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.
People Also Ask — Rigging Screws
Q: What's the difference between a standard lock-nut rigging screw and a self-locking (spring cup) rigging screw?
A standard rigging screw is locked after tensioning with a separate lock-nut tightened against the body, or a split pin through the end fitting — the installer applies the lock manually once final tension is set. A self-locking (spring cup) rigging screw has a built-in spring-loaded cup that resists the body backing off under vibration without a separate lock-nut step. AIMS stocks both configurations — self-locking versions are worth specifying on installations subject to sustained vibration, where a standard lock-nut could work loose over time.
Q: How does the dual right-hand/left-hand thread on a rigging screw work?
A rigging screw's body has a right-hand thread at one end and a left-hand thread at the other. Turning the body in one direction draws both end fittings inward simultaneously, tightening the assembly; turning it the other way backs both ends out together. This is what lets a rigging screw take up slack or adjust tension without disconnecting either end fitting — a single rotation of the body does the work of adjusting two threaded connections at once.
Q: When does a rigging screw need to be WLL-marked under AS 3776, and when doesn't it?
A rigging screw used in a lifting application must be WLL-marked and rated to AS 3776 (and the broader AS 4991/AS 2550 lifting standards), with traceable manufacturer documentation — an unmarked rigging screw is not permitted for lifting use. For non-lifting structural applications, such as tensioning a balustrade, shade sail or wire fence, the relevant building code or design specification governs the rating requirement instead, and a WLL lifting mark isn't the applicable test. Always check which regime applies before selecting a rigging screw for a job.
Q: Why choose stainless steel 316 over galvanised steel for a rigging screw?
Galvanised steel rigging screws are the everyday choice for outdoor and general industrial tensioning work and cost less. Stainless steel 316 is specified for marine, balustrade and other corrosive environments where galvanising alone won't hold up long-term — it resists the salt and moisture exposure that would eventually corrode a galvanised finish. AIMS stocks 316 stainless rigging screws specifically for these corrosive-environment applications alongside the standard galvanised range.
Q: What's the difference between a drop-forged and a turned rigging screw body?
Drop-forged rigging screw bodies are formed under pressure into a die, which aligns the metal's grain structure and produces a stronger body than a turned (machined from bar stock) equivalent of the same nominal size. For a given size and application, a drop-forged rigging screw carries a higher working load with the same dimensions — worth checking which construction method a rigging screw uses when comparing otherwise similar-looking products.