Sta-lok Wire Dimension Tolerance

[lavery]

Riggers,
The short question is: Can I safely use 19/64" wire in a 5/16" STA-LOK terminal?

The difference is 1/64". STA-LOK sells only 18/64" (9/32") and 20/64" (5/16").

Does anyone have knowledge of the tolerance in wire diameter acceptable to STA-LOK when using their terminals?

I have the question out to STA-LOK, but would also like to hear from the rigging community.

Thanks!

Jim Lavery
Anchorage, Alaska

[Brion Toss]

Hello,
As far as I know, 19/64" wire doesn't exist. The metric equivalent would be about 7.5mm, and that doesn't exist either. So either there is something amiss with your measuring device, or the wire, or how you are measuring, or any or all of the above.
Do you "zero out" your calipers before measuring? Do you have wire that is known to be either 5/16" or 9/32"? Do they measure accordingly? Are you placing the calipers on the tops of the strands, not in the flats between strands?
There is some variation between manufacturers when it comes to diameter, but midway between two nominal sizes is probably well out of range, so if in fact the wire measures 19?64" for real, it wouldn't be wire I'd want to use.
You might try fitting wedges to the core of this wire, and see what fits.
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[lavery]

Brion,
Thank you for your response. Mr. Paul Harrison (V.P. Sales) at STA-LOK also doubts the existence of 19/64 Stainless 1/19 wire.

I find it on all 4 lowers and the bobstay. I measure as you describe with my electronic caliper at 19/64” or 7.5xx mm. The caliper clearly measures other wires at 9/32” or 1/4.” Mr. Harrison suggests problems using 19/64 wire with STA-LOK fittings, below.

Regarding wire tolerances with STA-LOK fittings, Mr. Harrison comments:
“All of our fittings are designed to go on standard size wire used in the marine industry around the world, i.e. imperial wire sizes 3//16” ¼” , 9/32, 5/16”, 3/8” etc and metric wire sizes 4,5,6,7,8,10mm etc, I have never heard of any 19/64” Stainless Steel 1 x 19 wire unless it is some 9/32 wire that is quite a bit over size. Now if it is 9/32” wire that is that much over size, it could cause you a lot of problems getting the wedges from the 9/32” fittings onto that wire, and in fact you may not even be able to get them on and 5/16” fittings are only designed to go on 5/16” wire."

I have since surveyed other owners of my make and model. The original specification is for 9/32 where I have 19/64. Given the comments of both you and Mr. Harrison, I will abandon my $200 coil of non-standard 19/64 wire, in favor of standard 9/32 wire and fitting sizes.

Coming to this conclusion would have been much more difficult for me without the clarity and expertise generously shared by both of you.

James Lavery
s/v Hoku Ke’a, SC31
Anchorage, Alaska

[Brion Toss]

Hi again,
Glad to help. But, just out of curiosity, whose wire was it?
Fair leads,
Brion Toss

[lavery]

Brion,
The 19/64 on the boat came with the boat. The backup/emergency coil that I purchased about 2 years ago came from West Marine (not ALPS wire). There is no telling where WM got it. As I recall, WM did not stock 19/64 but my sales rep. found me some. I still have the numbers tagged to the coil, but they produce no joy in the WM search. It's nice shiny wire. I'd be happy to send you a sample. I need to practice cutting wire rope anyway for my bobstay rebuild.

JL