cable length adjustment by twisting

[John Slaughter]

I have seen it advised, or at least mentioned as a possibility, that structural wire cables can be adjusted in length by twisting, possibly even eliminating the turnbuckle. When I tried this at home the strands opened up in an ugly way- can any knowledgeable A & P or otherwise evaluate this idea? It doesn't seem right, but eliminating the weight and complexity of a turnbuckle is attractive...

[Richard Roller]

Not a good idea at all. Twisted one way you open the lay of the cable and expose the insides to grit and dirt. The other way you tighten the twist and with the flight loads overstress the cable.

[John Slaughter]

Thanks Richard- just another example of "easy not being best".