the snapping cable myth

[Rig-Pig]

just wanted everyone to know, that i just finished watching the episode of mythbusters where they try to cut a pig in half with a cable.  the largest size they used was 5/8 inch thick, pulled it to 30,000 lbs; cut it.  the results.... pig got slapped silly, but no cut... not even a surface abrasion.  there was enough of a blunt hit to kill someone, but not cut them in half.
moral of the story- when using winch lines, use a proper tension reducer. you wont get cut in half, but it CAN KILL YOU!!

[Ostego]

I've witnessed a cable break, come back and go through a windshield...lucky the winch operator was outside of the truck and behind the door when this happened.
But yeah...I've always called BS on people who say the cable will "cut you in half".

[Vinman]

I'm pretty sure that after the cable killed me I wouldn't care too much if it cut me in half.

[WhiteOut]

I read a post on JF I think about how a 3lb shackle or tow hook breaking loose from a stuck vehicle will be moving close to 300MPH, so the best way to stop this kinda think from happening is make sure that your tow points are good and sturdy and throw a jacket or blanket over your winch line.

[yyc_tbird_sc]

First off, I must say that I do admire what the guys on Mythbusters go through to get results....however, I do have one problem with this myth.

Where they placed the "victim", the cable would just wrap around it. Now this could kill you, and I think we can all admit that it would at least break many bones....but if the pig was on the outside arc of the end of the cable (in the path of the cut end of the cable), I really do believe that there is more than enough metal and speed there to cut alot of things wide open.