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Rigging Screws

Buy Rigging Screws Online in Australia

Rigging Screw + Turnbuckle Selection — Quick Reference

Rigging screws (turnbuckles) = THREADED TENSIONING components adjusting + locking length of wire ropes + chains + tie-rods. Used in rigging + structural + marine + industrial tensioning. End fittings determine attachment style.

Rigging Screw Type Best For
Jaw + Jaw (Fork Both Ends) Most versatile — pin-attached both ends
Eye + Eye (Round Both Ends) Through-anchor + chain shackle attachment
Hook + Hook Quick-attach + detach use
Jaw + Eye Combination Mixed-attachment installation
Stainless 304 / 316 Marine + corrosion + outdoor
Galvanised / Plain Workshop + general use
Lock Nut (Standard) Manual locking after adjustment
Self-Locking (Spring Cup) Vibration-resistant locking
WLL Rated (Marked) Critical lifting — MUST be WLL-marked + AS 3776

Critical: Lifting rigging screws MUST be WLL-rated + marked per AS 3776 + AS 4991 — unmarked screws are NOT for lifting. Lock nut tightened against body after tensioning — prevents vibration loosening. Inspect for thread damage + bent body before each use. Right-hand-thread + left-hand-thread combination = both ends tighten with single rotation. Brands: Beaver, Austlift. Companion: turnbuckles, lifting equipment, rigging slings, turnbuckle guide.

Rigging Screws and Turnbuckles for Australian Tensioning and Rigging

Rigging screws (also called turnbuckles) are the threaded tensioning components that adjust and lock the length of wire ropes, chains, and tie-rods. Used in rigging, structural bracing, balustrade tensioning, fence and gate work, and shade-structure installation, the right rigging screw maintains tension over years of service while remaining adjustable for re-tensioning. AIMS Industrial supplies rigging screws and turnbuckles for trade and industrial customers across Australia.

The end-fitting configurations we stock

  • Eye and eye — for connecting via pins, shackles, or other eye fittings on both ends
  • Hook and eye — quick-connect hook on one end, fixed eye on the other
  • Hook and hook — for fast attachment and removal between two pin or eye points
  • Jaw and jaw — for connecting via clevis pins on both ends
  • Eye and jaw — combination for mixed-fitting installations
  • Stub end (open body) — for use with wire rope swaging or specific cable fittings

Materials and finishes

  • Galvanised steel — the everyday choice for outdoor and general industrial use
  • Stainless steel 316 — for marine, balustrade, and corrosive environments
  • Drop-forged versus turned — drop-forged rigging screws are stronger for the same nominal size

Sizing — match to load

Rigging screw size is by the thread diameter at each end. Common sizes range from M6 through M30, with corresponding working load limits (WLL). The WLL is rated for the smallest cross-section in the assembly — typically the threaded section. Match the rigging screw to the load by WLL, with appropriate safety factor as specified by the application code (typically 4:1 to 5:1 for general rigging, 5:1 or higher for lifting).

Where rigging screws earn their place

  • Wire rope tensioning — adjusting cable length on rigging, balustrade, and shade structures
  • Cable bracing — diagonal bracing on towers, frames, and structural assemblies
  • Fence and gate work — tensioning wire fences and adjustable gate rigging
  • Shade sail and architectural cable — adjustable tension for fabric structures
  • Marine and yacht rigging — stainless steel rigging screws for standing rigging on sailing vessels

Installation and adjustment

Rigging screws have a left-hand thread on one end and a right-hand thread on the other — turning the body in one direction tightens both ends simultaneously, in the other direction loosens both. This is what allows length adjustment without disconnecting either end. Lock the adjustment with a lock-nut or split pin once final tension is set, particularly on installations subject to vibration that could cause the body to back off.

Compliance and rating

Rigging screws used in lifting applications must be rated to the relevant lifting standard (AS 2550 family) and supplied with traceable manufacturer documentation. For non-lifting structural applications, the relevant building code or design specification governs the rating requirement.

Brands stocked at AIMS

Beaver and Yoke cover the rigging screw range across the standard sizes and end-fitting combinations. Stainless steel options are stocked in marine-grade 316 for the corrosive environments where galvanised steel won't last.

Companion ranges at AIMS

Rigging screws sit alongside our broader rigging hardware range — see lifting shackles, rigging and lifting slings, rope grips, and ropes for the broader range.

Need help speccing rigging screws for a specific application or load? contact our team — we'll match by thread size, end fitting, and material.

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