If you’ve ever needed to move heavy industrial machinery, secure a piece of lab equipment to a shipping pallet, or stabilize outdoor gear during rough weather, you’ve probably found yourself asking a simple but critical question: Can I use eyebolts for securing equipment? As someone who’s spent the last 12 years supplying these fasteners to factories, workshops, and logistics teams across North America, I’ve fielded this question at least once a week, from first-time users who grabbed a random eyebolt from their toolbox to seasoned maintenance technicians who’ve learned the hard way what happens when you pick the wrong one. Let’s break this down, because the answer isn’t a flat “yes” or “no”—it’s about matching the right eyebolt to your load, application, and intended use, and skipping the common mistakes that lead to broken hardware, damaged gear, or even injuries. EYE BOLTS
First, let’s start with what an eyebolt actually does. At its core, an eyebolt is a fastener with a circular loop (the “eye”) at one end, designed for attaching cables, chains, or hooks, and a threaded shank at the other to screw into a matching hole or tapped hole in your equipment. But not all eyebolts are made for securing equipment—some are built for lifting, others for permanent fastening, and many get misused because people don’t read the fine print stamped right on the shank. The biggest myth I hear all the time is that any old eyebolt will work, as long as it fits the hole. That’s a dangerous assumption. Last year, a small manufacturing plant called me in a panic because an eyebolt they’d pulled from a bulk bin had snapped while securing a 2,000-pound metal stamping press during a cross-country shipment. The stamping press fell off the pallet, dented a $15,000 die set, and almost hit a driver who was moving the truck. When I checked the part number from the broken eyebolt, it was rated for 1,200 pounds lifting load, not 2,000 pounds securing load. That mix-up between lifting eyebolts and securing eyebolts is the number one reason eyebolt-related failures happen, and it’s entirely avoidable.
So, let’s clarify: if your goal is securing equipment (not lifting it), what do you need to look for? Let’s start with load rating, because that’s non-negotiable. Lifting eyebolts are designed to handle sudden, vertical loads when you’re hoisting something, and their load ratings are tested for that specific application. Securing eyebolts, on the other hand, need to handle static or slightly dynamic loads from side pull, tension, or vibration—loads that are often uneven because equipment shifts during shipping, or even during normal use if it’s anchored to a workshop floor. That means securing eyebolts have different load ratings, usually lower than their lifting counterparts, because side pull (when you attach a chain at an angle to the eyebolt, rather than straight down) puts extra stress on the eye and the shank. For example, a 5/8-inch Grade 8 lifting eyebolt might have a vertical lifting load rating of 6,000 pounds, but its securing load rating at a 45-degree side pull is only 3,600 pounds. If you use that 5/8-inch eyebolt to secure a load that’s pulling at a 45-degree angle, you’re only getting 60% of the load capacity you thought you had. That’s a gap that can lead to disaster.
Next, material and grade matter more for securing than you might think. Most eyebolts are made from carbon steel, alloy steel, or stainless steel, and the grade (like Grade 2, Grade 5, Grade 8, or AISI 316 stainless) tells you about their tensile strength and corrosion resistance. For indoor workshop securing, Grade 5 or Grade 8 alloy steel eyebolts are great—they’re strong, durable, and resistant to the small vibrations from equipment running 24/7. But if you’re securing equipment outdoors, or in a damp environment like a food processing plant or coastal warehouse, stainless steel eyebolts are non-negotiable. Carbon steel will rust, and even a tiny rust spot can weaken the shank by 20% over a year, turning a rated load of 5,000 pounds into 4,000 pounds without you noticing. I once had a landscaping company order 20 carbon steel eyebolts to secure a portable greenhouse frame, and six months later, they called because three had snapped during a windstorm. When we looked at the ones they’d sent back, the shanks had pitting corrosion that wasn’t visible at first glance—something carbon steel can’t handle when exposed to moisture and temperature changes.
Then there’s the installation part, which is just as important as picking the right eyebolt. I’ve seen people cross-thread eyebolts so tight they stripped the hole, or screw them in with a wrench until the eye was twisted sideways, and wonder why they failed. For securing applications, the shank of the eyebolt needs to be fully engaged in a tapped hole—meaning at least 1.5 times the shank’s diameter is threaded into the equipment. If you have a 1/2-inch shank, that’s 3/4 inch of thread engagement minimum. If you don’t have enough thread, the load will pull the eyebolt out before it reaches its rated capacity. Also, never use a nut to secure an eyebolt unless it’s specifically designed for that—some eyebolts have a shoulder under the eye that sits flush against the equipment, and adding a nut can create uneven stress that cracks the eye loop. For equipment that vibrates a lot (like a compressor or a generator), I always recommend adding a lock washer to prevent the eyebolt from working loose over time. I learned this trick from a mechanic in Detroit who’d had three compressors slide across a workshop floor because their eyebolts had vibrated loose—now he includes lock washers on every securing eyebolt we ship to his shop, and he hasn’t had a failure in two years.
Now, what about when shouldn’t you use an eyebolt for securing equipment? Even with the right eyebolt and installation, there are limits. If your equipment is more than 10,000 pounds, eyebolts might not be your best bet—for loads that big, you should use anchor bolts or heavy-duty foundation straps that distribute the load across a larger surface area. Eyebolts work great for medium loads (500 to 10,000 pounds) where you need to attach chains or straps, but they aren’t designed to handle constant, heavy side pull from angles steeper than 45 degrees. I also don’t recommend eyebolts for securing fragile or precision equipment—like medical scanners or aerospace parts—because the tension from a chain can cause tiny, invisible stresses that damage sensitive internal components. For that, use soft straps or custom mounting brackets that spread the load without applying concentrated pressure.
Another common question I get: Can I reuse an eyebolt for securing? That depends on how it was used before. If an eyebolt was only used for lifting a load under its rated capacity, and shows no signs of wear (cracks, bending, rust), you can reuse it for securing. But if it was used for securing before, especially if it was exposed to vibration or side pull, inspect it carefully for any damage. Even a small hairline crack in the eye loop is enough to make it unsafe—last year, a construction company tried to reuse an eyebolt that had been used to secure a trailer for a month, and the eye loop cracked during a move, tipping a load of lumber into a sidewalk. When we tested that eyebolt, the crack was too small to see with the naked eye until we used a magnetic particle test, which is what I always recommend for checking used eyebolts.
Let’s talk about real-world examples, because that’s what makes this practical. Last quarter, a medical equipment distributor ordered 12 3/4-inch AISI 316 stainless steel eyebolts to secure MRI machines during shipping. They’d previously used generic lifting eyebolts, and three machines had arrived with dented casing because the eyebolts had snapped mid-transit. We sent them the correct securing-rated eyebolts, along with a guide that told them to use 45-degree side pull straps and 1.5x thread engagement, and they reported back that every machine arrived without damage. Another example: a manufacturing plant that secures their CNC mills to the workshop floor. They were using Grade 5 eyebolts, but their floor was concrete, and they were screwing the eyebolts into tapped holes that were only 1/2 inch deep. The mills vibrated constantly, and within six months, four eyebolts had pulled out. We recommended they install anchor bolts with eyebolt ends, which have a wider shank and embed 3 inches into the concrete, and now those mills haven’t shifted in three years.
At the end of the day, the answer to “Can I use eyebolts for securing equipment?” is a resounding yes—but only if you do it right. Too many people skip the load rating, material check, or installation steps because they think all eyebolts are the same, and that’s where the trouble starts. As an eyebolt supplier, my job isn’t just to send you a fastener—it’s to make sure you have the right one for the job, and that you know how to use it safely. I’ve been in this business long enough to see the mistakes, and I’ve built my reputation on helping customers avoid them.
If you’re not sure which eyebolt you need for your specific application—whether it’s securing a generator, a shipment of industrial parts, outdoor equipment, or anything in between—don’t guess. Reach out to our team to discuss your load, environment, and intended use. We can help you pick the right material, grade, and size, and share our installation best practices to make sure your equipment stays safe, no matter what.
Hex Flange Bolt References:
- Machinery’s Handbook: A Reference Book for the Mechanical Engineer, Designer, Manufacturing Engineer, Draftsman, Toolmaker, and Machinist, 31st Edition, Industrial Press, 2020.
- ASME B18.2.1-2019: Square and Hex Bolts and Screws, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, 2019.
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Standard 1910.184: Slings, U.S. Department of Labor, 2022.
- Fastener Technology International: Eyebolt Load Capacity and Application Guidelines, Fastener Engineering Magazine, 2021.
- Stainless Steel Eyebolt Corrosion Resistance Guide, Nickel Institute, 2020.
Jiaxing Jinling Hardware Technolgy Joint Stock Co., Ltd.
Address: No.32, Shenjiadai, Xuyouche Village, Qinshan Subdistrict, Haiyan County, Zhejiang Province, China
E-mail: jlzxl@jinlingfstn.com
WebSite: https://www.china-nut-factory.com/
