Your pictures are ready to be mounted. You've decided that you love the idea of a cable hanging system because it gives a subtler presentation than our metal rods, and because, with ceiling mounted rails, cables enable your dream of creating that perfect "floating" look for your installation - especially if you use nylon cables! But then you pause and start to worry you might need to sacrifice your dream to accommodate the safety and strength of your hanging system. Because how could nylon possibly hold up to stainless steel cables? 

It's true, most stainless steel cables can hold about double the weight of the nylon cables - our heavy-duty stainless steel J-Hook cable can easily hold up to 154 lbs! Next to that, the nylon Loop End cable seems like an amateur with its rating for only 12 lbs.

But nylon doesn’t necessarily mean weaker than stainless steel. Just consider that the nylon Cylinder Cable can hold up to 24 lbs compared with the 26 lbs capacity of the stainless steel Cobra Cable. So when you're weighing your options (and your artwork), you need to consider the style of the cable as well as the material if you want to achieve optimal function, both in terms of strength and aesthetics. But you're not done there. Next you'll also have to choose cable hooks that will work best for your purpose; different hooks are rated for different strengths.

If weight and strength requirements don't dictate your hanging choices, nylon cables offer more economical options for those who watch their budgets carefully. But when every pound and ounce matters (and needs to remain as invisible as possible), the stainless steel cable hanging system is the better choice. However, if even the stainless steel cables don't promise the strength you need, perhaps take another look at the rod systems which will provide the most durability and strength. 

And of course, feel free to contact us when you're ready to weigh your options.