has anyone replaced heat shrink tube on climber stand cables?

[loworange88]

Morning!  I'd like to replace the heat shrink/rubber coating on my summit cables.  I've found the stuff on Ebay for about $20.  Just wondering if anyone has done it before and had some feedback.  I'm not about to give Summit $40 plus shipping for new cables when mechanically mine are fine, just the outer coating is beat up, the stand was new this year, and I only used it for one season.

 

Thanks.

[ants]

One of my summits is at least 10 years old and the coating is torn up pretty good but the cables are fine. No real rust or frays so I don't worry about it.

If you replace the coating I assume you would have to strip all the old stuff off. 

 

If you do it let us know how it comes out.

[loworange88]

OK will do.  I don't know if Lowes or HD sell heat shink tube in that large of a diameter and in roll form.  I know a few industrial shops that do....also the ebay market has them.  I actually have 2 vipers now.  I just picked up a used, older steel one that's in good shape for $55, the cables on that one are not rusted either, so once I knife off the coating and see the whole thing, they will get recoated as well as on my new viper.  I picked up the used one to use specifically as my "leave it out in the woods" stand.  I have a spot that's a long walk, so I'd like to leave a climber out there....my new stand still has that monetary new smell, so I was not about to leave it out in the woods.

[wildcat junkie]

OK will do.  I don't know if Lowes or HD sell heat shink tube in that large of a diameter and in roll form.  I know a few industrial shops that do....also the ebay market has them.  I actually have 2 vipers now.  I just picked up a used, older steel one that's in good shape for $55, the cables on that one are not rusted either, so once I knife off the coating and see the whole thing, they will get recoated as well as on my new viper.  I picked up the used one to use specifically as my "leave it out in the woods" stand.  I have a spot that's a long walk, so I'd like to leave a climber out there....my new stand still has that monetary new smell, so I was not about to leave it out in the woods.

 

If you are concerned about rust, I would think that shrink tube would only increase the likelihood.

 

[loworange88]

If you are concerned about rust, I would think that shrink tube would only increase the likelihood.

 

 

If left exposed the steel cables will rust.....if wiped down with a light coat of oil, covered and sealed, I'm quite certain they will hold up a lot longer than if not.

[reeltime]

make sure you don't use the slippery plastic heat shrink like is used for shrink wrapping electrical wires.   I know the wrap on my summit cable is more of a rubber type of tubing vs the slick style like the shrink tubing I use for electrical work. 

 

my feelings are that the cable is one of the contact points for the stand, certainly nothing to experiment with.  20.00 -vs- 40.00 for 20 bucks I am not taking a chance of putting the wrong stuff on there and having the stand slip because I tried to save 20.00.

 

I would buy the cable from summit and keep the old one as a spare but that's just me.

 

 

[wildcat junkie]

If left exposed the steel cables will rust.....if wiped down with a light coat of oil, covered and sealed, I'm quite certain they will hold up a lot longer than if not.

If you use the wrong type of shrink tube the moisture might penetrate through capillary action. Chevy had a problem with tailgate cables back around 2004 or so.

 

You can get shrink tube with or without adhesive. If you use tube with adhesive, it might make a better seal.

[turkeyfeathers]

You can buy the replace shrink coating direct from Summit for $17.99. Cables are $39.99   I was looking at the site a few weeks ago. My cables have some wear and thought about it. Maybe over the summer I'll tackle it.

[loworange88]

Thanks for the input everyone.  $17.99 direct from summit isn't too bad...vs. $40.  Definitely a summer project, too cold to be out in the garage messing around right now.

[turkeyfeathers]

On a side note : has anyone ever smacked them themselves maneuvering the cables out of the housing You know how you stick them in the housing as far as you can for transport. Couple years ago it was ball shrinking cold out , it's dark , face frozen and "thwack ", right in the mouth I caught it as I pulled them out. Joyous moment and deer heard a few f bombs lol

[maytom]

make sure you don't use the slippery plastic heat shrink like is used for shrink wrapping electrical wires.   I know the wrap on my summit cable is more of a rubber type of tubing vs the slick style like the shrink tubing I use for electrical work. 

 

my feelings are that the cable is one of the contact points for the stand, certainly nothing to experiment with.  20.00 -vs- 40.00 for 20 bucks I am not taking a chance of putting the wrong stuff on there and having the stand slip because I tried to save 20.00.

 

I would buy the cable from summit and keep the old one as a spare but that's just me.

 

 

Ditto that,  besides then you don't have to bother doing it yourself!!  

[The_Real_TCIII]

On a side note : has anyone ever smacked them themselves maneuvering the cables out of the housing You know how you stick them in the housing as far as you can for transport. Couple years ago it was ball shrinking cold out , it's dark , face frozen and "thwack ", right in the mouth I caught it as I pulled them out. Joyous moment and deer heard a few f bombs lol

ive slung it around the tree and whacked my ear. Feels awesome when it's freezing out

[Dom]

I myself do not use climber stands.My ? is why not use stainless steel cables.I have a dog run that I made about 6 years ago and still as shiny and as strong as the day I put it up 

[ants]

The summit I mentioned earlier, with the torn up coating ,stays in the woods for a couple months every season. I have even left it there until spring time. I have no serious rust on the cables at all……Maybe they are galvanized or have some other rust proofing on them.

I check my stands to make sure they are safe and I am not concered at all about using it. The only disadvantage, to the frayed cables, right now, might be that they are loud because of the metal to metal contact, when setting the thing up.

[Black Bellamy]

Mine are a little torn up in places but there's no rust anywhere even though I leave the thing in the woods all season.   Last year they closed the access road early and I didn't feel like humping it out so I left it there for 10 months.   When I found it all it needed was a good wipe.

[turkeyfeathers]

I ain't leaving a $300+ climber in the woods. You guys must have a lot of $$

[The_Real_TCIII]

The summit I mentioned earlier, with the torn up coating ,stays in the woods for a couple months every season. I have even left it there until spring time. I have no serious rust on the cables at all……Maybe they are galvanized or have some other rust proofing on them.

I check my stands to make sure they are safe and I am not concered at all about using it. The only disadvantage, to the frayed cables, right now, might be that they are loud because of the metal to metal contact, when setting the thing up.

i lined the inside where the cable goes with moleskin, it cut the noise considerably

[dbHunterNY]

my summit open shot comes in with me and leaves with me.  even on private ground like my parents farm where only family hunts.  I've got a pack of the Summit replacement tubing right now but haven't put it on yet.  go slow as to not put too much heat to it or they get brittle and will crack and break open shortly after.  also a pair of cutting pliers work much better than a hunting knife or sheetrock/utility knife.

[turkeyfeathers]

i lined the inside where the cable goes with moleskin, it cut the noise considerably

This a great idea. Going to do this tonight before I forget about it .