Removing vinyl from life line

[VIC26]

Anybody have any advise on removing vinyl from life lines? This is a renovation and I would like to remove old, cracked covering to see the condition of the lines. So far this is going very slowly. I would like to reuse if they are in good condition, with no vinyl.

[Mark1948]

I removed mine this past summer from my C-27. I used a knife blade that I could carefully guide with both hands, like a spoke shave and just cut one side off and pealed the remaining layer. subsequently used metal polish on the cable to clean it up. It did not take all that long, being brittle. You need to be careful not to cut into the wire. All in all not that difficult and looks better.

[Jeff_H]

The easiest way to remove vinyl from lifelines is to remove the entire lifeline and replace the entire lifeline with new uncoated wirerope. Seriously, by the time the vinyl is shot, typically the wirerope is also shot and dangerous to keep. Current standards discourage the use of vinyl covered lifelines.

Jeff

[jackdale]

ISAF has also approved single braid Dyneema for lifelines.

[patrscoe]

I was thinking of doing the same thing but as I removed the about 10' vinyl coating, I saw two potential eroded areas, not a lot, but some. I ended up replacing my coated lifelines with uncoated 1/4" (although 3/16" would be okay), 1x19 ss 316 wire rope. I reused all loose hardware but installed all new swage studs. Took less then a day, in my garage and was fairly easy.
Also you will be removing vinyl on 7x7 wire rope and if you go bare, the recommended wire is 1x19.
Good luck.

[mxracer19]

I say take a razor blade scraper and just run it down the length of the wire flat like youre scraping paint. Keep it at a low angle and it wont cut in. When youre done take a cotton ball and wrap it around the bare lifeline and run it along the wire in one direction. Broken strands will catch the cotton and highlight areas of concern. Repeat the process in the opposite direction after inspecting to catch broken wires facing the other way.

Use symbal polish on the wire afterwards. Symbal polish looks like oily cotton in a tin can. Its used to clean symbals (No sht) on drumsets. Wad it up around the wire and rub it back and forth a few times. She'll clean right up. You can find symbal polish at any major music store. It's also used to polish guitar frets.

Lastly, take pictures and post an article on here documenting what you did so others may benefit.

-Matt

[zz4gta]

Go to dyneema, and be done with it in 2 hours.

[chef2sail]

What are the disadvantages of Dynema?

Dave

[mitiempo]

UV and abrasion.

[SloopJonB]

Originally Posted by mitiempo

UV and abrasion.

Fairly serious disadvantages for something that spends its life in the sun being rubbed against.