When shopping for rigging equipment, you may come across web sling shackles. They are commonly used in conjunction with web slings. Web sling shackles offer a point of connection for web slings. What are web sling shackles exactly, and how do they work?
Overview of Web Sling Shackles
Web sling shackles are rigging components used in lifting and material handling applications. They are known as “web sling shackles” because they support web slings.
Some rigging components are designed to support chains. Web sling shackles, however, are designed to support flat, woven straps. These straps or “web slings” are strong yet also flexible.
How Web Sling Shackles Work
You can use a web sling shackle by running a web sling through the center, but you’ll need to ensure it’s secured with a pin beforehand. Web sling shackles consist of a U-shaped piece of hardware. At each end of a web sling shackle is a hole.
To use a web sling shackle, you’ll need to run a pin, such as an eye bolt, through these holes. This pin will essentially close the web sling shackle. You can then run a web sling through the open center, followed by connecting the web sling shackle to the lifting equipment. As you lift the load, the web sling shackle will stabilize the web sling, thereby minimizing stress and protecting the web sling from slippage or damage.
Working Load Limit
There are several things you should consider when choosing a web sling shackle, one of which is the working load limit. This is the maximum weight or force a web sling shackle can handle during normal use. Some web sling shackles have a working load limit of 8,000 pounds, whereas others have a working load limit of over 22,000 pounds.
Materials
Web sling shackles are available in different materials. Some of the most common materials used in their construction are alloy steel and carbon steel. Alloy steel and carbon steel are both iron alloys consisting of iron, carbon and other elements. Alloy steel, however, contains lower levels of carbon and higher levels of chromium and nickel, whereas carbon steel contains higher levels of carbon and lower levels of chromium and nickel.
Carbon steel web sling shackles are typically stronger than their alloy steel counterparts. With a higher concentration of carbon, they can withstand more weight or force. Alloy steel web sling shackles, on the other hand, offer better protection against corrosion. The presence of alternative elements like chromium and nickel helps to protect them from oxidation and corrosion.