Friday Fax
A Weekly Summary of Polywater® News of Incredible Importance
Issue #416

EC&M Magazine
          We don't know if it'll ever see print, but EC&M Magazine recently hired a freelance writer to do an article on cable pulling.   His research led him to a "Technical Talk" article by APC that lists six criteria for selecting a lube: Coefficient of Friction, Wetting, Coating, Shear Resistance, Cable Manufacturer Approval, and Cable Compatibility.   He asked us to help flesh out these six characteristics in non-academic terms that are "readily available from such simple research as visiting the mfr website or asking the electrical supplier."   (Well, good luck with that!)   We decided to share our responses, starting this week with ...

American Polywater's Technical Talk Newsletter.
          Lubricant Criterion #1: Coefficient of Friction (COF) – This is essentially a lubrication measurement and, like a golf score, lower is better.   This is the single most important factor in lubricant selection because, after all, a lube is supposed to lubricate by reducing friction.   Many manufacturers publish a single COF for their lubricant, but buyer beware: COF is dependent on many factors.   What you experience in the field may bear little resemblance to the factory number.   Why?   Every combination of cable jacket and conduit type results in a different COF—regardless of the lubricant used.   Temperature, humidity, and other factors can also make a single published number misleading.   Use manufacturers who test lubricants in multiple scenarios and publish cable-specific, field-tested (back-calculated) "effective" COFs.   Or buy an inexpensive cable pulling software program (aka Pull-Planner 2000) with an embedded COF database.   See Technical Talk #1 for more information.

The Friday Fax Editor's Joke of the Week
The Joke
                              Alligator Advisory.   The Florida Department of Fish and Wildlife is advising hikers, hunters, fishermen, golfers, and tourists in general to take extra precautions and stay alert for alligators while in Alachua, Marion, Lake, Collier, Lee, Seminole, Osceola, Polk, Brevard, Putnam, Hillsborough, and Orange counties.   They advise people to wear noise producing devices such as little bells on their shoes or clothing to alert but not startle the alligators unexpectedly.   They also advise the carrying of pepper spray in case of an encounter with an alligator.   It is also a good idea to watch for fresh signs of alligator activity.   People should learn to recognize the difference between small young alligator and large adult alligator droppings.   Young alligator droppings are smaller and contain fish bones and possibly bird feathers.   Adult alligator droppings have little bells in them and smell like pepper spray.

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Copyright © 2006 American Polywater Corporation -- Issue Date: 9/1/06

American Polywater Corporation -- The world's leading manufacturer of cable pulling lubricants, cable cleaners, and MRO & construction chemicals.
P.O. Box 53 | Stillwater, MN 55082 USA
1-(651) 430-2270 (Voice) | 1-(651) 430-3634 (Fax)
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