Snubbing Grips for Wire and Cable Tensile Testing

Snubbing grips, also known as capstan grips, are used for tensile testing of wires, ropes, fiber bundles, and electrical cables that tend to slip during loading. They are built to hold these specimens securely where standard jaws would let them slip.

They give an accurate way to measure the strength of flexible, slippery specimens. To match a set to your work, request a personal quote.

The specimen is wrapped around a curved mandrel or capstan to create friction along its length. This distributes the load and avoids concentrating stress at a single point, which is what causes wire to fail early at the grip.

The hold follows the capstan principle: friction builds up exponentially with the wrap angle, so even a few turns around the drum can carry a load many times larger than the small force securing the free end.

Spreading the load is the key to a valid wire or cable result. Learn more about our tensile testing equipment.

Wire, rope, and cable tend to slip or get crushed in flat jaws because the load concentrates at one point. A capstan spreads the load through friction along the wrap, which holds the specimen and protects it.

That is why snubbing grips are the standard choice for these specimens. To compare for your work, talk to our team.

They are made for flexible, slippery specimens, including:

• Steel cables and reinforced wire products
• Braided conductors and electrical cables
• Ropes and fiber bundles

These are the specimens that need friction-based holding. Explore the full grips and fixtures range.

Wrapping the specimen around the capstan builds friction along its length, so the load is carried gradually rather than concentrated at one clamped point. That prevents the specimen from being crushed or failing prematurely at the jaw.

It is what lets you reach the true tensile strength of wire and cable. Learn more about our tensile testing equipment.

The free end is commonly secured with a clamp or wedge insert, which maintains stable loading throughout the test. The capstan carries most of the load while the clamp keeps the end in place.

This combination keeps the specimen steady from start to break. To set up a cable test, request a personal quote.

They are selected for specimens that require secure holding without surface damage. Because the capstan spreads the load through friction, it avoids the localized crushing a direct clamp can cause.

This matters for coated conductors and finished wire. See related consumables and jaw inserts.

They are used in cable manufacturing, laboratory testing, and quality control for structural and infrastructure applications.

Anywhere wire, rope, and cable strength is verified, they provide a secure, non-damaging hold. Explore the full grips and fixtures range.

They are suitable for testing procedures performed under ASTM, ISO, and related standards, so they fit standardized wire, rope, and cable methods.

This makes them a fit for both routine QC and certification work. See our standards and certification.

Yes. Braided conductors and electrical cables are common uses, since these are flexible and prone to slipping, and the capstan holds them securely without crushing the strands.

This makes them a good fit for cable and conductor manufacturers. To set up a conductor test, request a personal quote.

Yes. Fiber bundles and ropes are among their typical uses, since wrapping the bundle around the capstan holds all the strands together and shares the load evenly.

This gives a representative strength result for multi-strand specimens. Explore the full grips and fixtures range.

You can request a personal quote or order online. Sharing your specimen type, diameter, and load lets us recommend the right capstan setup.

For a configuration matched to your testing, request a personal quote.