EXPERT COLUMN | THE CALDWELL GROUP The key to swivel eyebolts


Despite its many benefits, the swivel eyebolt is often overlooked. Jay Schroeder, regional sales manager (RUD West) at The Caldwell Group, investigates.


A swivel eyebolt, especially one with a key, is often a more suitable product than a standard eyebolt.


T


he swivel eyebolt is often overlooked, despite the many benefits it offers over a standard eyebolt.


End users are frequently faced with a decision between using a swivel eyebolt or standard eyebolt. This is a common scenario in the die and mould industry, stamping operations and general manufacturing. A swivel eyebolt has a lifting ring that swivels independent of the bolt, whereas a standard eyebolt is a bolt with a forged ring attached to it. We offer swivel eyebolts from 5/16in up to 2in, and from M6 to M64. The Working Load Limit (WLL) can be anything up to 20t. There are many circumstances where it


isn’t altogether clear which product should be used. That’s where decisions can be made that mean the best product for the job in hand is overlooked and an inferior solution impacts productivity and even safety. A standard eyebolt might be a viable option if the user is simply using one lifting point to move something from a pallet to another pallet or a table, but this only covers a small percentage of applications. If the wrong product is chosen, it could


be fatal to the operator. A swivel eyebolt gives the user a better option as it will rotate to the direction of the pull and not back out. Many times, when a user employs an eyebolt in a multi-point (two, three or four-leg) pick, the orientation of the eyebolts are not going to be the same. As the sling starts getting tight and pressure is put on the eyebolt, it will cause the eyebolt to start to turn. When they turn they are actually backing out of the hole and the stress


12 | August 2025 | www.hoistmagazine.com


is being induced onto the bolt, which could lead to damage to the bolt or product being lifted – or failure with the rigging. Thus, a swivel eyebolt is often the best solution in a myriad of applications, from lifting up something small in a one-point pick, to lifting something very large using four lifting points.


Longevity and safety Within this product sector, there are different models on the market, further complicating the decision process, even if a user has arrived at the decision to use a swivel eyebolt over a standard version. The RUD VRS-F, for example, features a ‘key’ that is built to fit into the top hex of the bolt to tighten it; the user then takes the key out of the bolt to make the ring swivel independent of the bolt. This key is essentially the Allen wrench for the bolt. Of course, one of the reasons why swivel eyebolts, especially ones like the RUD VRS-F,


are overlooked, is the misconception that there are cheaper alternatives that can do the job just as well. People can buy less expensive eyebolts online or from non-reputable sources. However, when one factors in the longevity of a VRS-F – if taken care of and used properly – and the safety it gives to the user, the benefits outweigh the cost. We also see times where the user is using a centre pull hoist ring because they need the swivel feature. Again, a swivel eyebolt with a key would be more suitable. RUD rings and bolts are 100% magnetic particle crack tested. The products are put in a special machine where they have dielectric fluid run across them, and a light will highlight cracks in the surface. Storage and inspection are key to the longevity of these products – we recommend storing them on a rack where you can prevent the threads from being damaged. They should be inspected before each use in addition to thorough, periodic inspection.


In addition to being the safest option, here are five other reasons to use a VRS-F swivel eyebolt: With a large selection of sizes, we offer imperial and metric in both coarse and fine thread, and we can also offer in NPT threads. The key is attached to the ring. You never have to go looking for the tightening device. The bolt is captive and it cannot fall out. Built in RFID chip for easy tracking during inspections. WLL is based on the worst-case scenario; there is never any derating required during a lift unless being used in a high heat application. This is a very big benefit compared to a standard eyebolt where the user has to calculate what angle he or she is lifting from and figure out the derate factor.


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