This store requires javascript to be enabled for some features to work correctly.

Turnbuckles: The Unsung Workhorse of Tension and Design

Turnbuckles: The Unsung Workhorse of Tension and Design

Add tension, strength, and a handcrafted finish with the real deal.
Explore our Turnbuckles Collection today and take your project from structural to striking.

Old West Iron: Forged hardware. Timeless hold.

Shop Turnbuckles

Whether you're reinforcing a timber truss, bracing a pergola, or adding tension to a decorative feature, turnbuckles are the silent strength behind secure, well-built structures. At Old West Iron, we forge turnbuckles with both utility and aesthetics in mind—offering designs that perform under pressure and look good doing it.


What Is a Turnbuckle?

A turnbuckle is a mechanical tensioning device used to adjust the length and tension of rods, cables, or threaded assemblies. It consists of a central metal body with two threaded eye bolts, jaw ends, or hook ends screwed into each side—one with right-hand threads, the other with left-hand threads. When you rotate the body, it draws both ends inward, increasing tension.

It’s a simple concept—but when executed in forged iron, it becomes an essential part of both form and structure.


Common Uses for Turnbuckles

Turnbuckles are used anywhere controlled tension is needed. At Old West Iron, we see them most often in:

  • Timber frame trusses

  • Pergolas and pavilions

  • Decorative cross-bracing in rustic and industrial interiors

  • Furniture reinforcement

  • Gates, railings, and barn hardware systems

Pair them with our threaded rods or clevises to complete a custom tension rod system tailored to your build.


3/4" dia. Turnbuckle Body

Built for Heavy Duty and Heavy Style

Old West Iron’s turnbuckles are forged with durability and design in mind. Unlike the zinc-coated imports you’ll find in hardware stores, ours are:

✔️ Hand-forged or cast from solid steel
✔️ Offered in multiple sizes and configurations (eye/eye, jaw/eye, hook/eye)
✔️ Available in heritage finishes—black, rusted, raw, sealed
✔️ Compatible with square head threaded rod systems
✔️ Designed for exposed architectural use

They're equally at home inside a barn, outside on a pavilion, or featured as part of a decorative industrial build.


6mm BZP Hook/Eye Turnbuckle Straining Screw | DIN1480 Adjuster | GS Products

How to Install a Turnbuckle

  1. Connect threaded rods or tension members to both ends (one right-hand thread, one left-hand).

  2. Anchor both sides securely to your structure.

  3. Turn the center body to draw the two ends in and increase tension.

  4. Lock in place with jam nuts or cotter pins, if needed.

Need help planning a layout? We’ll help match the right turnbuckle to your span, load, and aesthetic goals.


5/16" dia. Hook to Hook Turnbuckles Turnbuckle

Custom Solutions Available

Have a unique build? We offer:

  • Custom-length turnbuckle bodies

  • Oversized tension hardware for heavy timber applications

  • Decorative add-ons like rivet heads or matching nuts

  • Complete turnbuckle rod kits, made to your specs


Add tension, strength, and a handcrafted finish with the real deal.
Explore our Turnbuckles Collection today and take your project from structural to striking.

Old West Iron: Forged hardware. Timeless hold.

English
Select Language
Bosanski
Català
Cymraeg
Dansk
Deutsch
Eesti
English
Español
Euskara
Français
Gaeilge
Galego
Gàidhlig
Hrvatski
Italiano
Latviešu
Lietuvių
Lëtzebuergesch
Magyar
Maori
Nederlands
Norsk Bokmål
Polski
Português
Română
Shqip
Slovenčina
Suomi
Svenska
Čeština
ʻŌlelo HawaiʻI
Ελληνικά
Български
Македонски
Українська
Հայերեն
עברית
فارسی
हिन्दी
ქართული
中文(简体)