Stainless Steel Eye Nuts

What is an eye nut & when to use it?

An eye nut is a nut with a threaded hole and an integral lifting eye/ring.

Use an eye nut when you need:

A lifting or anchoring point on a threaded stud/bolt.

To lift, guide, secure or tie down equipment, plates, machines, structures.

A removable lifting point (unlike a fixed pad-eye or welded lug).

Common uses:

Lifting machinery, plates, fabrications (with slings, hooks, shackles).

Rigging, anchoring, guy wires, safety lines.

Temporary lifting points on structures or equipment.

Important: For lifting, eye nuts must be rated and marked (WLL / SWL) and used as per manufacturer’s instructions.

Environment & corrosion – material choice

Indoors / general outdoor → A2 (304) eye nut

Marine / coastal / chloride / chemical exposure → A4 (316) eye nut

Use A2 for workshop, plant, general structures, normal outdoor use.

Use A4 for marine, coastal, food, chemical, and chloride-rich environments.

Match eye nut material with bolt/stud material where possible to reduce galvanic issues:

A2 eye nut with A2 studs

A4 eye nut with A4 studs

Standard & type (e.g., DIN 582 lifting eye nuts)

For lifting, the most common pattern is:

DIN 582 – Lifting Eye Nut

Metric threads (e.g., M6, M8, M10, M12, M16, etc.).

Each size has a Rated Working Load Limit (WLL) for straight pull, defined by the standard/manufacturer.

Other non-lifting / hardware eye nuts may not be rated for lifting – use them only for non-load-critical anchoring/tying.

Rule of thumb:

For overhead lifting, use DIN 582 or equivalent rated eye nuts only, with visible marking and WLL.

For simple tie-down or guide applications (no overhead lifting), you can use standard hardware eye nuts (but still respect reasonable loads).

Load direction & how the eye nut is used

Rated lifting eye nuts like DIN 582 are tested for specific load directions:

Ideal / safest → In-line (straight) tension along the bolt/stud axis.

The WLL may be reduced when:

Load is applied at an angle.

Side loading or multi-leg slings are used.

Always check and respect:

Manufacturer’s load charts for 0°, 45°, 90° load angles.

Correct seating: the eye nut must bear fully on the supporting surface (no gaps).

Never:

Use eye nuts with bent studs, or

Allow the eye to bear on only one side – it should sit fla

Eye nuts for lifting are not only defined by the material property class, but by their tested Working Load Limit (WLL).

WLL is based on:

Material strength

Cross-section of the ring

Design & safety factor (usually ≥4x or 5x against failure)

A2 Stainless Lifting Eye Nuts (DIN 582)

Material: A2 (304) stainless steel

Typical usage:

Lifting points in general industrial environments

Machinery handling, plant maintenance, indoor/outdoor where corrosion is moderate

A4 Stainless Lifting Eye Nuts (DIN 582)

Material: A4 (316) stainless steel

Typical usage:

Lifting points in marine, coastal, and chemical environments

Food/pharma plants and any area with high corrosion risk

Key mechanical points:

WLL (Working Load Limit) is marked on rated eye nuts (e.g., DIN 582), depending on size (M6, M8, M10, M12, etc.).

The eye nut is designed with a safety factor on ultimate strength (standard dependent), so never exceed the WLL.

WLL is valid only when:

The eye nut is properly installed and seated.

Load is applied within permitted angle limits.

The supporting structure and stud have adequate strength and are correctly designed.

For non-lifting eye nuts (hardware type), there may be no WLL marking, and they should not be used for overhead lifting. Their “mechanical properties” are then simply based on the stainless steel grade and thread size but not certified for lifting safety factors.