Marking Wire Rope?

[Die.Fledermaus]

I have been doing a bit of winching lately and it occurred to me it would be handy to mark the cable every 20ft or so. I have some nice goo type shrink wrap (adhesive lined) or just random rattle can paint or 1-shot.

What would one use to put very visuals 2-3 inch marks in wire rope?

 

[CHKNFKR]

Electrical tape. Its cheap and available in a number of colors. The heat shrink thing woukd work, but its a winch, you'd be redoing it every other time you use the winch, tape is cheaper and easier to apply.

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I think paint would work the best. Tape or anything else over the cable is just going to be chewed off as it spools.

 

[legoms013]

I took Red rustoleum and painted the very first 5' of steel cable, and yellow rustoleum and painted the last 5' of cable out to the hook.

2 years later and it is still visable, though very worn off. Hard to completely wear it off though due to the complex surface area of the cable. Works good enough to visually aid you.

My vote is paint (good enamel paint not Krylon) as shrink wrap or tape you will have replace everytime you need to use the winch...

 

[Die.Fledermaus]

Good tip, I wasn't even thinking of the end. So three wraps of the drum, then paint the next 10 feet red. That is when it matters the most.

 

[Rolled Ranger]

What would be the need to make the winch cable? So you know when you are getting to the end?

 

[Die.Fledermaus]

Well I unwound the wire today, the pinch bolt on the drum was buggered so I wasn't able to try the shrink wrap.
I used some rustoleum sunrise red (quart style) to make 1 inch marks every 10 feet, not as bright as I was hoping but enough to take crude measurements.

In hindsight, next time I think I'll do a checker board pattern 10ft color:10ft plain.