How to select wire rope thimbles

Thimbles are used to protect the eyes of cable, and rope slings from abrasion by providing a solid steel barrier between the fragile cable strands and the other rigging fitting used in the connection. Thimbles also prevent eye deformation or kinking by giving structure to the cable eye. After repeated high load use, wear and kinking can reduce the strength of the cable, and can lead to premature failure.

Thimbles come in two different duty grades, Light Duty and Heavy Duty.

Light Duty                                                                                                       

Light duty thimbles are typically used in static applications such as a permanent installation, a controlled environment, or in situations where they won’t experience much load。

Because heavy duty thimbles have extended protective material around their edges, and a tendency to resist deformation in uncontrolled applications, they are commonly used in applications that will experience dynamic loading, or loads near or at the working load limit. Heavy duty thimbles are ideal for lifting, towing, and applications that will require the user to frequently connect and disconnect the thimble to other rigging components.

Heavy Duty.

Our heavy duty, hot dipped galvanized thimbles come in at a lower cost thanstainless steel, and are also suited for outdoor environments. While galvanized components are also ideal for outdoor use, galvanized components can exhibit signs of surface rust if the galvanized coating is worn off on the load bearing or contact areas of the component, this type of surface rust is normally worn off when loaded or used, and shouldn’t affect the component’s performance