Wire Rope Thimbles

Thimbles for Wire Rope & Cable

When it comes to ensuring the longevity and reliability of your wire rope assemblies, wire rope thimbles are indispensable. These small but important components play a crucial role in enhancing the durability and performance of your rigging setups: they keep the eyes from being crushed.

What is a Wire Rope Thimble?

A cable thimble is a sturdy metal fitting designed to protect and reinforce the eye of a wire rope assembly. Before the wire rope is secured, a loop is created at the end. The thimble is inserted to form the eye of that loop.

This offers added protection from the wear and tear of direct contact, as well as deformation of the eye, extending the service life of the wire rope or wire rope sling. It also helps with uniform load distribution.

Steel Cable Thimble Construction

Crafted from high-quality materials such as galvanized steel or stainless steel, these thimbles are ideal for both indoor and outdoor applications.

For highly corrosive or marine environments, you'll want a stainless steel thimble. For other applications - such as construction, agriculture, or industrial rigging - galvanized steel is generally well-suited.

Wire Rope Thimble Sizes & Styles

Choosing the right wire rope thimble is simple. For size, you'll want to match the diameter of the wire rope. Keep in mind that if you are using a coated cable, you'll want to match the coated diameter, not the diameter of just the wire rope. 

Additionally, there are two grades of thimble: light-duty and heavy-duty.

Light-Duty Cable Thimbles

Light-duty rope thimbles have less of an edge and are most commonly used in static applications.

Heavy-Duty Cable Thimbles

Heavy-duty cable thimbles offer a wider edge, providing more protection to the rope. They can better handle the demands of dynamic loading applications.

Wire Rope Thimble Break Strength

It's important to note that break strength is typically not denoted on steel rope thimbles as the pressure on the thimble eye can vary depending on the tension and the direction the pressure comes from.

Questions?

Our wire rope thimbles are available in a variety of shapes and sizes, but let us know if you don't see what you're looking for in our selection of rigging supplies. Call to speak to one of our product experts today - they'll be happy to help you find what you need.

Need other wire rope supplies? We carry wire rope clips, sleeves and stops, big grip dead ends, and more.