HANDLING AND CARE OF FIBER LINE

If you expect the fiber line you work with to give safe and dependable service, make sure it is handled and cared for properly. Procedures for the handling and care of fiber line are as follows:

CLEANLINESS is part of the care of fiber line. NEVER drag a line over the ground nor over rough or dirty surfaces. The line can easily pick up sand and grit that can work into the strands and wear the fibers. If a line does get dirty, use water only to clean it. Do NOT use soap because it takes oil out of the line.

AVOID pulling a line over sharp edges because the strands may break. When you have a sharp edge, place chafing gear, such as a board, folded cardboard or canvas, or part of a rubber tire, between the line and the sharp edge to prevent damaging the line.

NEVER cut a line unless you have to. When possible, always use knots that can be untied easily.

Fiber line contracts, or shrinks, if it gets wet. If there is not enough slack in a wet line to permit shrinkage, the line is likely to overstrain and weaken.

If a taut line is exposed to rain or dampness, make sure that the line, while still dry, is slackened to allow for the shrinkage.

When nylon line is properly handled and maintained, it should last more than five times longer than manila line subjected to the same use. Nylon line is also lighter, more flexible, less bulky, and easier to handle and store than manila line. When nylon line is wet or frozen, it loses little strength. Additional y, nylon line is resistant to mildew, rotting, and attack by marine borers.

If a nylon line becomes slippery because of grease, it should be cleaned with light oils, such as kerosene or diesel oil.

Uncoiling Line

New line is coiled, bound, and wrapped in burlap. This protective covering should not be removed until the line is to be used because it protects the line during storage and prevents tangling. To open, remove the burlap wrapping and look inside the coil for the end of the line. This should be at the bottom of the coil. If it is not, turn the coil over so that the end will be at the bottom. Pull the end of the line up through the center of the coil (fig. 4-4). As the line comes up through the coil, it will unwind in a counterclockwise direction.

Uncoiling Nylon Line

Do not uncoil new nylon line by pulling the ends up through the eye of the coil. Avoid coiling nylon in the same direction all the time, or you could unbalance the lay.

Making Up Line

After the line has been removed from the manufacturer's coil, it may be MADE UP (that is, prepared for storage or for use) by winding on a reel. It may also be made up by cooling down, faking down, or blemishing down.

To COIL DOWN a line simply means to lay it in circles, roughly one on top of the other (fig. 4-5). Line should always be coiled in the same direction as the lay-clockwise for right lay and counterclockwise for left lay. When a line has been coiled down, one end is ready to run off. This is the end that went down last

Figure 4-5.-Colling down line after use

and is now on top. If, for some reason, the bottom end must go out first, you will have to turn your coil over to free it for running.

Whipping a Line

The term whipping refers to the process of securing the ends of a line to prevent the strands from unlaying and the yams from separating or fraying. It will not increase the size of the line enough to prevent the fitting of the blocks or openings through which it must pass. Whippings are made with fine twine.

Figure 4-6 shows the steps to follow in applying a whipping. Make a loop in the end of the twine and place the loop at the end of the line, as shown in the figure. Wind the standing part around the line covering the loop of the whipping. Leave a small loop uncovered, as shown. Pass the remainder of the standing end up through the small loop and pull the dead end of the twine, thus pulling the small loop and the standing end back towards the end of the line underneath the whipping. Pull the dead end of the twine until the loop with the standing end through it reaches a point midway underneath the whipping. Trim both ends of the twine closeup against the loops of the whipping.

Before cutting a line, place two whippings on the line 1 or 2 inches apart and make the cut between the whippings, as shown in figure 4-7. This procedure prevents the ends from untwisting after they are cut.

Figure 4-7.-Cutting a line between whipping.

Inspecting Line

The exterior appearance of fiber line is not always a good indication of its internal condition. Line softens with use, and dampness, heavy loads, fraying, breaking or broken strands, and dragging over rough surfaces all contribute to line weakening and failure. Also, overloading a line can cause it to part and heavy damage to material, equipment, and serious injury to personnel can result. For these reasons, line should be inspected carefully at regular intervals to determine whether it is safe for use.

The interior of a line can be checked by untwisting the strands slightly. Line that is mildewed gives off a musty odor. Broken strands or yams usually can be spotted immediately by a trained observer. You will want to look carefully to ensure there is no dirt or sawdust-like material inside the line. The presence of dirt or other foreign matter indicates possible damage to the internal structure of the line. In line having a central core, the core should not break away in small pieces upon examination. If this occurs, it indicates that the line has been overloaded. Additionally, a decrease in line circumference is usually a sure sign that an excessive strain has been applied to the line.

For a thorough inspection, a line should be examined at several places. After all, only one weak spot-anywhere in the line-makes the entire line weak. As a final check if the line appears to be satisfactory in all aspects, pull out a couple of fibers from the line and try to break them. Sound fibers show a strong resistance to breakage.

If an inspection discloses any unsatisfactory conditions in a line, destroy it or cut it into small pieces as soon as possible. This precaution will prevent the possibility of the defective line being used for hoisting purposes, but save the small pieces for miscellaneous uses on the jobsite.

As with manila, nylon line is measured by circumference. Nylon, as manila, usually comes on a reel of 600 to 1,200 feet, depending upon the size.

Storing Line

When fiber line is to be stored, certain precautions must be taken to safeguard the line against deterioration. A line should never be stored when wet. Always dry the line well before placing it in storage.

After being used, a line should be coiled down in a clockwise direction (assuming it is a right-hand lay). Should the line be kinked from excessive turns, remove them by the procedure known as "thorough footing." This is accomplished by coiling the line down counterclockwise and then pulling the bottom end of the coil up and out the middle of the coil. If the line is free of kinks as it leaves the coil, make it up in the correct manner. If the line is still kinked, repeat the process before making up the line for storage.

Where you store line deserves careful consideration. Line deteriorates rapidly if exposed to prolonged dampness; therefore, it is important that the storage area is dry, unheated, and well-ventilated. To permit proper air circulation, place the line in loose coils on a wood grating platform about 6 inches ( 15 cm) above the floor. You can also hang the line in loose coils on a wooden peg. Avoid continuous exposure of line to sunlight because excessive sunlight can damage the line. Do not store nylon line in strong sunlight. Cover it with tarpaulins.

As a final precaution, line should NEVER be exposed to lime, acids, or other chemicals, or even stored in a room containing chemicals. Even the fumes may severely damage the line.

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