General
chicago grip
What does chicago grip mean?
A scissor-jaw cable grip — the harder you pull, the tighter the jaws clamp on the conductor. Linemen hook one to a come-along to tension overhead lines without crushing or kinking the wire. Standard gear on any utility crew.
"Clip a Chicago grip on the messenger and we'll tension it from the next pole."
Origin
Named after Chicago manufacturers (notably Klein and others) that popularized the design for utility line work.
Frequently asked questions
What does Chicago grip mean?
A Chicago grip is a jaw-style clamp used to grab and pull wire or cable under heavy tension.
How do you use a Chicago grip?
You clamp its jaws onto the cable and pull, letting the grip hold tight while you tension the line, as in 'Put the Chicago grip on that conductor before you tighten it.'
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