If you are researching bullet cable railing, identify the exact Cable Bullet system before ordering fittings. Its current wood-post and metal-post Bullet-Lock tensioners both specify 5/32-inch cable, but the post connections differ. The concealed adjustment also involves a crimped cable end. Confirm the post interface, cable size and installation tools together, then compare a complete railing package if your project needs new posts and rails.
Cable Bullet is a separate brand. The Senmit images in this guide show Senmit products only. Product information below was checked on November 10, 2026; use the current instructions for the exact items you order.
Start with the post that receives the cable end
A wood tensioner, a metal tensioner and an entire railing system are different purchases. Cable Bullet’s instructions hub separates Signature Classic, Signature Select, Signature Midnight, Summit and several post-specific tensioning systems. Keep that collection name on your parts list.
| Your proposed post | Cable Bullet detail to verify | What to resolve before ordering |
|---|---|---|
| Wood without a wrap | The wood-post tensioner is specified for 5/32-inch cable. | Post condition, preparation and the correct wood tensioner. |
| Wrapped wood | Standard, XL and XXL lengths correspond to different wrap thicknesses. | Measure the wrap separately from the structural wood and confirm the applicable length. |
| Signature Classic or Select metal posts | The listed metal tensioner is designed for these systems. | Match the post family and its anchoring locations to the correct tensioner pack. |
| Custom metal posts | Cable Bullet publishes separate fabrication requirements. | Have the fabricator check tubing, wall thickness, bracing and threads against that document. |
The wood-post product page lists Standard for unwrapped posts or 1/4–3/8-inch wraps, XL for 1/2–5/8-inch wraps, and XXL for 1-1/4–1-1/2-inch wraps. Longer versions accommodate the wrap; they do not provide extra tension. If your assembly falls outside those listed ranges, get the manufacturer’s recommendation.
For fabricated posts, a hole that looks large enough is insufficient evidence. The custom-metal-post guidelines specify 5/8-18 UNF threads and different minimum wall thicknesses for steel and aluminum. Those requirements belong to this Cable Bullet interface. They do not establish compatibility with a Senmit post or another predrilled post.
Concealed adjustment still involves cable crimping
There are two jobs at the cable end: securing the end assembly and adjusting tension. For the documented Cable Bullet metal tensioner, a crimp sleeve holds a lobed washer on the cable; the set screw then advances that washer inside the tensioner. The small visible fitting can hide the assembly without eliminating the crimp. See the manufacturer’s metal-post tensioner explanation.
When comparing quotes, separate the cable’s end-assembly method from the tension-adjustment mechanism. Compare the same scope of posts, rail, cable and hardware before comparing totals.
The current Signature cable-infill instructions list a cable cutter, cable crimper and Bullet Driver. They distinguish the crimping operation from subsequent manual set-screw adjustment and warn against power-driving those set screws. Before buying, confirm the required crimper and die with the supplier. A cutter or hex key in a package does not establish that all assembly tools are included.
Post preparation adds another tool decision. Cable Bullet’s wood-post instructions distinguish ordinary wood, hardwood and wrapped posts. Choose the matching preparation tools before scheduling the work.
A single tensioner kit serves one cable end
For the wood and metal tensioner products discussed here, a single kit supplies one cable-end assembly. A cable line terminated at both ends needs two. Count the cable ends shown on the approved layout, rather than treating a “kit” as a complete section of railing.
For example, eleven separate cable lines between two anchoring posts create twenty-two cable ends. That arithmetic says nothing about whether eleven lines are suitable for your project; the system layout determines the required cable rows and supports. A corner that terminates two runs changes the count again. Ask the supplier to mark anchoring and pass-through locations before assigning packs.
This also prevents an incomplete cost comparison. A cart of cable-end hardware may be appropriate when the supporting posts and rail already exist. It cannot be compared directly with a package that also supplies those larger components.
Where a complete Senmit kit enters the decision
If your project requires new black surface-mount posts and a top rail, the Senmit Express cable railing kit is a separate system to evaluate. At the time of review, its selectable configurations were 5, 6.5, 10, 15 and 20 feet, each with 36-inch or 42-inch choices. Match a configuration to your measured layout and the required finished guard height; a variant name alone does not settle the design.
The Express page explicitly lists the hydraulic crimper as sold separately. Include that tool decision when comparing packages. Use the current Senmit instructions and confirmed parts list for the selected configuration; this guide does not establish that Cable Bullet tensioners fit Senmit posts, or that either brand’s tools work with the other brand’s fittings.
Choose the project you are actually buying
Keeping existing posts: first establish that the posts and their connections are suitable for the proposed system. Then choose the documented tensioner interface, cable and preparation method. Buying a different fitting does not resolve an inadequate support.
Replacing the posts and rail: compare complete configurations. A new surface-mount system changes the attachment work and the components that need to arrive together. Ask for a layout that identifies the ends, intermediate posts and transitions, with responsibility for the supporting structure clearly assigned.
Keep final structural and local guard requirements with the qualified project professional or local authority responsible for the installation. Manufacturer instructions address a particular system and should accompany the project review.
For a Senmit proposal, send the run dimensions and post-location photos to the design team. State whether you are keeping existing posts or replacing the whole rail, and identify stairs or corners separately. Request the exact kit configuration and required tools. For a broader comparison of freight, field labor and exclusions, use the complete cable railing system comparison.
