Capstan, also called snubbing or bollard grips, are typically the preferred approach for wire and cable tensile testing when slippage or grip-induced damage is a concern. Instead of biting into the specimen like jaw-style grips, the sample is wrapped around a curved mandrel to build holding force through friction while spreading the load along the length.

This wrap method helps you avoid premature breaks at the grip line and supports more representative tensile results, especially on high-strength cables, braided constructions, reinforced conductors, and other flexible specimens that tend to pull through standard grips.

In practice, the wrapped section carries the load and the tail end is secured separately, commonly with a secondary clamp or wedge, to keep the specimen stable through the pull.

If you want to confirm the right snubbing grip style and setup for your wire or cable type, review the grip options and learn more, then request a quote with your specimen construction and test method details.