"chinese fingers" sources?

[tuckermtn]

looking to see if there are any other (other than Bascoms, etc) sources for the mainline wire mesh grips - known typically as chinese fingers...

grangier? Mcmaster? what is the technical term for them?

[Maple Hill Sugarhouse]

post edited

[jrthe3]

i got mine at lowes they where in the electric section used for pulling wire down condoit it was a few years back but i think i only payed like 5 dollars

[royalmaple]

THey are called kelums, you can get them at electric supply houses. About 1/2 price from anyone.

[sapman]

Is this the same thing as a tension grip?

Tim

[Russell Lampron]

Yes it is.

[markct]

so whats the reason for these? i have seen them advertised for gripping mainling and thought they seemed like a good idea but everyone seems to use wire and tie the mainline to it instead so i must be missing something? i would love it if i could just put one of these on each end of the mainline and pull it tight

[maplwrks]

You're on the right track Mark---once you pull it tight from each end, wire tie it to the wire. You will never have sags with your mainlines installed this way.

[markct]

ahh ok so the chinese fingers are just to pull the line tight before you tie it up

[ennismaple]

Four or five half hitches around the pipe does the same thing for tensioning mainline tubing.

[brookledge]

markct
They can be used to grip the mainline when there is no mainline wire used. I have always used 4 ga. wire but I have seen sugarbushes with no wire just the pipeline. And the use of the grips on each end.
Keith

[bison1973]

So do you leave the "chinese fingers" with tension after you've tied the mainline to the wire?

[brookledge]

What I was talking about is no mainline wire, just tension on the black plastic pipe. I have seen more than one producer do it that way. I though still use 4ga. wire because I have always gotten it free. It's about 1/4" in dia.
Keith

[Valley View Sugarhouse]

normally you use wire too.. the tension grip will pull it tight while you tie it, without it, it is hard to get all the curl from the pipe bein rolled up, out of the pipe.. After a few seasons the pipe will start to show sags here and there if you do not use it..

[Amber Gold]

I went to Lowe's in Concord, NH tonight to find the tension grips and they don't have them and have never heard of them. Any other ideas for a local source for the tension grips?

Also went to TSC on the way home. It was like Christmas. Great store. They have a 30+/- gpm 2-stroke pump for $240 and it weighs 9 lbs for anyone who's looking.

[brookledge]

Might try an electrical supply store. They are sometimes used for pulling cable and wire through conduit.
Keith

[markct]

so with this wireless mainline system how do ya keep the joints from pulling apart? i have some trees along the edge of a field that i am planning to do on half inch mainline and this might work nice with no wire but i can imagine it coming apart from the tension

[jrthe3]

i know home depot carry them i just got one this weekend it was in the ele. section buy the wrie stripper and other tools

[Amber Gold]

Thanks. I'll check them out.

[brookledge]

Markct
The locations I have seen mainline up with no wire were good slopes and used the saddle type manifolds for the lateral lines. As for couplings you could use wire to tie each one together, put hose clamps on and then tie wire to the back side of each clamp.
Keith

[Homestead Maple]

markct,
If your only going to use 1/2 inch main line, have you thought about making some grips out of hollow braid poly rope?

[treefinder]

i to am going to get some kelums this year as all my main line get like and accordian have way through the season and have to retighten all the time ,and the tubing is wire tied every 4 to 6".wire is tight you could play a tune on it and it still does it .its not just one or two all of them do it..any ideas on why its doing this?

[treefinder]

never mind i just found out why. i was cranking my wire ties down as tight as i could get them . leader says that they should just be snug so when the main line expands it can move if not it will make dips and dives. thats exactly what mine does. thanks and ways

[Amber Gold]

Found a couple of local sources. Home Depot does carry them for $14, but they only had a couple in stock. Rockingham Electric carries them for $16. Ralph Pill Electric carries them for $12.24. Surprisingly all prices are more than Bascom's which is at $11+.