Bolt tightening Kit

[menghini222]

Hi,

 

I did a rock concert with a lighting technician and he used a wooden block to tighten

clamps/bolts.

 

Now this made rigging quick and easy, I have looked everywhere for a bit of kit like this but

can not find a thing.

 

If anybody has ever seen any thing like this then please help.

 

Thanks,

Menghini

[Chris Beesley]

Try the Wing Nut Spanner

[WiLL]

I must add that I am the proud owner of the above mentioned wing-nut spanner and also a tool called a 'Biancheri' which is simply a wing nut spanner of a different design. The two both have their perks and flaws, the wing-nut spanner is smaller, lighter and flat so slips into back pockets and belt pouches easily, although I 've encountered a few wing-nuts which it doesn't like so much. Most notably some of the larger moving light g hooks and clamps, although it does do some hex nuts too which is nice. The Biancheri which used to be sold by Flints, (although having just checked the catalogue it seems they don;t any longer :/), I've found although it is larger and can't do hex nuts, it can do even the largest wing nuts, right down to iddy-biddy ones, and because it has a rubber coated round handle is more comfortable when you need to exert some force when loosening a nut.

So, yes there are tools out there to do the job you want, it's just about finding the one that works for you

[bruce]

Before using a wingnut spanner, read this thread. Bottom line - if you use one for tightening random wingnuts, people will hate you, and you may actually do some damage to the equipment.

 

On the other hand, they may be useful for loosening bolts that have been tightened up by some idiot with a wingnut spanner

 

 

My understanding is that wingnuts are designed to be hand-tightened. If you need to use a spanner on it, then it's the wrong fixing for the job. Overtightening these, especially on things like telescopic stands, is likely to damage the tubes or strip threads.

[Andy Mel]

Hi everyone,

 

I feel I ought to comment on this as a partner in the wingnutspanner empire!!

 

The design as you see it came about from the need to outrig lanterns from trusses using half couplers. In the touring world this is a very common practice but ultimately when local crews and AJs or leathermans are added to the mix very destructive for the clamps! It was with this in mind that we designed a tool to cope with most common clamps encountered but also with the abillity to make a couple of other tasks safer and quicker - namely doing / undoing tight or bent and mangled cams on moving light fixings and tightening or loosening the fixings of pars to six lamp bars for focusing happiness amongst others!!

 

Unfortunately people don't always think about their actions and blindly start to tighten everything up or expect a hook clamp to work off axis which is obviously far beyond their design capabillities.. we can't help with this, but as working lampies ourselves it does sometimes feel like we have created a monster!!! With regards to Bruces comment I have actually seen a local crew member over tighten a hook clamp right through a thin wall truss tube.....

 

Generally though we are proud of the design and feel it speeds enough peoples lives up to make it of use, we have sold all over the world from the web site and they still get mailed at a surprisingly regular interval!

 

I hope this helps, please remember very tight isn't very safe

 

Andy

 

ps if ever you meet me or ian on site we always do a discount for cash to local crew members!

pps delivery will be slow over the next week I'm afraid as ian finishes his tour in the states while mine starts in sweeden,please bear with us

[Jamtastic3]

There's been times when I've had to tighten a wingnut with something other than muscle power due to either the clamp being horizontal than vertical and so any weight (eg a PAR) is pulling it downwards or when the thread of the nut isn't clamping to the truss or scaff well.

[Pete]

There's been times when I've had to tighten a wingnut with something other than muscle power due to either the clamp being horizontal than vertical and so any weight (eg a PAR) is pulling it downwards or when the thread of the nut isn't clamping to the truss or scaff well.

 

Hook clamps aren't designed to be out rigged...

[WiLL]

That doesn't stop it being done. NOT that I'm condoning it of course.

 

 

 

 

(Bumblebees aren't designed to fly either)

[Seano]

(Bumblebees aren't designed to fly either)

 

Urban myth based on the fact that, until very recently, it wasn't well understood how Bumblebees do fly.

Conversely, there's never been any mystery about why out-rigging things on hook clamps is <ahem> A Bad Thing.

 

And to conclude this rant, let me just echo the sentiment above:

If finger tight isn't tight enough, why the f@*&&@&&*@ has it got a wingnut on it!!?!....

 

 

 

 

 

..... aaaaand relax