Screw eyes and hooks: how to choose hooks and eyes for light loads

Screw eyes and hooks are used for hanging and hooking light objects: pictures, small accessories, curtains, cables. If the support is wood, choose a screw eye or a screw hook; if it is a wall, you need a suitable wall plug; for hanging a light picture, picture hooks with a small nail are fine. In the collection the length of the pieces ranges from 17 to 65 mm, in brass, galvanised iron and steel. It is not a material for lifting loads or for the safety of people.

The types

• Screw eyes: threaded shank with a ring at the head, for wood or metal. There are galvanised versions and versions with a metal-thread screw, such as the galvanised screw eyes.
• Screw hooks: like screw eyes but with a hooked tip, for hanging without having to thread a ring. An example is the galvanised screw hooks with milling.
• Hook screws: screw hooks, for slightly more stable fastening than picture hooks.
• Picture hooks: in the collection they come in three variants: fixed, adjustable with nail and adjustable with screw and wall plug. The adjustable picture hook with nail is fitted in a moment; the version with screw and wall plug is for walls, such as the adjustable hook with wall plug.
• Swivel rings, small hooks and pulleys: complementary pieces in the series; read the data sheet of the model for size and use.
• Threaded swing hooks: hooks with a thread, such as the MA galvanised swing hooks with thread. The name does not make them a certified anchor: check the load shown in the data sheet and, if in any doubt, ask the technicians.

How to choose by job

The features to look at

Material. In the collection you will find brass, galvanised iron and steel. Brass is suited to visible use and damp environments; galvanised iron is the economical choice for indoor use.

Finish. Galvanised, polished and brass-plated are the finishes available. It changes the appearance and the protection against rust.

Length (mm). The data show lengths from 17 to 65 mm, also in packs with several sizes (for example 30, 35, 40 and 60 mm). A longer shank goes in deeper and holds better, but the support must be thick enough.

Type of fixing. Screw or thread, or nail for picture hooks. It depends on the support.

Pack size. It ranges from blister packs of 6 or 10 pieces up to packs of 200 pieces for those who use a lot of them.

Common mistakes

• Using screw eyes and hooks for lifting or for safety. They are pieces for light loads: they are not for pulling up weights or anchoring people.
• Screwing into wood without a pilot hole. The wood splits, especially with long shanks.
• Using the small nail on a wall for a heavy object. For heavier loads you need the hook with screw and wall plug.
• Forgetting the wall plug. In a wall the screw alone does not hold.
• Choosing iron in a damp environment. With humidity untreated iron rusts: brass or galvanised is better.

Frequently asked questions

How do you screw in a screw eye?

After a small pilot hole, screw it in by hand; if it resists, you can use a screwdriver slipped through the eye as a lever, until the thread disappears.

How much weight does a hook hold?

It depends on the material, the length and the support, and the collection does not state a single load. They are pieces for light objects: for significant weights, ask the technicians for advice.

Is a wall plug needed for all hooks?

No, only if the support is a wall. In wood you screw in directly; picture hooks with a small nail are driven in.

Can I use them outdoors?

Yes, if you choose brass or galvanised. Unprotected iron rusts in a short time.

You will find all the models in the screw eyes and hooks collection: if you need a supply or do not know which size to choose, ask the AMES technicians for a quote or advice.