Aluminum Double Barrel Ferrules Hourglass Ferrules Sleeves
Aluminum double-barrel hourglass ferrules—also called duplex swage sleeves—are heavy-duty compression fasteners designed to create strong loops and end-terminations in steel wire rope.
Key Characteristics
Hourglass Profile: The distinct figure-8 shape features two separate, parallel oval channels. This design holds the return strand of the wire perfectly parallel, preventing overlapping and ensuring an even, symmetrical crimp.
Material Advantage: Made from high-grade aluminum material, these sleeves are economical, lightweight, and highly malleable. They offer excellent cold-forming flow when compressed.
Corrosion Warning: Aluminum ferrules are ideal for galvanized carbon steel wire rope. However, they should never be used with stainless steel wire rope in wet or marine environments, as this causes rapid galvanic corrosion.
Technical Performance
Holding Strength: When properly compressed with a dedicated swaging tool, aluminum double-barrel ferrules hold 100% of the nominal breaking strength of standard galvanized aircraft cable.
Sizing Compatibility: Sleeves are matched strictly to the wire rope diameter. Standard stock sizing ranges from tiny 1/16" up to 1/2" variants to support everything from picture hanging to structural rigging.
Industry Standards: Top-tier variants are manufactured to conform to strict commercial and military specifications.
Step-by-Step Installation
Pass the Cable: Thread the wire rope through the first barrel of the ferrule.
Form the Loop: Loop the cable around a heavy-duty thimble, then pass the dead end back through the second barrel.
Leave a Tail: Ensure the dead end extends slightly past the edge of the sleeve (about one cable diameter) before crimping.
Crimp with Tool: Compress the ferrule using a multi-groove manual swaging tool, a bench-mounted press, or a hydraulic crimper. Work from the center outward.
To help you get the right hardware setup, could you share:
What diameter wire rope are you using?
What is the total weight or load the cable loop needs to hold?
What swaging tool do you have available (manual hand tool, bench-mounted, or hydraulic)?
We can recommend the exact ferrule size, tool jaw groove, and necessary safety margins.
