Fastening to bar joists, I beams or any type of flange is easy with a hammer on flange clip or beam clamp. These fasteners are often referred to as a smash or hammer on beam clamps or clips. There are a few variations available depending on your application. Whatever the application, knowing the thickness of the flange will help you select the right size clip or clamp. If you are mounting to a bar joist, likely a 1/8″ to 1/4″ sized clip will work. The next most common would be sized for thicker flanges like I beams sized at 5/16″ to 1/2″.

If you are doing something simple like suspending grid wire or jack chain for lighting or signage etc., a simple hammer on clip like our HOK24 or HOK58 will do the job. Both have a 1/4″ hole for an S hook, tie wrap or up to a 1/4″ bolt. You can use these for mounting j hooks but you will be limited to running with the iron. Read more below on the hammer on beam clamps if you want to run against or at a diagonal across the iron.

If you would like to mount a bridle ring, box, j hook, fixture or drop a 1/4″ rod, the FM24 or FM58 would do the trick. These are similar to the basic hammer on clips but they have a stamped 1/4″ threaded impressions to mount to. You will find these being used on many hammer on j hooks currently available. These clamps actually have two 1/4″ threaded impressions, one on the horizontal and one on the vertical making them a versatile little clamp. If you use a j hook with an angle bracket and mount to the bottom of these hammer on clamps, you will have the ability to rotate your cable hook 360 degrees to run with or against the layout of the iron or even at a diagonal.

A third option that is very popular with the low voltage and data cabling technician is the HOKFMP hammer on clamp. These clamps have a wide grip range, from 1/8″ to 1/2″ and have both a 10-24 and a 1/4-20 threaded impression. They will also accommodate most drive rings. We move a ton of these to match up to our bridle rings.

Hammer on clamps and clips are very useful little pieces of hardware, that will increase your flexibility. With their relatively low cost, it is easy to justify having a few on hand.  Visit our webstore shop our line of hammer on beam clamps, clips and more.