Sta-lok Wire Dimension Tolerance

[lavery]

Brion,
Thank you for your response. Mr. Paul Harrison (V.P. Sales) at STA-LOK also doubts the existence of 19/64 Stainless 1/19 wire.

I find it on all 4 lowers and the bobstay. I measure as you describe with my electronic caliper at 19/64” or 7.5xx mm. The caliper clearly measures other wires at 9/32” or 1/4.” Mr. Harrison suggests problems using 19/64 wire with STA-LOK fittings, below.

Regarding wire tolerances with STA-LOK fittings, Mr. Harrison comments:
“All of our fittings are designed to go on standard size wire used in the marine industry around the world, i.e. imperial wire sizes 3//16” ¼” , 9/32, 5/16”, 3/8” etc and metric wire sizes 4,5,6,7,8,10mm etc, I have never heard of any 19/64” Stainless Steel 1 x 19 wire unless it is some 9/32 wire that is quite a bit over size. Now if it is 9/32” wire that is that much over size, it could cause you a lot of problems getting the wedges from the 9/32” fittings onto that wire, and in fact you may not even be able to get them on and 5/16” fittings are only designed to go on 5/16” wire."

I have since surveyed other owners of my make and model. The original specification is for 9/32 where I have 19/64. Given the comments of both you and Mr. Harrison, I will abandon my $200 coil of non-standard 19/64 wire, in favor of standard 9/32 wire and fitting sizes.

Coming to this conclusion would have been much more difficult for me without the clarity and expertise generously shared by both of you.

James Lavery
s/v Hoku Ke’a, SC31
Anchorage, Alaska