Humidity is tough on rigging equipment. Moisture accelerates corrosion on wire rope and hardware, weakens coatings, swells fibers, and shortens service life. With a few targeted choices in materials, lubrication, and equipment storage, you can keep lifts safer and extend the interval between replacements and repairs.
Understand How Humidity Damages Gear
- Corrosion and rust bloom: Water and salt air attack unprotected steel, starting with tags, pins, and fittings.
- Coating breakdown: Scratched paint and thin zinc layers expose steel to oxygen and moisture.
- Sling fiber degradation: Nylon and polyester can trap moisture, collect grit, and develop mildew if stored wet.
- Hidden wear: Moisture displaces lubricant, inviting internal wire rope corrosion and seized bearings.
Choose Materials That Fight Moisture
- Galvanized or stainless hardware: Shackles, hooks, thimbles, and turnbuckles with proper corrosion resistance last longer in humid or coastal conditions.
- Marine-grade swivels and hoist rings: Sealed bearings and quality finishes help maintain smooth rotation and reduce side-loading risk.
- Wire rope with the right core and finish: Specify galvanized strands where appropriate and keep a moisture-resistant lubricant in the rope.
- Sling selection for environment: Synthetic slings are lightweight and versatile, but plan for drying and abrasion protection. Chain slings tolerate heat and moisture well when inspected and lubricated.
Protect With Coatings, Lubricants, and Covers
- Recoat touch points: Keep paint or protective finish intact on below-the-hook devices and spreader bars. Address nicks before rust spreads.
- Use penetrating wire rope lubricants: Choose a product formulated to displace water, reach the core, and resist wash-off in damp conditions.
- Guard edges and contact areas: Corner protectors and wear pads prevent cuts and crushed fibers that let water in.
- Cover high-value assemblies: Weather-resistant covers for blocks, hooks, and controls keep spray and condensation off critical parts.
Make Equipment Storage Do the Heavy Lifting
- Ventilated, covered storage: Racks under a roof beat tarps. Airflow helps gear dry and prevents condensation.
- Breathable sling bags: Store slings off the floor in breathable containers. Avoid sealed plastic that traps moisture.
- Desiccant and air movement: In containers or gang boxes, add desiccant packs and a small fan to reduce humidity.
- Drainage and elevation: Keep racks off bare concrete, add drip trays where needed, and ensure water cannot pool under bins.
- Labeling and rotation: Tag gear by date and rotate inventory so nothing sits in a humid corner for months.
Build a Humidity-Smart Inspection Routine
- Focus on likely trouble spots: Look for rust at pins, threads, latch springs, sheaves, and wire rope valleys.
- Check tags and traceability: Moisture fades tags first. Replace unreadable IDs to maintain records and capacity checks.
- Feel for stiffness and grit: Stiff slings, seized swivels, or gritty blocks signal trapped moisture and contamination.
- Refresh lubricant after exposure: After rain or washdowns, dry gear and re-lubricate wire rope and chain as needed.
Field Habits That Extend Service Life
- Rinse salt spray with fresh water, then dry thoroughly before storage.
- Keep a small kit with rags, lubricant, tag replacements, and corner protectors at the lift zone.
- Post a one-page “humidity checklist” in the storage area so crews know what good looks like.
Quick Checklist
- Galvanized or stainless hardware in high-humidity zones
- Moisture-resistant wire rope lubricant applied on schedule
- Covered, ventilated equipment storage with sling bags and desiccant
- Edge protection on all sharp loads
- Tags readable on every piece of rigging equipment
- Post-rain dry down and relube routine
Next step: If you operate in a humid or coastal environment, you can start with a short assessment of your current storage and lubrication program.
When you are ready, you can browse wire rope and hardware, request an inspection, or contact Southwest Wire Rope for a humidity-ready gear plan.