Wood framed cable railings  Printable PDF file HERE
Designing a wood railing with stainless steel cable as an in-fill
6. Spacing of cables on your end post
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Even though you use 1x19 construction cable and the cables are properly tensioned on a strong end post, there will be some flex in the cable when a load is applied.
The spacing of the cable on the end posts works together with the distance between points where the cable is supported, to minimize cable flex. The closer together the cables are spaced on the end posts, the longer the distance can be between cable support points. The reverse is also true.
Weighing the wish to use as few cables as necessary with the need to minimize cable flex, we recommend maximum vertical spacing of the cables on your end posts so there is no more than
a 3-1/4" free opening between cables. |
7. Whether to cut cables and put fittings on in
the field or use factory cut cables.
There are three choices to consider for attaching fittings to the cables.
Cables can be:
1) cut at the job site and the fittings attached using swageless fittings;
2) Cut at the job site and swaged on the cables using equipment and tools rented or purchased from Cable Art; or
3) Supplied by Cable Art, cut to length with the fittings attached, ready to install.
Swageless Fittings
Swageless fittings are installed by hand in the field. No special equipment is needed, except cable cutters. (As with any method of installing, we also recommend that you use special cable gripping pliers to keep the cable from turning when you tighten the fittings to tension the cable. Cable cutters and cable gripping pliers can be provided at a low cost by Cable Art).
The first advantage is that the holes the cables pass through in your intermediate posts do not have to be any larger than is necessary for just the bare cable to pass through. If you have fittings already attached to both ends of the cable, your intermediate post holes must be at least as large as the diameter of the smallest fitting attached to the cable. The difference between the hole and cable diameters will be 1/16” or more, which will cause more cable deflection than the tighter fit obtained if the fittings are swaged on site.
The second advantage is that there is no need to provide accurate measurements to a second party who is doing the cutting and swaging of the cables. This eliminates the possibility for misinterpreting your dimensions. In the field, the cables are cut to a slightly longer length than necessary and one end fitting is attached to the cable and then attached to an end post. The cable is then strung through the railing frame. The bare end is pulled tight at the opposite end post and marked with a permanent marker for cutting. The second end fitting is attached to the cable. The cable is tensioned, and you are done. You do not have to wait for someone else to make the cables and ship them to you and take the chance that some of them may not be cut correctly. Most importantly, you are in control of when the cables are done.
Field Swaging
Field swaging offers an advantage that you do not have in using swageless fittings, in that your choice of fittings is unlimited when you field swage. Field swaging requires the use of a swaging kit and an air compressor (see our catalog or installation guide for compressor specifications) to attach the fittings to the cables. Complete instructions are included with all orders. All of the equipment necessary is available for purchase or rental from Cable Art.
Factory Swaging
If the cables are cut and the fittings swaged by Cable Art, you do not need to use special equipment. There is a charge for cutting and swaging, but for smaller jobs the cost will be less than renting the equipment required to field swage the cables. Some Cable Art hardware is designed to pass through holes in your intermediate posts that are drilled as little as 1/16” more than the diameter of the cable, when both ends are swaged by us. You will find these fittings outlined in the following section.
Where the cable will not pass through any intermediate posts, you can order factory cut and swaged cables using any hardware. You are not limited as to the fittings you can use.
8. Selection of appropriate hardware
In selecting hardware, you will need to consider: a) whether you want to field cut and swage the cables, have them factory cut and swaged, or use swageless fittings (see No. 7 Swageless Fittings); b) hardware preferences for end posts; c) how you wish to configure your corners (if applicable); d) hardware used for stairs or severe slopes.
a) Field cut and swage, factory cut and swage, or swageless fittings on the cables. See No. 7 above to determine whether you will be field cutting and swaging, if you want the factory to cut the cables and swage on the fittings, or if you will use swageless fittings.
When the fittings are swaged on at the factory, some fittings are larger in diameter than the size of the holes you want to drill in your intermediate members (posts or cable braces). Our Push-Lock™ and Pull-Lock™ fittings are attached to the bare end of the cable after the cable is passed through your intermediate members, so you need to drill your intermediate post holes only large enough for the cable to pass through, if you use that fitting. The fittings illustrated below, however, require slightly larger holes in your intermediate members for the fittings to pass through.
If the hardware is swaged on at the factory and if the cable will pass through intermediate posts or cable braces, one end of each cable should have one of the following fittings.
The holes in your intermediate member will be drilled for the diameter of the swaged fitting passing through the intermediate member as shown in the following illustrations:
Field cut and swage, factory cut and swage, or swageless fittings on the cables. See No. 7 above to determine whether you will be field cutting and swaging, if you want the factory to cut the cables and swage on the fittings, or if you will use swageless fittings.
When the fittings are swaged on at the factory, some fittings are larger in diameter than the size of the holes you want to drill in your intermediate members (posts or cable braces). Our Push-Lock® and Pull-Lock® fittings are attached to the bare end of the cable after the cable is passed through your intermediate members, so you need to drill your intermediate post holes only large enough for the cable to pass through, if you use that fitting. The fittings illustrated below, however, require slightly larger holes in your intermediate members for the fittings to pass through.
If the hardware is swaged on at the factory and if the cable will pass through intermediate posts or cable braces, one end of each cable should have one of the following fittings.
The holes in your intermediate member will be drilled for the diameter of the swaged fitting passing through the intermediate member as shown in the following illustrations:
Where the cable will not pass through any intermediate members, you can order factory cut and swaged cables using any hardware. You are not limited to the fittings shown above.
If you will be using swageless fittings or field swaging to attach to the cables, you need to drill your intermediate post holes only large enough for the cables to pass through the posts.
If your cables will be cut and the fittings swaged on by Cable Art, you will need to provide Cable Art with measurements for your cable runs after the posts have been installed. Contact Cable Art or visit the website for the Measurement Worksheets required for factory cutting.
b) Mounting hardware on your end posts.
If you are mounting hardware on two sides of your corner posts, then your corner posts are considered end posts for this discussion.
You will need to put tensioners on at least one end of each cable run. Following are tensioning devices.
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Note: With the Invisiware ® Receiver or Receiver with Push-Lock™ stud tensioner, you will need up to 3-3/4” of space between the back of your end post and any structure to insert the fitting into the end post from the back side.
The other end of each cable run can be either a tensioner (above) or a non-tensioning device. Following are non-tensioning devices.
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Invisiware® Receivers are less expensive than fittings with fork or eye ends and do not require lag eyes and screws to mount them. When installed, they are hidden inside the end post to help preserve that special view. 20F4062 Invisiware ® Receivers are especially designed for 4x4 wood posts and can be an excellent choice for stairs and slopes as well as straight runs. |
Conclusion
Cable as a railing in-fill can be attractive, easy to install and virtually maintenance free. Understanding the above considerations when designing your cable railing will go a long way toward insuring that code requirements are met with a railing that you and your customer will be proud of.
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