How to tie a knot in a 5/8" steel cable

This is how I tie an end knot in the winch cable on a skidder
/ cotontop3
/ cotontop3

[@michaelkubat2575]

Back in the 1980's, I used to do that by myself....That is pretty much how I did it... but I had to run back and forth ...winch a little....run back and make adjustments... then winch some more until I got it. God, I miss logging....those were the good old days!!!

[@russklein1501]

That's one way to do it, if u cut cable with a torch with an oxidized flame it will fuse the strands together preventing them from fraying, then loop the cable back over itself and secure with 4 Crosby clips, also known as cable clamps, this is much stronger and safer as tying a knot in the wire rope reduces its breaking strength by 50 percent. Just a couple fun facts from a boilermaker rigger, and remember never saddle a dead horse!

[@metlmuncher]

Love seeing that lad in the woods working.. Another great how to..

[@daveschuetrum576]

I cut cable the same way. I do the gates at my hunt clubs. I also weld the ends to keep them from fraying and cutting someone's hand. An angle grinder with the thin disk will cut through anything. Locks cut like butter.

[@cotontop3]

You right, you can slice anything with those disks.

[@AussieMusicRocks]

This is the very first Cotontop3 vidja I ever watched. And there's Tommy looking all slim and like a the lady slayer that he is. lol.

[@garybaker730]

cutting wire rope with a torch is the best I have seen neither end will fray apart

[@ticker511]

I ran cable skidders for 30 yrs, so i tied and cut a lot of cable. Tie your new knot before you cut the cable, this way you don't have to worry about the cable unwinding on you. I had trouble with a single knot slipping out once in awhile. So i used a figger eight knot. When using this knot i could cut the cable off about a inch from the knot leaving no pig tail and it didn't slip out. I cut my cable old school style, double bit axe, five lb hammer and a good stump. About ten good hits would cut a 5/8 cable. Be safe out there guys

[@cotontop3]

Sometimes I will tie it before I cut it. It just depends on how bad exploded the cable is. Usually it’s so bad it’s just not worth the fight or safe to try to handle with all the sharp ends.

[@Tonnsfabrication]

What a lucky kid to be a part of such opportunity. I live in the heart of a logging area and I always wish I could go learn something at a cut site.

[@cotontop3]

It is pretty cool for him to be able to tag along with us. That's how I grew up too.

[@aristeogonzalez6315]

That’s a good knot but a snowman knot or a figure 8 is how we always tied our knots good video boys

[@stephenjray1988]

We do it exactly the same but we use an actual cable cutter that u set it in and hit it with sledge hammer bout 2 times and it cuts it . may not cut it off as smooth but it does a good job . Another great video

[@socalpal8416]

Nice video. You and your workers seem like a good bunch of folks. Stay safe.

[@sighpocket5]

Hope the little guy does good in both schools.....!!!!

[@timberslasher4899]

Same way we do it. We just use 7/8 swedged to 3/4 cable since we pull most of our trees out with it on these mountains.

[@canvids1]

very interesting video I like watching anything machines bigger the better. I operated heavy equipment at the CNR railway here in Toronto Canada till I retired. The best dam job in my lifetime.

[@cotontop3]

Here a monster machine I filmed that may really interest you. kzbin.info/www/bejne/hmbJm2Brp8qFi68

[@SkidderKev]

We do ours the same way other then visegrips we use duct tape to stop it from unwinding when we cut it.

[@cotontop3]

That's cool, duct tape would work too in that situation.

[@raimundodias1605]

good afternoon i'm from brazil very good your channel. I am a machine operator for both forwarder and harvesters very good congratulations works with our family

[@terrellfarms1]

Have you ever tried the military surplus tow cables. We have a dealer not far from us that sells 1"used military "tank cables" with loops on each end rated for 100,000#. They are fairly cheap too if I am not mistaken around $200. A lot of our local farmers use them for pulling out farm equipment and stuck trucks.

[@cotontop3]

Usually one of these like I tied will last us 2-3 years before we replace it. The 635 has a 3/4" cable on it and we have another cable like what ur talking about that's 1" with braided eyes on each end if things get really bad.

[@joewilson1589]

same here......thread a choker hook from a broken choker on the main line last ,,you can have a choker as long as your main line.

[@gigatech2319]

It's easier if you tie the knot first and then cut.

[@ronaaserude8225]

I used to use an axe and a four pound hammer to cut the cable, never fussed with the vise grips because never had to worry about the cable unwinding much... whatever works for ya bub, just get'er done safely and get back to pullin' sticks! lol

[@lghzooyoshi9269]

tim have you ever tried super swedge cable, they take 3/4 cable and swedged it down to 5/8 . I worked for 10 years for a place that sold cable to loggers,once the cable came out just about all went to it .It lasted a lot longer and it is much stronger. just a suggestion all your vids are great!

[@crazymayne69]

Where do you get it?

[@robertgreen2288]

A little weld job on the end so that nobody gets poked sure helps.

[@michael2444]

We use 3/4" for truck or stuck equip recovery. I just braid an eye in each end

[@knotbumper]

That "knot" is also known on the West coast as a "cat's ass. I tied many of them in the 60's running skidder."

[@jeffcampbell6314]

You don’t want your finger in there for sure. I tied the knot first then cut it off if possible. I had a hydraulic, jack type cutter for years that rascal was handy.

[@wilecoyote2650]

when I was millwrighting, we had a wedge cutter, it looked like a c clamp, with a wedge and you used a 20 lb sledge to cut it

[@cotontop3]

+wile coyote years ago, that's how we cut cable. I wasn't very crazy about that thing.

[@wilecoyote2650]

yea if you were not paying attention the cable would whip back and get you

[@animenut69]

Was thinking it wouldn't hurt to try welding a vise on the back of your service truck. May make it a tad easier cutting wise than using vicegrips on the ground.

[@cotontop3]

+animenut69 we do have a vise on both service trucks.

[@dieselgypsy1100]

I know this is an old video but I have a question. Does the knot have to be tied a certain direction? (With the twist or against the twist?) I noticed that the twist seemed to open up as the knot tightened down. What happens if you tied it the other way? I'm wondering if it wouldn't tighten down at all?

[@cotontop3]

It doesn’t matter in this situation.

[@zigzag77777]

I grew up by my Daddy's knee just like Philip, that's how it got in my blood. Probably too late to turn that boy away, welcome to the 3rd generation!!!

[@cotontop3]

Phillip would rather be in the woods than anywhere else just like you and me growing up.

[@mikewawrzkiewicz3741]

Nice job I think I could handle that one even if I am a pollock hahaha take care guys Napa mike

[@stephenarrington5979]

What motor is in the cutter?

[@terrysaunders8948]

thets how we do it in maine

[@mathman1923]

love that little fella, just shakin his head as you are talking

[@cotontop3]

+Jay Groom yeah he's cute

[@sheilagarner3804]

hi

[@bcmineresearch]

Keep him in school as long as you can so he learns English a lot better than you! It would be a shame if he grew up and sounded like you.