larger thimble(eye) on steels. good or bad?

[colydog]

Voices of experience, and also those of learner point riggers welcomed. (Learners,dont be put off by "that angry man", he just wants to be loved but can't express it without the promise of money, violence, or a bus shelter for the night*)

 

There seems to be a trend with some S/W/Rope manufacturers moving towards a larger thimble. I've had, and heard a few concerns as to how practical or not this is, and why the manufacturers feel the need to take this route.

 

Initially I was thinking that it allows the manufacturers to provide a product that will do the same job with lesser quality materials whilst keeping within the nessassary parameters, but I may well be wrong. Maybe the shorter curviture over the smaller thimbles in the steels we previously were used to does not allow for the differenciation in stresses in the steel wire rope between the inside (point of contact/compression) and outside (tension).

 

 

Anyone have their own ideas?

 

Better still.............. The answer!

 

Ta.

[Cougar]

Don't know about the real reason but the ones I can see are the angle that the wire is bent at at the end, the compression issue is fairly likely. The other is ease of use all the small eye steels I have used have been a lot more awkward when it comes to putting shackles through them. As long as the strength of the steel isn't adversely affected by the design then surely the easier to use and thus less likely to be dropped etc the better.