WIRE ROPE HARDWARE & TOOLS GLOSSARY

The most common application for a bolt snap is to connect a dog leash to a dog collar. However, it is also used in luggage, as well as industrial marine, agricultural, and construction applications. It is available with fixed eye or swivel eye options and made in zinc die-cast, nickel-plated steel, stainless steel, and brass.

An eye bolt is often connected to a wire rope loop. The stem of the eye bolt has external thread. An eye bolt is available with machine thread and lag thread for wood connections, which don’t have rear access. It is available in forged construction, wire bent wire formed, and in a variety of lengths. Machinery eye bolts have a short stem, which is fully threaded. Forged eye bolts are available with a shoulder under the eye or less the shoulder, which is referred to as plain pattern.

The eye nut is essentially an eye bolt less its shank with internal threads installed. An eye nut can be threaded onto an eye bolt, threaded rod, and bolts. It is typically used for lifting, since the eye nut is a convenient attachment point.

Similar to the wire rope clip except, the Fist Grip Clip has two saddles per unit for additional strength.

A hook is commonly attached to wire rope assembly loop ends. Examples include S-hooks, eye hoist hooks, and clevis grab hooks. Hooks provide a fast way of securing a wire rope assembly.

In this fitting, a metal stamping with two round holes, one hole is used to connect the wire rope loop and the opposite hole is used to connect a screw.

A mid-link is similar in appearance to a non-rotating swivel and is typically used with chain in order to connect chain links.

Not all fastening applications involve thread; consequently, a pad eye is an eye nut with no threads. It is installed and used by welding it at its base to the connecting piece.

A load-bearing piece of hardware, the quick link is fast-connecting. Its standard shape is rectangular, but it is also available in wide jaw, pear shape, delta shape, and square. Made in zinc-plated steel as well as stainless steel, it is commonly attached to wire rope loops. Installation is as simple as turning the hex screw.

Typically used for connecting rope and webbing, Lexco also attaches round and “D” rings to wire rope loop assemblies.

A safe-line clamp, which sometimes conforms to MS16843, is designed for forming wire rope loops. Only one clamp per loop is required.

"A shackle is a convenient way of attaching a wire rope assembly to a load. It comes in a u-shape, called a chain shackle, or a bow-shape, called an anchor shackle. Both of these configurations are available with three different styles of fastener: screw-pin, round-pin, and safety-bolt. Lexco abbreviations: SPAS = Screw-Pin Anchor Shackle RPAS = Round-Pin Anchor Shackle SAS = Safety Anchor Shackle SPCS = Screw-Pin Chain Shackle RPCS = Round-Pin Chain Shackle SCS = Safety Chain Shackle"

Snap hooks have a spring-loaded gate, which allows them to easily snap over your connecting hardware. They’re convenient for attaching to wire rope loops, but they also have many other fastening applications. They are made in zinc-plated steel as well as stainless steel.

A turnbuckle has an externally threaded end fastened into an internally threaded mating body. It is used to adjust the length of a wire rope or threaded rod assembly. A traditional wire rope rigging turnbuckle will use either eyes, hooks, or jaw ends (pictured left), which are threaded into both sides of the turnbuckle body. One side of the turnbuckle body has left-hand threads and the other side has right-hand threads. A swage turnbuckle means that on one side of the body, there is a threaded stud providing an in-line connection to a wire rope assembly.

A wire rope clip is comprised of a U-bolt with a saddle and hex nuts and is typically used to form loops. Because you only need a wrench to tighten the nuts, it is ideal for field installations. For diameters 7/16” and below, a minimum of 2 wire rope clips is recommended for a loop. For diameters 1/2” - 5/8”, a minimum of 3 wire rope clips is recommended. For diameters 3/4” - 7/8” a minimum of 4 wire rope clips is recommended. For more information, please visit the Wire Rope Clip product line on Lexcocable.com

A wire stop refers to a barrel which has a cross hole for a wire or cable to go through. To secure the wire or cable in place, a set screw tightens from the top of the barrel. Wire ropes are typically used with push-pull controls, such as throttle applications.