The Chicago grip I believe is also known as a 'porkchop', a cammed cable gripper. I had one of those and I know 'about' where it is in one opf my spreads of mulch..... when I can get a metal detector in my hands I'll go find it.
You can use a prussik to grip the cable if you attach a vice-grip. The vise-grip to use has the jaw that is shaped to grip a hex nut, as it grips the cable circumferentially, but any pair will work. The other models, though, grip by squeezing from opposite sides. I take a piece of webbing, or the finger from a leather glove, cover the cable with it, and then tightly grip the glove-over-the-cable. This protects and keeps from crimping or shaving off any of the zinc coating. The prussik is attached ahead of the vise grip and thus won't slide unless the vise-grip itself slides.
Generally I use this thingy that's used to grip and pull barbed wire. it will just fit over a 5/16" cable and I use the vise-grip trick to keep it from slipping as it otherwise sometimes will.
I also carry a pair of mini vise grips. These make swift the un-twising of the cable end, and also the bending of the middle cable strand that stops the inner wire-stop cone. I also bend the other six outer strands inward, not that it's needed, but it gives a better finished look. |