HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT EYE BOLT
Eye Bolts: Selecting the right type for the lift
Eye bolts are used as a removable attachment point, to secure ropes or cables. Basic eye bolts consist of a threaded rod with a loop or eye at one end. Commercial eye bolts are marked with their thread size not with their working load limit, so it is important to ensure you select the correct type.
For vertical loading use plain or regular eye bolts (non-shoulder) or ring bolts. Angle loading on non-shoulder bolts will bend or break them. For vertical or angle loading use shoulder eye bolts. Follow the manufacturer’s recommended method for angle loading. It is important to recognise that lifting at an angle will reduce the safe working load of the eye bolt.
Different design variations of eye bolts
There are a number of variations in the design of eye bolts. Forged or bent eye construction, which is usually suited to light weight applications only, while forged eyes are safe for heavier applications, as the eye is more likely to withstand a load if it is welded in place.
- Collared eye bolts are fully threaded and reinforced with a collar which makes them safe for lifting on angles up to 45 degrees. Eye bolts without a collar should only be used for straight lifting and attaching.
- Swivel eye bolts and swivel ring bolts are able to rotate 360 degrees, and the eye can also move around to improve flexibility in attachment. These eye bolts are generally used for heavy applications and are designed to lift from various angles.
- Commercial or load rated eye bolts or screw eyes are generally used for light weight applications. Securing ropes or cables to posts, structures etc. These eye bolts may not be used to suspend or lift an object. Load rated eye bolts will have embossed stamping on the body of the eye bolt stating the working load limit (WLL), batch number, and thread size.
- Stainless steel eye bolts are useful in highly corrosive or marine environments as the material will not rust. Generally eye bolts smaller than 12mm should not be used for general lifting, staying or tensioning, as they are screwed up too tightly causing high torsional stresses. The bolt needs to be tight, but not excessively. There should be less than 0.04mm gap between the collar and the face of the load.
All Lifting can supply rated eye bolts from 0.5 tonne working load limit, up to 11.5 ton WLL. All Lifting also supplies a wide range of commercial eye bolts and screw eyes. See our range of eye bolts.
