[ATM] Industrial-strength mirror sling

["Alan K. Henderson" <alankh@ev1.net>]

One of the challenges of working with a full-thickness 16.5" mirror is coming up with a lower edge support system that will support 50 pounds of Pyrex. Refer to this diagram:

http://users3.ev1.net/~alankh/Cell4.gif

I've drawn in a sling (in pink) that attaches directly to the cell. Hardware stores sell cable thick enough to do the job, and clamps for rigging loops at the ends of cables so they can be attached to hooks or bolts or whatever - but those clamps are bulky, and I wonder if they're really suited for semi-permanent use. While Googling for info on cable hardware I stumbled across an alternative: 6-foot Kryptonite bicycle lock:

http://www.rei.com/product/8961416.htm?

The cable is a bit long - I calculate about 50 inches length for the sling in cell4.gif - but the cable could be looped over the top horizontal bar (with a strategically-placed bolt to prevent slippage), and the loops could be bolted somewhere down the length of the vertical bars.

The cable is thick enough - it's a lot thicker than 200-pound cable. But are bicycle lock loops sturdy enough to support 50 pounds without slipping over time? I would think that Kryptonite makes its locks so that people can't use their full body weight to pry them apart, so a couple of hours of holding up a mirror pointed at low-horizon objects would seem to be no problem. Does this seem right?

Alan K. Henderson
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