MATERIAL TYPES
Most carbon Steel used for snares is called Improved Plow steel (IPS). The basic elements for Carbon steel are carbon, magnesium, phosphorus, Sulfur and silicon in a specific formula. Generally a higher carbon content creates a stronger wire. All snares cable is either non galvanized or galvanized carbon steel or stainless steel. Non galvanized Carbon steel cable will degrade back into the environment in an accept able period of time allowing it to be environmentally friendly. This cable will oxidize forming a light coat of rust. This coating is not a problem with snares unless left outdoors for several months. Light oxidation reduces any shinny reflective properties and does not interfere with locking action. There have been reports of using snares made of non galvanized single strand several times and up to two or three years before becoming unusable. Galvanized "aircraft" cable is Carbon steel with a zinc coating applied. Galvanized cable is shinny and will oxidize at a slower rate than non galvanized cable. For this reason it becomes necessary to treat the surface to dull the finish. When trappers use solutions such as baking soda etc. to "dull"galvanized cable it becomes more susceptible to rust. The galvanized coating can easily be scrapped off by locks sliding on the wire. Galvanized cable is also softer than non galvanized cable. Galvanized cable is not as environmentally friendly as non galvanized cable and can remain in the environment for many years. This does not mean it's a bad choice. It only means greater effort must be taken to retrieve the material after use. Stainless cable is made with smaller amounts of carbon, magnesium and a higher content of silicon. It also has the additional elements of chromium and nickel. Stainless steel cable is a "self healing" product which means if the surface is scrapped or sanded to dull the surface it Will respond to oxygen and reform its properties. Stainless Steel will not readily oxidize and can remain in the environment indefinitely making it unfriendly to the environment. This does not mean it's a bad choice . It only means greater effort must be taken to retrieve the material after use.
CABLE (Wire Rope) MANUFACTURING
1x19, 7x7 and 7x19 cable is constructed of stranded wire. The term carbon steel is interchangeable with the term I.P.S. TERMS TO REMEMBER: WIRE: A single piece of wire such as bailing wire, stove pipe wire , tie wire, etc. STRAND: Consisting of more than one wire. MULTI STRAND: Consisting of more than one strand. While Single Strand is called "stranded wire" and Multi Strand is called "wire rope". For simplicity we will call both "cable".
| Wire Rope Manufacturers either purchase draw wire from Wire Manufacturers or draw it themselves to make stranded wire and wire rope. Draw wires are combined in various constructions to make strands and strands are combined in various constructions to make wire rope. Single Strand is multi Wire and Wire Rope is multi Strand. Most of these wires or strands are "preformed" in a spiral shape so they all fit together without unraveling (see drawing). If the cable unravels extensively when cut it is not preformed and should not be used! Non preformed cable is often found at a local hardware or retail store. Stranded Wire and Wire Rope are not crucible" - they are twisted into shape. | |
STRANDED WIRE
Wire Strand is made of two or more wires twisted together and is multi wire. Wire Strand is never called cable. The term "cable" is not a technical term and is commonly used to define electrical cable, wire rope, fiber optic cables etc.This term is misused in the Snaring industry. Wires are combined in various constructions to make strands. Steel strand for snares typically consist of two types. These are 1x7 (1-6 One Layer construction) and 1x19 (1-6-12 Two Layer construction). (see drawing). We are talking about STEEL STRAND and not Wire Rope or cable.