The short answer: a C hook lifts a coil by dropping through its inner diameter (the eye), while a coil tong clamps the coil's outer diameter from the outside. The C hook reaches 70 ton and the coil tong 45 ton — the choice comes down to which side of the coil your crane has clear access to, and whether the coil's eye is a reliable place to put load.
How a C hook works
A C hook drops through the coil eye and lifts from the inner diameter on a curved, often counterweighted saddle that keeps the hook hanging level when empty. Coil ID range runs roughly 508–762 mm (customizable), in counter weight, spring, and container load variants — the last built specifically for loading and unloading coils from shipping containers. Curved saddles and replaceable urethane facings protect the coil's inner surface from damage. Our C hook types and selection guide covers the variants in more depth.
How a coil tong works
A coil tong grips the coil from the outer diameter using a pair of arms that close around it, with even load distribution designed to prevent coil deformation at the grip points. Coil OD range runs 800–2000 mm (customizable), in manual, hydraulic, and motorised variants. Adjustable jaw opening accommodates a range of coil sizes without swapping attachments, and safety latches prevent accidental release mid-lift. See our coil tong types and selection guide for the full range.
Side-by-side
| C Hook | Coil Tong | |
|---|---|---|
| Grip point | Inner diameter (eye) | Outer diameter |
| Power required | None — mechanical (spring/counterweight variants) | None, hydraulic, or motorised depending on variant |
| Typical capacity | Up to 70 ton | Up to 45 ton |
| Size range | Coil ID 508–762 mm | Coil OD 800–2000 mm |
| Best suited to | Coils with a clean, accessible eye | Coils where OD grip is more reliable than the eye |
Which one fits your job
If your coils have a consistent, accessible eye and you want a compact attachment that maneuvers easily in tight aisles or into containers, the C hook is the simpler pick. If the eye is small, obstructed, inconsistent across your coil mix, or you'd rather not put load through the inner wraps at all, a coil tong's outer-diameter grip sidesteps that entirely. A third option, the coil grab, also grips the outer diameter but through a purely mechanical linkage — coil grab vs C hook covers that comparison. Motorised coil tong variants add automation for high-cycle operations where manual clamping would slow throughput — worth the extra cost if you're running the attachment continuously rather than intermittently.
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