If you’re preparing for any material lifting projects, you’ll need to select and use the appropriate machinery eye bolts. When using eye bolts, you’ll have to securely attach them to the building or structure and then tie cables or ropes for lifting. You can create a purpose hole to ascertain that the eye bolt is securely attached. It’s advisable to look for a bolt with a loop on one end.
Further, the design of a machinery eye bolt is slightly different from ordinary eye bolts because of the threaded shank with inch threads used with trapped holes made as a focal point for lifting.
You must also ensure that the machinery eye bolt you’re using has a stamp indicating the rated weight; if you can’t see the stamp, check the thread size. If you don’t know how to use a machinery eye bolt, it is best to hire a professional to avoid injuries and damage to the load you’re lifting. Here are five tips that’ll help you in selecting and using machinery eye bolts:
1. Choose The Appropriate Eye Bolt For The Job
Before you choose an eye bolt, ensure you understand the different types, such as non-shoulder, machinery eye bolts, screw eye bolts, nut eye bolts, and shoulder eye bolts. Each type of eye bolt is used for a different thing; if used incorrectly, it can either break or bend. For instance, the machinery eye bolts are used to lift heavy-duty items and should be secured to the holes in different lifting equipment and machines.
In addition, you must also consider the original source of the load to determine whether you’ll be using an angular or vertical lift. Besides, the load and the weight will also help you choose the correct eye bolt to use. For example, if you’re lifting a light load, you can opt for a nut eye bolt instead of a machinery eye bolt. For more information on hoisting a load with eye bolts, you may want to check out the original source to be well informed.
2. Consider The Lifting Capacity
While machinery eye bolts are designed for heavy lifting, they have a limit. Ascertain that you’ve checked a lifting capacity chart which will help you know how much weight can be lifted on either a vertical or angular axis.
For illustration, a load weighing about 13,300 pounds (lbs.) should be lifted using an eye bolt with a one-shank diameter at a vertical axis. You might also notice that the weight capacity changes depending on the angular axis.
If you realize the weight is heavier, you can either make adjustments to the weight or use a different eye bolt. Overloading an eye bolt can be detrimental, with the bolt probably breaking and damaging the load. If you can’t find the capacity chart for an eye bolt, check the rating indicated on the bolt.
3. Assess The Eye Bolts Before Use
While you might have bought machinery eye bolts in perfect working condition, they’re bound to deteriorate with time. Eye bolts can be affected by various elements, such as environmental conditions and general wear and tear.
You can hire a professional to inspect the machinery’s eye bolts to ensure they’re in mint condition for use. During inspections, check for bent shanks, eyes, general wear and tear, any signs of repair, corroded threads, cracks, and insufficient identifying markings.
Once you find that the integrity of the eye bolts has been compromised, please remove them and replace them with new ones. Your safety and of others using the machinery eye bolts are crucial and can be affected when using worn-out materials.
4. Consider Material And Durability
Machinery eye bolts are made from stainless steel, carbon, and alloy materials. You have to consider the material that an eye bolt is made from because of its durability and whether it’d be appropriate for specific weather conditions, such as icy rivers.
For example, you might consider stainless steel bolts because they are rust-proof because of their low carbon composition; if you’re working in wet conditions, stainless steel would be appropriate.
Additionally, the material has to be appropriate for the intended use. For instance, stainless steel would be appropriate if you’re working in the food industry because its smooth texture doesn’t peel or flake.
5. Ensure Proper Installation And Alignment
Once you’ve selected the right machinery eye bolt, ensure it’s adequately secured for effectiveness and safety. When installing and aligning the machinery eye bolts, you’ll also need the right accessories to prevent damage to the load and ease the lifting process. Hoisting and rigging accessories such as washers, hooks, slings, and chains are also essential in ascertaining that the load is correctly secured for lifting.
Besides, an accessory such as a washer helps the eye bolt be firmly seated and won’t cause damage such as bending to the load. Before lifting, you can always consult an expert on adequately aligning and installing a machinery eye bolt.
Conclusion
Machinery eye bolts make lifting easy, especially with heavy loads. However, incorrect selection and use of machinery eye bolts can be fatal. You must be careful when selecting machinery eye bolts by checking rating and capacity limit information. If you’ve never worked with machinery eye bolts before, ask the sales representative about the best one for the job or hire a professional.