Rigging Supplies for Lifting and Moving Heavy Equipment

Rigging Supplies for Lifting and Moving Heavy Equipment

The lifting and moving of heavy equipment requires a variety of rigging supplies. Rigging hardware includes turnbuckles, shackles, eye bolts and nuts, spreader bars, and pulleys and blocks.

Shackles connect chains, ropes and slings during the lifting process to prevent slippage. They consist of loops of steel closed off with a pin. Different types of shackles support different loads and vary in their throat — or hook opening — and size.

Eye Bolts

Eye bolts are important parts of a variety of rigging applications, creating strong attachment points for wire rope and other hardware. They’re often used to lift loads, suspend them or secure them to structures or vehicles.

Generally speaking, eye bolts are lifting and rigging supplies made from metals that can withstand significant amounts of strain and pressure. They come in different fabrications, threading types and shoulder designs to meet specific needs.

The most common type of eye bolts is a regular one with a circular eye at the end of a threaded shank. They can be screwed into a hole or other mounting point, and hooks or shackles can then be run through them to create connections. Eye bolts have specific working load limits, which you should always adhere to. Excessive use of a single eye bolt can cause it to break, leading to costly damages and potential injuries in the workplace.

Chain Shackles

A chain is an oval torus-shaped metal component made by bending and welding wires of a certain diameter. Chains are used in a variety of industries to move and secure heavy loads.

Coupling and connecting links, such as quick links and double clevis links, are used to connect accessories to rigging chains. Hammerlok coupling links, which feature one round and one flat bearing surface, are specifically rated for overhead lifting and are used in the construction of synthetic slings.

Shackles are load-bearing rigging hardware with curved bodies terminated by holes into which a pin can be inserted. They have a range of different sizes, materials, and types. Lifting eye bolts, clevis ends, and hooks are inserted into shackle eyes to form the other end of a sling.

A bow shape enables a synthetic sling shackle to be used for angular loads, while an anchor or screw pin shackle can be used for straight or zero-degree inline loads. Any shackle that has visible damage that violates industry standards should be destroyed and removed from service immediately.

Steel Nuts

Stainless steel nuts are used extensively in automotive and machinery applications because they’re highly resistant to rust, corrosion, and harsh environments. They’re also a popular choice for indoor and outdoor DIY projects as they’re highly versatile.

The most common type of stainless steel nut is the hex nut. It features six sides that create a hexagon shape and fits over the end of a bolt or machine screw. You can also opt for a lock nut, which has a nylon insert that resists loosening and offers higher temperature resistance.

When selecting a nut, it’s important to consider factors such as grade, load capacity, environmental conditions, and assembly requirements. Proper nut selection improves the integrity of an assembly and minimizes the risk of loosening or failure. It’s also critical to properly inspect and maintain the nuts for signs of wear, rust, and corrosion on a regular basis.

Rigging Hooks

Rigging hooks are the unsung heroes of material handling, silently supporting heavy loads and ensuring the smooth flow of operations in various industries. They are available in many different sizes and capacities, allowing riggers to meet the specific needs of each application.

Among the most common types of rigging hooks, clevis hooks feature a U-shaped design and a latch that secures a load. They’re commonly used to collect slings and suspend rigging assemblies from cranes, but also find applications in marine and logging operations.

Snap hooks (also known as cold shuts or quick links) have a self-closing gate across the throat that prevents chains from slipping out. They’re suitable for light-duty applications, but should never be used in overhead lifting. Likewise, foundry hooks are designed with wide and deep throat openings to fit trunnions or handles on molds or castings for foundry work.

Spreader Bars

Spreader bars are below-the-hook lifting devices designed to increase versatility in a hoist’s ability to lift wide and heavy loads. They distribute the weight of a load evenly across two points, which reduces the likelihood of the load toppling, sliding, or bending during transport.

They’re often smaller, lighter, and less expensive than lifting beams. They lifting and rigging supplies also offer expanded versatility as they can be arranged in multiple configurations to accommodate different-sized, oddly-shaped loads.

Safety mishaps frequently occur from improper rigging and loading of the spreader bar. When a spreader bar is loaded unevenly or beyond its capabilities, it strains the hook mechanism and compromises the stability of the load. Unauthorized individuals should never remove markers or modify a spreader bar without the consent of a designated inspector. It’s vital to follow the equipment’s strict engineering criteria and only use it as intended to avoid injury or property damage.

Pulleys & Blocks

A pulley is a wheel on an axle that helps you lift heavy loads with less effort. A one-wheel pulley simply changes the direction of your force while a two-wheel pulley splits that force evenly between it and the load, allowing you to lift half the weight with the same amount of power. A compound pulley combines both fixed and movable pulleys to increase the mechanical advantage, reducing the effort needed even further.

Blocks and pulleys can be used to redirect a line, increase the mechanical advantage of a line and even help with changing the direction of the pulling force. They are typically made from sheaves and a mounting point, such as a hook or shackle.

Choose from sheave blocks, open blocks and clews. Look for sheave blocks with rounded outside diameters to reduce friction between the metal and your rope or cable.