A coil tong and a C-hook both carry a horizontal steel coil with an overhead crane; the difference is where they hold it. A coil tong grips the coil on its outer surface with its arms. A C-hook passes its lower arm through the coil eye and carries the load from below; it does not squeeze the coil. Which one fits depends on the coil dimensions, its surface and the way the plant works.
Gripping: from the outside or through the eye
A coil tong brings its arms to the coil from outside and holds it at the sides. This suits cases where the coil eye cannot be reached, or where an arm should not be put into the eye.
A C-hook relies on its lower arm entering the coil eye. The lower-arm geometry is designed for the coil's inside diameter, and the balance in the unloaded and loaded condition is considered in the engineering design. Because it touches the coil only in the eye and from below, the outer surface is not gripped by arms.
Capacity and coil width
The values below are the upper limits of each product family; not every combination of dimensions exists in a single model, and the exact model is set at the quotation stage.
| Product | Gripping | Capacity (family upper limit) | Coil width |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Coil Tong | From outside, remote-controlled arms | 50 tonnes | 300–2,200 mm |
| Mechanical Coil Tong | From outside, load-actuated scissor linkage | 40 tonnes | 300–2,200 mm |
| C-Hook | Through the eye, support from below | 50 tonnes | 300–2,200 mm |
| Motorized Rotating C-Hook | Through the eye, motorized rotation | 50 tonnes | 300–2,200 mm |
Coil surface and edge sensitivity
The surfaces where tong arms touch the coil can be fitted with protective pads; for coated or painted coils the pads are chosen from the surface information. A C-hook does not grip the outer surface, so it leaves no squeeze marks from arms; contact is in the coil eye and on the lower arm. How much each surface needs protecting is assessed at the quotation stage with the coil data.
When the coil must be rotated
If the coil must be rotated about its own axis while it is carried, the Motorized Rotating C-Hook is designed for it; rotation configurations of 90° / 180° / 360° can be set up per project. Motorized rotation is also offered as an option for the Electric Coil Tong.
Which one stands out when
- Coil tong: when access to the coil eye is limited, when gripping must be done from outside, and when coils of different widths should be carried with the same device. For the arm drive, the Mechanical Coil Tong and the Electric Coil Tong are separate options; Mechanical or Electric Coil Tong? compares them.
- C-hook: when the coil eye is free, when the outer surface should not be gripped by arms, and when coils of a given inside diameter are carried. The C-Hook can connect to the crane by pin, lifting hole or sling.
- Hot coils: handled in both families by project-specific engineering assessment; this guide gives no temperature value.
For a comparison of all tong types, see the guide How to Choose a Coil Lifting Tong.
Information needed for a quotation
- Coil weight, width, outside and inside diameter
- Access to the coil eye and surface condition
- Crane capacity and headroom under the hook
- Need for rotation and working frequency
You can send the details through the quotation form.
To see a preliminary calculation of the C-hook's mouth, arm length and capacity from your coil dimensions, you can use the C-hook configurator. The result is a preliminary design; your request goes to our engineering team.