wire rope cable clamp installation brands

Wire rope is an extremely versatile mechanical device that can be used to help support and move an object or load. Whether for use on cranes or for other lifting applications, it’s important to have a solid understanding of the rigging components that are being used to attach to and lift a load.

As a rigger or end-user of wire rope, it’s necessary to understand the types of wire rope end termination, or treatments that can be used at the ends of a length of wire rope—one of the most common being wire rope clips.

Wire rope clips can be used to form a load bearing eye at the end of a cable or wire rope, or to connect two cables together with a lap splice. Wire rope clips are popular because they can be installed in the field and provide 80-90% efficiency of the rope breaking strength, depending on the diameter of the wire rope.

As a general guideline, they are NOT to be used for making slings, as ASME B30.9 Slingsstandard states: “Mechanical wire rope terminations requiring periodic adjustment to maintain efficiency shall not be used to fabricate slings.”

There are two main types of wire rope clips—U-Bolt and double saddle clips. U-Bolt wire rope clips are the most common and may be made of forged or malleable metal.

This type of wire rope clip is essentially a U-bolt, two nuts, and a metal base (saddle) that can be made from forged steel or cast iron. Careful consideration and attention must be given to the way U-bolt type wire rope clips are installed.

The base of the wire rope clip is made from forged steel. Forged clips are heated and hammered into the desired shape—resulting in a consistent grain structure in the steel. Forged wire rope clips are used for critical, heavy-duty, overhead loads such as winch lines, crane hoist lines, support lines, guy lines, towing lines, tie downs, scaffolds, etc.

Malleable wire rope clips are used for making eye termination assemblies only with right regular lay wire rope and only for light duty uses with small applied loads, such as hand rails, fencing, guard rails, etc. The base of the wire rope clips is made from malleable cast iron, which may fracture under heavy use and does not have the desirable metal properties of steel, or the beneficial grain structure that a forged base has.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to see a wire rope clip applied incorrectly. Some of the most common mistakes include:Not torquing to the manufacturer’s expectations

Wire rope clips require the use of a torque wrench in order to function properly. Torquing the nuts on the clips too much or too little can cause the clip to fail. If the clip is over-torqued, it could damage the threads of the wire rope. If the clip is under-torqued, the holding power of the clip is diminished and the wire rope could slip through.

There are a minimum number of clips required for use related to the wire rope diameter. Using less than the number of specified clips could result in decreased efficiency and possible failure.

Depending on the number and size of the wire rope clips, there is a proportional amount of space required between the placement on each clip on the rope.

There are two sides of a U-Bolt style wire rope clip: the saddle and the U-Bolt. When securing a wire rope eye, it is important to place the clip on the correct end of the rope.

A saying commonly used in rigging to help remember this is: “Never saddle a dead horse!” In other words, never put the saddle on the dead end of the rope.

The turnback is the portion of the wire rope eye that runs from the end of the bearing eye to the live end. Having less than the suggested amount of turnback will decrease the efficiency of the wire rope eye and could lead to failure.

It is important to be sure you are using the correct wire rope clip—forged or malleable wire rope clips—for the application. Malleable clips can only be used for non-critical uses, such as tension rope to form a perimeter around a parking lot.

If the use is critical—an application where, if there is a failure, you have potential injury or loss of life or damage to property—a forged clip must be used.

The clip size used—whether it be 1/8”, 3”, or otherwise—must match the diameter size of the wire rope. If it doesn’t, the wire rope could slip out of the clip.

After installing clips, it is necessary to regularly cycle the rope and retighten the clips. Monitoring the torque on the nuts is important, as they will loosen over repeated use.

Basic steps for installing a wire rope clip include:First, wrap the wire rope around the thimble or to form the eye, and turn back the correct amount of rope—as specified by the manufacturer.

Apply the first wire rope clip at the end of the dead end, with one base width of space. Use a torque wrench to tighten the nuts on the wire rope clip.

When applying the second clip (if required), place it as close to the eye loop or thimble as possible. Again, be sure to properly tighten the nuts of the clip with a torque wrench.

Wire rope clips are a common and necessary piece of rigging hardware when it comes to using wire rope and forming end terminations. They are used to form a wire rope eye or to connect two cables together. It’s important to understand how to correctly install a wire rope clip, as incorrect installation leads to decreased efficiency in the wire rope assembly.

If you are interested in a Wire Rope Clip, you have come to the right place. We offer U-Clips made with stainless steel or galvanized steel. These clamps are used to apply terminations on a cable assembly.

If you are looking for swage sleeves, which fulfill similar functions, we also have those available in their own category. However, if you are interested in picking up some Wire Rope Clips, we have prepared some information that you should find useful.

As we mentioned before, Wire Rope Clamps are used for a similar function to their not-so-distant cousin, the swage sleeve/ferrule. They are used to establish dead-ends and eyes at the end of a wire cable.

While using a clip may decrease the breaking strength of a rope slightly more than a swage would, there are a few advantages over swages. A Wire Rope Clip can be removed and even reused without much wear. This makes clips ideal for less permanent fixes.

When a clip is installed properly, the decrease in the breaking strength of the wire. Eyes installed with Cable Clips will maintain 80-90% of their strength. However, when a clip is not installed properly, the decrease in breaking strength will be much more significant.

Since we just discussed the importance of installing a wire clip properly, let’s talk about what you will need to get this kind of job done. If you already work with wire cables, chances are you already have everything you need.

For the most part, Galvanized Steel is a little easier on your wallet than Stainless Steel and it will take a lot of abuse without much damage to show. However Galvanized Steel is not quite as strong as Stainless Steel and it can’t be used in jobs where the rope may be exposed to saltwater or excessive moisture.

When you are choosing your wire cable, there is a general rule of thumb. Large wires generally stand up very well to abrasion but are not as resistant to fatigue as smaller wires. The size of the rope will help to determine both its strength and flexibility.

Steel Cable Clamps are used in a wide variety of applications. They can be used in towing, loading, rigging, agriculture, and household uses just to name a few areas. The key advantage to using Wire Cable Clamps is that they can be used in any application where an eye termination may need to be removed at some point.

US Rigging are a manufacturer and master distributor of climbing ropes, fall protection equipment, and industrial rigging equipment located in Santa Ana, California. This Orange County based company is proud to provide American Made products with both safety and service in mind. US Rigging has a legacy lasting over 40 years and are known for operational excellence.

We offer a variety of Wire Rope Clips to fulfill your needs in rigging, lifting, towing, and heavy construction applications. These Cable Clips are designed to reliably splice wires with dead-end eye terminations. They are perfect for applications where you need to apply terminations that can be removed.

Lifting Rope & Cable Clips└ Lifting Machine Hardware└ Lifting Machine Parts & Rigging└ Hoists, Winches & Rigging└ Material Handling└ Business & IndustrialAll CategoriesAntiquesArtBabyBooks & MagazinesBusiness & IndustrialCameras & PhotoCell Phones & AccessoriesClothing, Shoes & AccessoriesCoins & Paper MoneyCollectiblesComputers/Tablets & NetworkingConsumer ElectronicsCraftsDolls & BearsMovies & TVEntertainment MemorabiliaGift Cards & CouponsHealth & BeautyHome & GardenJewelry & WatchesMusicMusical Instruments & GearPet SuppliesPottery & GlassReal EstateSpecialty ServicesSporting GoodsSports Mem, Cards & Fan ShopStampsTickets & ExperiencesToys & HobbiesTravelVideo Games & ConsolesEverything Else

Wire rope clips, sometimes referred to as u bolt clamps, u bolt clips, u clips, u clamps or cable clamps, are used to secure the loose end of a wire rope when forming an eye. Wire rope u clips have a u-bolt that is secured into a saddle by two nuts. Wire rope assemblies almost always require two, or more wire rope clamps to secure the wire rope properly. When using wire rope cable clamps to form an eye in a wire rope, the working load limit of the wire rope is reduced by about 20%.

Here at Tri-State Rigging Equipment we pride ourselves on providing only the highest quality wire rope clamps from only the most reputable manufacturers. We can provide you with any wire rope clip on the market so, if you are unable to find what you are looking for, or if you don’t know exactly what you need, call or email our sales team to speak with a rigging product specialist.

Wire rope cable clamps come in a variety of materials ranging from galvanized and zinc plated steel, to stainless steel. The two most important different types, however, are drop forged and malleable wire rope u bolt clips.

Drop forged wire rope clips are more heavy duty than malleable rope clips and can therefore be used for more heavy-duty rigging applications. In addition, they are galvanized with a heavy coating of zinc that resists the corrosion and abuse found in rugged work environments. Wire rope cable clamps of every type are not designed to be used in an overhead lift but drop forged wire rope u bolt clamps can be used to suspend an overhead load. This makes wire rope cable clamps ideal for use with:

Regarding the first question, if the load is being moved, wire rope clips are not to be used. If the load is being held in place, heavy-duty drop forged wire rope clips can be used. For the second question, if the load is near the ground, malleable wire rope clips may be used, as their lighter duty design is more than enough for the job. On the other hand, if the load is being suspended above the ground, heavier duty drop forged wire rope clamps must be used.

In the rigging and lifting industry there is a common saying that is used to remember the correct way to use wire rope u clips: “Never saddle a dead horse.” This means that the saddle of the u clamp should always be in contact with the live side of the wire rope rather than the dead side. The dead side of the wire rope is the side of the eye that has the cut end. The dead end is attached to the live end of the wire rope to form an eye and it is imperative that the saddle be on the live side of the wire rope.

Tri-State Rigging Equipment is a service provider and distributor for all wire rope cable clamps, and u bolt clips for rigging serving clients from coast to coast, Canada, Mexico and especially focused in the states of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, and Oklahoma.