Rigging Hardware

Rigging hardware can make a massive difference when it comes to safely transporting heavy materials. Each piece of rigging equipment has a Working Load Limit (WLL) or rated capacity reading, which is the maximum amount of weight it can handle without malfunction.

WLL readings are crucial to understanding the strength of a particular product. GKS offers a wide array of industrial rigging tools including skates, jacks and dollies that help facilitate a safe moving process.

Eye Bolts

Eye bolts are an integral part of rigging hardware, providing a secure attachment point for sling legs. Typically made of steel, they are available in several different sizes and lengths to accommodate different weight capacities. They can also be finished in a variety of ways, including galvanization and plated (gold, zinc, or tin).

Riggers should always check the working load limits of an eye bolt before using it for a heavy lift. They must make sure the bolt is large enough to accommodate slings and that it has a sufficiently high strength rating. In addition, riggers should consider the angle of a lift when selecting an eye bolt. Working load limits for eye bolts decrease with angular loads, so it is important to select the correct type of eye bolt based on the intended use.

Forged eye bolts are stronger than turned eye bolts, as the metal is hammered into shape rather than simply pressed into form. They are also more durable than cast parts or machined eye bolts, making them ideal for critical applications in construction and industrial settings. The shoulder design on shouldered eye bolts also reduces bending forces on the shank, making them suitable for angular loading in addition to straight line lifting. Non-shouldered eye bolts do not have this feature and should never be used for angular loading.

Steel Nuts

Steel nuts are used to secure bolts and screws to other Rigging Hardware hardware components such as shackles or eye bolts. They come in different sizes and shapes, and can also be customized with specialized coatings. They are also incredibly strong and durable, and will last much longer than other materials that can rust or corrode over time.

Hex nuts have flat sides on equal distance from each other and a round or rectangular indentation in the center of the head. The indentations compress when tightened, creating a controlled locking action when the threads of a mating part become engaged. They can be found in a variety of grades such as Grade F low carbon steel, Grade 5 medium carbon steel and Grade 8 high-strength aluminum alloy, and stainless steel 18.8 bolt.

Sometimes it may be seen that two thin nuts, or jam nuts, are used together, one placed on top of the other. This is not an ideal practice as it can cause partial thread stripping of the thick nut when tightened. It can also cause plastic deformation in the bolt threads, resulting in loss of preload and potentially loosening. It is recommended to use a normal height nut for each end of the joint and perform a proof load test on both. This will prevent the thin nut from becoming damaged.

Hooks

The rigging hook is the primary attachment point for most chain and wire rope slings. These hooks can either have a latch that connects the throat opening or a swivel top for better positioning of the load. These swivels reduce twisting Rigging Hardware Manufacturer of the load and sling which reduces stress on the sling, the hoist and the rigging. These swivels are designed only to swivel while a load is attached and are not meant to rotate while unloaded.

The two main types of rigging hooks are eye and clevis. An eye hook has a simple circular attachment point and comes in different working load limits and sizes depending on chain grade. Eye hooks should always be used with the proper grade of chain and should never be lifted with less than the rated Working Load Limit.

Clevis hooks have a “U” shaped clevis top and are a great nonpermanent alternative to eye hooks. These offer rigging shops and end users a mechanical connection to chain slings without the need for special certifications to weld alloy chains.

Foundry, bucket, sling and plate hooks are other common industrial types of rigging hooks. Some uncommon or less-commonly found rigging hooks include sorting, pelican and cold shuts. These are typically utilized in dangerous environments or applications where it is unsafe for workers to reach up and connect or disconnect loads.

Blocks & Pulleys

Blocks are an essential rigging tool that reduces the amount of force needed to lift heavy objects. They can be used to lift loads from a point that’s difficult to reach or to create an advantage when attempting to haul something over a large distance. They are commonly found on sailboats and cranes as well as being utilized in many other types of rigging systems.

There are several factors to consider when choosing a block that’s right for your project including its weight specifications, number of sheaves and the type of bearings. A sheave is a disc located within the frame of the block that’s designed to rotate. If the sheave is grooved, it can be more effective at gripping ropes and other materials.

The number of sheaves on a block can vary from two to six or more. This can have a significant impact on the overall load capacity of the block.

There are many different types of blocks available on the market. These include snatch blocks, swivel blocks and single and double pulley blocks. There are also a variety of other attachments that can be used with these blocks such as sheave anchors, dead eye slings and whoopie slings.