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When it comes to working as an aerial lineman, the importance of having the right tools and equipment cannot be overstated. One such tool that is essential for any lineman is the cable roller. We use cable rollers to guide cables and wires during installation and they play a critical role in ensuring that the job is done safely and efficiently.
Check out this previous article, The 4 Cable Rollers Fiber Optic Lineman Rely On, for a detailed explanation of how lineman use cable rollers to get the job done. However, today, we’ll discuss why cable roller prices are worth the money and where to buy them.
Slap on Rollers That Don’t Disappoint
Slap on rollers are great to have when you have a wide road that requires lots of rollers. Maybe you have a run that has 3 of those wide roads? We don’t use these every time we fiber, but they are a great lightweight, quick and easy cable roller that gets the job done. Plus they are definitely the cheapest roller on the list.
New
Ruegg is the industry standard and makes some quality slap on rollers that I have yet to break in 7 years. They get dropped to the ground from 30 feet up, tossed from the bucket to the roller bin in the back of the truck, plus more. So much more. Grab this 10 pack straight from Ruegg MFG on Amazon and you’ll be able to do most rural aerial runs.
Or if you only need to buy 1 or 2 you can get them individually here- Tech Tool Supply.
Used
Ebay often has slap on rollers available, but they sell quick! Give it a look and see if you can find yourself some ebay slap on cable rollers on sale.
750 Cable Rollers that can take a beating
750 cable rollers are tough and the most common type of cable roller we use. They are versatile- we use them for road crossings, corner poles, above obstacles (trees, fences, etc.). They are easy to use, don’t take as much space, but they can fail. The problem they have is the locking mechanism won’t snug to the support strand so it won’t stay in place- unless you use a bug nut 😉
I would recommend having at least 10 of these 750 rollers to confidently be able to do most backpulls/jiggin out the fiber/cable.
New
A couple stores to pick up 750 cable rollers are:
A-Aerial. Currently A-Aerial is slightly cheaper.
Used
Looking around on ebay over the years I’ve noticed that these 750 rollers in good shape sell fast.
Here’s a 750 listing I found on ebay recently.
Reliable, Versatile Power Rollers
We use power rollers on nearly every reel of fiber we install. You can place them on the line or down low with a strap. We don’t do much underground work, but when we do we often use a couple power rollers.
It’s also worth a look on ebay to find some quality used power rollers, but currently I don’t see any.
New
Georgia Underground Superstore
A lot of these power rollers come without a hook so pick one up here if you need it- Shermin Reilly ball hook
Big Clunky Must Have 90 Blocks
90 blocks are a bit more work to setup, aren’t used as often, but they sure are nice to have when installing fiber. 90 blocks require a pole mount, which is sold separate. Make sure the products are compatible with each other before purchasing.
Much like the power rollers, I don’t see any good 90 blocks for sale on ebay and A-Aerial seems to be out of stock on all their refurbished 90 blocks.
New
Used
A-Aerial (Refurbished, and often out of stock)
Final Words on Cable Rollers for Fiber Optic Lineman
In conclusion, cable rollers are a valuable investment for all aerial fiber lineman . They provide a safe and efficient way to move cables and protect them from damage during installation. The cost of a lineman cable roller may seem high at first, but it is a small price to pay for the benefits they offer. From the Slap on to the 90 block, every cable roller is needed to be well equipped to handle any work for the day.
The time and effort saved by using cable rollers can lead to increased productivity- time is money, right 😉
The benefits of lineman cable rollers make them a worthy investment for any company or individual working with heavy cables. Cable roller prices are, without a doubt in my mind, a necessity for the job and definitely worth the money.
Here’s a deep dive, The 4 Cable Rollers Fiber Optic Lineman Rely On, on how fiber lineman use the cable rollers we mentioned (Slap on, 750, Power Roller, 90 Block).