Mainline Tension Grips

[NH Maplemaker]

Is there another source for buying Mainline tension baskets other than maple dealers? You know the stainless ones that go over the mainline pipe for pulling! Thank you!

Jim L.

[Haynes Forest Products]

They might be costly but Elec supply houses use them for pulling wire. Sprinkler supply also have them for there pipe pullers.

[Russell Lampron]

Jim you might be able to get them from an electrical supply house. Lowes, Home Depot and other hardware stores don't carry them. They are actually called service drops. I have not been able to find an online source that is less expensive than Bascom's believe it or not.

[maple flats]

I ran short on some and ordered 6 from our local electrical supply house. I should have been smart enough to ask ahead but I KNEW the maple companies charge a premium so I just ordered them. When they came if I picked them up and got a real shock. They cost me $19.45 each for the size to fit 3/4" mainline and my Leader dealer sells them for $9.25 each. That was the first time I found a maple dealer cheaper than another source and also the last time I order without getting the price first. And the ones I ordered did not have a special order or small order charge nor a shipping charge added on.

[maple flats]

For a few years i did not use them but I now use one on each main line or branch line at each end. I anchor the top with one anchored to the top anchor tree and then I have one at the bottom anchored with a medium heavy spring to the bottom anchor tree. The spring is tied with a rope and I adjust the spring tension. I am finding when I do it this way the line can expand and contract but does not get the dips I used to get between my tie wires in spots. I use a spring with about a 12' relaxed length and tie a rope to streatch it until I have about 70-80 lbs of tension. In the beginning I need to re tighten the spring every day or 2 but once it has tightened the line I have not needed to re tighten. The longest line i have is 900', If it was way longer I might need a longer spring.

[Homestead Maple]

Polypropylene hollow braid rope, the 3/8" size works good for 5/16" tubing and I used to be able to find larger size poly rope for 3/4 and 1" but I haven't looked for it in awhile.

[Amber Gold]

I got mine from Ralph Pill and I know Rockingham Electric (they're both local electric supply companies). The one's for 3/4" cost me $12 something. They're also called kellum grips and I also believe strain relievers (or something like that).

[NH Maplemaker]

Broke down yesterday and picked some up at Bascom's. Believe it or not they were the cheapest around on the price!! The 3/4 were $11.25ea and the 1"were $13.85 ea !! So you never know. Pays to check round. I like the rope idea, But would be afraid that it would beak down from sun after a while! I do use it on my 5/16 drops.

Jim L.