Cable or Plasma?

[BigSi]

Here is a quick and easy poll for you all.

[DEANO3528]

Not so quick and easy really.
While a 101 hauled itself out of a hole with plasma last weekend while using Shed as an anchor, I wouldn't be so sure that a 130 would while I know that their 30mm cable will definitely work!

[Range Rover Blues]

Plasma, it's safer, end of.


But then it's lighter too, as is your pocket once you are the proud owner.  Know it's limitations, like if you have a back winch for lowering away, fit cable and/or a Superwinch.

As my winch is demountable I think it's heavy enough with Dynema.

[Jas278]

While plasma is safer , I have seen it fail , Depends which type of whinch you have also seen it melt....Also what you using it for ,for general laning cable is fine.............and for how often  you use it ...

[rollazuki]

OK Plasma:

For: light,floats,easy to handle, you can throw it to dry ground,doesnt tangle,safer,wear and tear very visible,re-spools easily on drum,wont cut hands with little wires sticking out,minimal stretch,can be repaired/knotted,blah blah blah

against: probably wears a little faster than cable(probably 'cos you will use it more)



Wire Cable:

For: Might be a little tougher than plasma wear wise....erm thats it

Against: Dangerous, can spring back badly if broken, birds nests if unspooled, heavy, has nasty little wire snags. needs to be re-spooled neatly, sinks, hard to repair in the field, hides signs of wear and tear, has to be carried, cant be thrown, needs to be maintained a fair bit, did I mention dangerous.




Oh yeah, wire cable is a bit cheaper, so I guess If you wanna go cheap, get cable.......nuff said.











ps, Ive used both quite a lot, and its from experience I speak.

[Welshbreed]

cable:

tends to kill people, and sheer vehicles
rusts
kinks
leaves rust staines on bumbers
strong, to a point
heavy


plasma rope:

potentially kills people, dents vehicles
may melt, suggest splising with another type of rope
when wet, is stronger than when dry
lighter on vehicle

[Range Rover Blues]

One thing to add, plasma may not be 100% UV stable, I know it fades with timie but if you leave it uncovered it may weaken with time.

And I too have seen plasma rope fail.  A dull thud as it snapped, no recoil, I still have all my fingers and toes and had I known how to it could have been repaired there and then.

[Xtremeteam]

plasma rope all the way

However can we remember that all synthetic winch ropes arent plasma

there is only one plasma which is plasma 12 strand imported into the Uk By Andy T of rufftraks & sold by D44 etc,

all otheres are varyations on this & shouldnt be mixed up,

95% of competitors at this years muddytruckers ran with Plasma12 strand which itself says something,
i had amstell blue ( not brand new but still usable) in 11mm & i broke it with a warn 12k winch, now run the 8274 with gigglepin internals & an Xp motor which has more punch than the 12k & with plasma12 it keeps going,


Genuine Plasma 12strand all the way !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dazliss]

Errr an old seat belt from the scrappy??? :lol:  :lol:  :lol:

[Manicminer]

What diameter is your wire rope?

[BigSi]

What diameter is your wire rope?

It currently it has plasma rope, but unfortunately due to some damage it requires replacing. I think if it was wire I would require 9.0mm (Warn XD9000i).

[Hobnailkelly]

Plasma don't work with my Tirfor ...

As I haven't got one of these fancy electric jobbies thats's all I can say.

[extreme90]

9.5mm x 100ft of plasma..nuff said

as for it melting, thats because the idiots dont no there winches and the limits on lowering out with plasma

ive seen one guy with a x9 pulling in when it should have been ( if he wasnt so far up his own rear end and listend to me) paying out, but he wouldnt listen and said that was the correct way  :roll:

pulled the cable off afterwards to find it all melted  :P

plasma 12 strand any day

none of this marlow crud that the orange company sell that snapps under its 2st use  :shock:
dan

[Mudlark]

However can we remember that all synthetic winch ropes arent plasma

Ahh but as all synthetic winch ropes are made from the same base material it would make them the same


Just because it says Plasma and comes from D44 it doesn't make it any better :twisted:  :twisted:  :twisted:  :twisted: .....
















































Or worse

[Xtremeteam]

However can we remember that all synthetic winch ropes arent plasma

Ahh but as all synthetic winch ropes are made from the same base material it would make them the same


Just because it says Plasma and comes from D44 it doesn't make it any better :twisted:  :twisted:  :twisted:  :twisted: .....
















































Or worse

 i think you will find they are not all the same

do you have synthetic?

[Mudlark]

Yes I do but the dyneema, partially because I knew when I was told I'd get it the next day, I'd get it the next day and not have to phone the supplier everyday to find out what the latest excuse was for not sending it was :lol:  :lol:

However doing research for something else led me to the information that all winch ropes use the same base material - described differently in different countries but otherwise exactly the same

How the strands are put together may be different but probably only slightly

[rollazuki]

Goddamit, I have to agree with Mudlark!

The base material is the same, trademark owned by ONE company, and basically they all start out life as carrier bag material.......

Some do have fancy coatings tho to reduce wear and tear, and to keep them more UV stable.

[BigSi]

Just out of interest where is the best place to buy Cable (100 feet 9.0mm) or Plasma (100 feet 12 strand) rope?

Should there be a different fairlead for Plasma rope than wire cable?  :-k  :-k  :-k  :-k

[extreme90]

cable, id go to phil gordon down at p.g winches, IIRC 34quid for the size you want

plasma 12 strand, personal preference here andy-t up at ruftraks is the importer of the stuff, but i get mine from devon 4x4  :roll:

you will need a different fairlead for plasma where as wire you use the roller fairlead which comes a std with any self recovery winch

dan

[Ja1983]

wire, as it came with my winch, i dont use my winch that often (not even fitted yet!) and am aware of and excercise caution if and when operating near any steel cable under load.  :)

..i`m also a tight B...... yorkshireman, nuff said!