Cable Lubricant
Cable pulling lubricant
Cable pulling lubricant is used to protect cable & wire from damage. This can happen when pulling cable or wire through conduit or ducting during installation. The lubricant for cable pulling works by reducing the friction of the cable. It also makes installation of the cable a lot easier. The wire pulling lubricant also speeds up the installation time, saving money on labour costs. We have 3 types of cable pulling lubricant.
Lubricant for cable pulling
Cable is made up of several layers. Usually the conducting cores are near the middle. These conducting cores are usually covered by an electrical insulating material. On most cables, the conducting cores and it’s insulation is then protected further with an outer sheath. This outer sheath is usually made from flexible plastic material or sometimes rubber. On some cables there is added protection before the outer sheath. Steel wire armoured cable or SWA cable, has a steel wire covering before the outer sheath for extra protection. The diameter of SWA cable and it’s weight is a lot higher than other types of cable. This makes it harder to pull through conduit or ducting.
When pulling cable through conduit or ducting, the outer sheath can have high friction. This has the potential to damage the cable and insulation. If there is another cable already in the conduit or ducting, this increases the chances of damage. Lubricant for cable pulling will reduce this friction and reduce the chance of damage.
Types of cable pulling lubricant
We have 3 different types:
- A gel form called CabLube Gel
- A liquid version called CabLube Liquid
- An expanding foam version called CabLube Foam
CabLube Gel
This gel version clings onto to the cable providing the highest lubrication and protection when pulling cables & wires through conduit. It is available in 500ml bottles but can be made in larger sizes.
Suitable for different types of cable & wire including power, control, instrumentation and control. It’s compatible with most common types of cable jacket materials. The lubricant is easy to apply and provides easy cleanup. Low solid contents means less duct and conduit blocking.
- Appearance: Gel
- Odour: Slight characteristic
- Colour: Azure
- Viscosity: of about 26,000 cps
- pH: 7 to 7.2
- Operating temperature: -10°C to + 50°C
- Solubility: Soluble in water
CabLube Liquid
This is a pourable and sprayable liquid lubricant designed to protect cable and wires from damage when being pulled through a conduit by reducing the friction. It is available in 500ml bottles but can be made in other sizes.
Suitable for different types of cable and wire including power, control, instrumentation and control. It’s compatible with most common types of cable jacket materials. The lubricant is easy to apply and provides easy cleanup. Low solid contents means less duct and conduit blocking.
- Appearance: viscous liquid medium
- Odor: Slight characteristic
- Colour: White transparent
- Viscosity: 52 sec. Ford Cup
- pH: 7 to 7.2
- Operating temperature: -5°C to + 50°C
- Solubility: Soluble in water
CabLube Foam
CabLube Foam is a 100% evaporating version that expands into conduit. It makes cable installation easier by reducing the friction and reduces the chance of damaging the cable. As CabLube foam is 100% evaporating, it does not block up the conduit or ducting. This foam version of lubricant for pulling cables is available in 400ml aerosol cans.
Suitable for different types of cable & wire including power, control, instrumentation and control. It’s compatible with most common types of cable jacket materials. The lubricant is easy to apply and provides easy cleanup. Low solid contents means less duct & conduit blocking.
- Physical state: liquid in spray. Aerosols, foam is Dispensed.
- Colour: White
- Odour: Slightly of soap.
- Olfactory threshold. Not available.
- Ph: 8
- Melting point/freezing. 0°C.
- Relative density. 1 kg/l.
- Complete solubility in water.
- Boiling point 100°C
For electrical insulation gels please see our IPGel products.
Cable pulling lubricant MSDS
To download the MSDS, click on the links below for a PDF version.
Where to buy
In the UK, our wire pulling lubricant can be purchased from local stockists. For other countries please visit www.guglue.com to buy cable pulling lubricant.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cable Pulling Lubricant
Adiseal CabLube Gel lubricant for pulling wire & cables provides the highest lubrication in our test.
Our products are suitable for different types of cable and wire including power, control, instrumentation and control cables. It’s compatible with most common types of cable jacket materials.
The Adiseal CabLube Foam provides 100% evaporation.
To use wire pulling lubricant, simply cover the cable before it is pulled through the conduit or ducting. Try to make sure the cable is thoroughly covered. On larger cables, a machine can be used to automate the the process of covering the cable in lubricant.
Suhail Matadar
Suhail Matadar has extensive experience in the construction industry as an electrician, involved in installing, inspecting, and testing electrical systems in various projects. He excelled in sales, working for a major UK wholesaler, selling construction products to professionals and the DIY market. Suhail's background includes working at a leading home emergency repair company dealing with trades people. With a BEng (Hons) degree in Electronic Engineering, Suhail has worked with PLCs in the nuclear fuel manufacturing industry. During his studies, he gained practical experience at a chemical manufacturing company known for producing award-winning cleaning, hygiene, and livestock protection products for over a century. Currently, Suhail runs a global business specialising in supplying, researching, testing, and distributing chemical construction products like adhesives and sealants.