Rigging Hardware and Other Lifting and Rigging Supplies

Rigging equipment requires specialized knowledge and proper training. If not used properly, rigging hardware can be a serious safety risk for the worker and machinery.

TSRE is a custom manufacturer and turnkey provider of rigging supplies. Call us today to speak with a product expert! We can help you find the best solution for your specific application.

Shackles

Shackles are the connecting links in a rigging system that attach chains, ropes and slings to cranes and other lifting equipment. They also secure heavy loads and prevent them from slipping during the lifting process. Riggers use several types of shackles for different applications. Bow or anchor shackles have wide crowns, while chain and clevis shackles have narrower jaws that can hold a higher load capacity. All shackles are designed with safety in mind and should be chosen based on their working load limit (WLL) appropriate for the load, as well as the strength of their pin and body.

Riggers often use shackles in combination with other rigging supplies, such as turnbuckles, hooks and eye bolts or nuts. These products can add tension or adjust the length of a chain or wire rope, which is essential for ensuring the safety of a load.

For instance, turnbuckles consist of two rods with opposing threads that screw into a frame. Rotating them draws the rods together or pushes them apart, which in turn creates a hinge point for a rigging setup. They can also be used as tie-down points for securing loads. Other rigging hardware includes clevis rod ends, which have a tapped hole into which a threaded rod can be fastened. Also known as yoke clevises, these items are similar to clevis shackles but have an adjustable grip range.

Hooks

A hook is a tool that connects chains, wire rope and slings to a load for lifting. It eliminates the possibility of slippage during a lift, making it a must-have for any rigging operation. Different types of rigging hooks are available, including choker, sorting and eye hooks. They differ in capacity, design and function.

For example, clevis hooks have a U-shaped piece with cross holes for connecting to other equipment in a rigging setup. They’re used as hoist hooks, crane hooks and sling hooks for various applications. lifting and rigging supplies They’re made of alloy steel or carbon steel and have a working load limit that exceeds 8,000 pounds.

Another type of hook is a turnbuckle, which adjusts tension in wire rope slings and chain. They come in eye, clevis and swivel designs with different capacities. Also, oblong master links connect legs of a wire or chain rope sling to make it more secure.

Other rigging supplies include blocks and pulleys, which reduce the amount of force required to lift heavy objects. They’re available in snatch block, swivel block and single and double pulley systems. They’re used with rigging ropes that circle the pulleys for support before being hooked to the object that needs to be lifted. These tools are essential for helping a crane lift extremely heavy loads safely and efficiently.

Wire Rope

Wire rope is a type of steel cable that contains metal wires in the shape of a helix. It’s used for lifting and rigging applications that require high levels of bending stress. The wires can be coated with various materials, including polypropylene and galvanized steel. These coatings protect the wire rope from corrosion and chemical leaching, while also increasing its strength, abrasion resistance, flexibility and tensile capacity.

In addition to their obvious lifting applications, wire ropes are an essential part of many amusement park rides and other attractions. They help pull cars on roller coasters, hold cabins that swing, and move carriages through haunted houses. Because of their strength and stability, they ensure that visitors have a safe ride and can enjoy the attractions.

The way the strands of wire rope are laid can determine its bending strength and core integrity. The most common types of wire ropes have a fiber core or an independent wire rope core (IWRC). Fiber core ropes are more flexible than IWRC but are susceptible to crushing and don’t perform well in hot environments. IWRC provides superior strength and is better suited for severe applications that involve running the rope over sheaves or on wound drums.

Other rigging supplies include shackles, overhaul balls, swivels and wedge-type ferrules. Shackles are removable links that connect wire rope to other rigging hardware. They’re available in two varieties, screw pin anchor shackles and bolt-type anchor shackles. Typically, lifting and rigging supplies shackles are made from either stainless steel or galvanized steel and can be galvanized, zinc-coated or unfinished.

Eye Bolts

Eye bolts are wire rope equipment integral to many hoisting, anchoring and rigging applications. They consist of a threaded shank with a loop at one end. They are available in a variety of sizes and materials. They come in two forms, rated and unrated. Rated eye bolts have been laboratory tested to ensure that they comply with performance and mechanical property requirements set out by governing standards. Unrated eye bolts have not been tested and therefore are not certified.

When selecting an eye bolt, users must consider the load type and angle as these will have significant impacts on the rated capacity. Eye bolts work at their optimum WLL when loaded vertically, and every degree over that decreases the rated capacity significantly. When angular loading is required, we recommend using a shoulder pattern machinery eye bolt as these are designed to support angular loads without losing capacity.

When selecting an eye bolt, users must also consider its material as it will impact strength and corrosion resistance. Stainless steel eye bolts are a popular choice as they have superior corrosion resistance, particularly in marine applications due to their molybdenum content. They are generally available in grades 304 and 316. Galvanized eye bolts are also an excellent option for a wide range of applications, as they have been treated with zinc to provide good corrosion resistance and strength.