can't see the old name being popular in these 'enlightened' times.

I have found surgical devices of this type on ebay, but at silly prices plus silly postage, but I don't need that degree of sterility etc.

Hoping someone can put me on the right track

Regards, Tim

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Would the woven screening layer of screened cable or coax do what you want. It is copper rather than steel but it may be strong enough.

Les.

[Nick HulmeParticipant @nickhulme30114]

Posted by Tim Stevens on 11/12/2016 18:03:55:

I can't see the old name being popular in these 'enlightened' times.

There is nothing in the least bit offensive about it at all, it refers to where it was invented.

The times you refer to are dark, not enlightened!

[Mike ClarkeParticipant @mikeclarke87958]

Hi,

I have used cable grips (Chinese fingers) for a product I developed at work:

http://www.cablegrip.co.uk/stype.php

Not sure if they will sell one offs (or if it's what you're after!) – but you can try.

Cheers,

Mike

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

You can buy them as extras for the fibreglass cable rods see bottom of page here

[Frances IoMParticipant @francesiom58905]

I bought mine from any good hardware/wholesale electrical shop – there is a threaded rod with screw-in ends such as hooks, magnets etc used by sparkies to wire buildings – one fitting is the wire mesh you describe – maybe not small enough for you but I pulled CAT5 cable through holes and conduit with it

Edited By Frances IoM on 11/12/2016 18:31:45

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Tim Stevens on 11/12/2016 18:03:55:

I can't see the old name being popular in these 'enlightened' times.

.

It says nothing about enlightenment, but Wikipedia seems comfortable with the name.

**LINK**

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_finger_trap

MichaelG.

[Tim StevensParticipant @timstevens64731]

Thanks, everyone – just what I needed. And now I have been reminded of the principle, I can have a go at weaving my own …

What are you making, dear?
Oh, just a thing for pulling wiring through holes. It should save me about 13 quid.
Really, dear? And you only been at it for three days, so far …

Tim

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Or our favourite site –
**LINK**
BobH

[Mike E.Participant @mikee-85511]

Not sure what they are called here in the UK, but overseas we they are known as "Basket Grips". Try googling Greenlee electrical products.

[Mike ClarkeParticipant @mikeclarke87958]

Posted by Mike E. on 11/12/2016 18:48:56:

Not sure what they are called here in the UK,

CABLE GRIPS

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

I have a number of these in different sizes for pulling cables, predominantly Cat5 cable. I've always known them as cable socks. The ones I use are from Super-Rod. They call theirs Super-Grip. There are a range of three sizes depending on size of cable you wish to pull.

Colin

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I note one of the suppliers comments "more reliable than insulating tape" which for an few off jobs seems to be the cheaper answer.

[Colin HeseltineParticipant @colinheseltine48622]

It may be cheaper in some ways. When you are pulling cables along a purling 15 to 18 metres in the air using 10 to 15 metres of cable rods, its a bit of a b….r when the insulating tape separates at a join in the purling and its just taken 20 minutes to get the cherry picker into position to pull the rods and cable over a high bay aisle in a warehouse. This is why I now only use the cable socks.

Colin

[John ReeseParticipant @johnreese12848]

In the US it is a Kellems grip.

http://ecatalog.hubbell-wiring.com/productinformation/viewcatalog.aspx?Dest=hubbell-wiring.com/press/catalog/V.pdf&Page=5

[pgk pgkParticipant @pgkpgk17461]

Similarly used for surgical tube attachments..chest drains in particular in my patients. Assuming you only have one light to medium duty pull to do then appropriate fishing line is a quick answer.

**LINK**

[Howard LewisParticipant @howardlewis46836]

Don;t Screwfix, or Toolstation sell something like this for drawing cable through conduit?

Or maybe too large for your job?

If it is not too long, I have made do with a length of small diameter piano wire, with a small hook formed in the end

Howard

[Roger HeadParticipant @rogerhead16992]

Interesting video in that link, pck_pck. Just the thing for your average home-study courses in open-heart surgery etc.

Roger

[john fletcher 1Participant @johnfletcher1]

We called them drawing in socks, put it over a steel wire armour cable to enable us to draw a cable through ducts. For conduit we used a steel drawing in tape, we shaped a piece of conduit circular to keep it in, now there is plastic version. Aldi had some slender fibre glass rods which screwed together with various end pieces which are very useful when passing cable in lofts and under floor boards, I made some extra magnetic end pieces for mine,much better than galvanised steel wire. The fibre glass rods are available from electrical wholesalers John

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