Minimum number of dead wraps on bull drum?

[Stormtrooper]

Does anyone know what the minimum number of dead wraps allowed on a drum or reel for stringing wire. I have heard it is 2 but not sure as OSHA has a few options. I can't find the answer in the Handbook or under internet searches but I am sure someone here can tell me. Thanks for any help.

[adamr_41]

We use TSE tensioners with the Bull Wheel, and I always change out reels when there is 2 wraps left on reel. We had a rep. from TSE tell our saftey supervisor that 2 wraps was the min. Hope this helps.

[adamr_41]

Just make sure that the end of the wire is stapled to the reel good.

[returntotheeve]

Two is light for my tastes. Four or five and "Hold the pull." You don't know how much friction is on any given reel. We had a crew lose the wire on a hard angle. Whipped through the blocks and slammed a Wendy's drive thru. Blamed it on bad radio or whatever. Its easier and much cooler in front of the ladies if you don't hafta pick up de wires. Or pay for windshields!

[Squizzy]

Two is getting a little close to slipping for me. What I have done in the past is when its getting right down as some system designer has measured from point to point on the GPS positions on the monitor and ordered an extra 3 meters for a 150 meter run of bundled. Is wind it back up, re-staple it 3 or feet back from the end ,take the end off the drum and connect a pulling sock and another winch rope. Pass the winch rope five or so times around the drum and keep it tight and roll the whole drum off while keeping the "new winch rope tight.

[old lineman]

That is one of those questions that has no hard and set rule. If a reel has weathered and rotted it' different than a new wood reel. If it is steel that's another case.
For safety sake why would you want to use the last 50 or so feet. That's not even a span.
Safer to discard it than take a chance.
If you MUST use the last few feet grip it, slack it and put a bull rope on it with five + turns or use a winch as Squizzy says.
What ever floats your boat.
Watching the secure end bust loose and the sag falling away is a helpless feeling if not dangerous.
The Old Lineman

[BigClive]

Two is light for my tastes. Four or five and "Hold the pull." You don't know how much friction is on any given reel. We had a crew lose the wire on a hard angle. Whipped through the blocks and slammed a Wendy's drive thru. Blamed it on bad radio or whatever. Its easier and much cooler in front of the ladies if you don't hafta pick up de wires. Or pay for windshields!

That's justification alone for carrying a small digital camera with you. :D

It's also one of those situations that you instantly regret all the passers-by having a camera on their mobile phone!

[mainline]

We usually leave two to three wraps on the drum. We haven't had any problems. You definitely want a few good staples driven into the reel, in case you numb it.

[returntotheeve]

We are talking about pulling straight off the reel. Well as stated before, I've seen some goofy shit happen. We had an old nasty reel of 1/o tree wire collapse during a pull. Probably shouldn't use a wire reel for sagging purposes. What a mess. Just realize you're putting alot of faith in 14 ft of wire,staples, and knotted wood. Hell run it through the drums. Brakes beautifully, no wave, no worries about losing it, five extra minutes. Keep that rope handy. By the way, OSHA knows less about linework than we know about satisfying women. Our local OSHA rep/agent looks to us about simple operations. Us your own sense, be safe.

[Special ED]

Pulling under tension straight off the reel is plumb crazy to me.. Use the bull wheel on the tensioner and things will go alot smoother.. And dont do like me one forman did and splice the conductor when the reel ran out with another just get ya a swivel and 2 kellum grips it will make it alot easier on ya. Pullin 795 with sleeves in it is a hell of alot harder to pull through angles. But thats what ya get when your boss is tryin to suck up and beat deadlines.

[polehiker]

Quite a few years ago,(been retired over 8 yrs) A couple good old linemen and myself, was pulling in a double circuit on a 69kv line. was about 5500' long. Using bull ropes and kellums, we fed thru the bull wheels, caught off with grip, and fed new conductor thru bull wheels and spliced. The boss man engineer wanted as little waste as possible. Anyways after prelim. sag and then temp. D.Ending each phase, we did the job with 25' of scrap 795 left after the job was done. Would never use any wood reel for a tensioner device.Like I say, the whole job was about 33,000'. We thought it was pretty cool, took a little longer, but what the hell they was paying the bill and said to save all the conductor we could. Just thought as an old clumsome I would add my 5c. worth. Be safe and watch your buddies back.

[wtdoor67]

Quite a few years ago,(been retired over 8 yrs) A couple good old linemen and myself, was pulling in a double circuit on a 69kv line. was about 5500' long. Using bull ropes and kellums, we fed thru the bull wheels, caught off with grip, and fed new conductor thru bull wheels and spliced. The boss man engineer wanted as little waste as possible. Anyways after prelim. sag and then temp. D.Ending each phase, we did the job with 25' of scrap 795 left after the job was done. Would never use any wood reel for a tensioner device.Like I say, the whole job was about 33,000'. We thought it was pretty cool, took a little longer, but what the hell they was paying the bill and said to save all the conductor we could. Just thought as an old clumsome I would add my 5c. worth. Be safe and watch your buddies back.

least a couple of commentators on here are familiar with tension stringing wire. I agree that nobody would use a wooden reel for a tensioner. Maybe like to see the fire fly.

[graybeard]

Alot of good tips on this one just want to add one thing. If wooden reels (even if they are new)always tighten the bolts that hold the reel together. And I would leave at least 4 raps and you can still rig it to catch the wire and keep waste to a minimum if you have too.