Wire rope is a rope that's made out of lengths of strong wire wound together rather than lengths of hemp or some other type of cord. Choosing the proper wire rope depends on a number of different factors, and it's important that go through the selection process systematically and that you carefully choose the rope that suits your needs and your budget.

Instructions:

1. Review the job of the wire rope. For instance, if you're going to buy a wire rope to use as elevator or bridge cable then strength and durability are extremely important. If on the other hand you're looking for some heavy duty theater rigging you'll be more concerned about the weight of the cable and how well it can blend in with surroundings.

2. Make sure that the wire rope you're buying will meet all of the necessary requirements. Check the load that it should be carrying, the type of material, if it's corrosion resistant, and if the rope is meant to be used by the type of machine that you intend to use it with. Dimensions of the rope are also important, so check the diameter, circumference and the length.

3. Examine the wire rope for defects. Factors like rust, kinks, fraying or even splicing can all affect how well your wire rope performs when you attempt to actually use it. This is especially true if you're buying a used wire rope, in which case you should pay very close attention to see if there's any damage that might cause an accident.

source: ehow.com