Lock Nut Tightening

[akslope]

Hello,
I work on the North Slope of Alaska with the Oil Comany as a contract Electrician.
Recentally one of our electricians pinched his finger while tightening a lock nut on a EMT connector entering an enclouser. His method of tightening the lock nut was one that I have used for over 20 yrs in the trade, square shank screw driver and my electricians hammer(lineman pliers).
As far as I know that is the Industry standard for this task. Correct me if I am wrong.
And now for the question:
Has anyone found a tool that will tighten lock nuts without using the screw driver and hammer??
Our Safety Dept. has tasked us with finding a different method of doing this task.
Side note:
I have pinched my fingers trying to use channel lock pliers and also with needle nose pliers and we are looking for something else to use.
Any help will be appriciated.
Thanks
Ken

 

[eric9822]

Check this out. Disclaimer: I have never used them.

http://www.premiertool.com/id77.htm

 

[renosteinke]

Rather than a screwdriver, I have had much better results with a proper taper punch.

The Ideal-brand locknut pliers are not very helpful.

 

[tkb]

Hello,
I work on the North Slope of Alaska with the Oil Comany as a contract Electrician.
Recentally one of our electricians pinched his finger while tightening a lock nut on a EMT connector entering an enclouser. His method of tightening the lock nut was one that I have used for over 20 yrs in the trade, square shank screw driver and my electricians hammer(lineman pliers).
As far as I know that is the Industry standard for this task. Correct me if I am wrong.
And now for the question:
Has anyone found a tool that will tighten lock nuts without using the screw driver and hammer??
Our Safety Dept. has tasked us with finding a different method of doing this task.
Side note:
I have pinched my fingers trying to use channel lock pliers and also with needle nose pliers and we are looking for something else to use.
Any help will be appriciated.
Thanks
Ken

So...where was his finger if he had a screwdriver in one hand and a hammer in the other?
Sounds like operator error to me.

 

[petersonra]

So...where was his finger if he had a screwdriver in one hand and a hammer in the other?
Sounds like operator error to me.

two union electricians were involved. Only allowed to use one tool at a time according to the contract.

 

[JJWalecka]

Gloves, coal chisel and hammer or pliers.

The key is Gloves

 

[JJWalecka]

Though I have never tried them
Klein D333-8 Conduit Locknut and Reaming Pliers

 

[ActionDave]

Though I have never tried them
Klein D333-8 Conduit Locknut and Reaming Pliers

i use them. They work good for tightening locknuts in a panel, but not in a box. You don't have enough swing room. Can't use them on anything larger than 3/4.

 

[jeremysterling]

Rather than a screwdriver, I have had much better results with a proper taper punch.

The Ideal-brand locknut pliers are not very helpful.

I agree completely. If a safety program is looking for the proper tool to substitute for a spanner or pliers due to swing space limitations, an appropriately sized punch (with tool-holder if required) and 16 to 24 oz hammer is the only substitute.

When I'm asked, "Can I borrow your screwdriver?", my reply is, "What kind of screw are you turning? Because I'd be happy to loan you a prybar, chisel, punch or drift, if that is really what you need."

 

[akslope]

Thanks for the information

Thanks for the information

Hey guys,
Thanks for all the replies!!!
You were a great help!!! Well most were anyway!!!
Thanks again
Ken

 

[kwired]

two union electricians were involved. Only allowed to use one tool at a time according to the contract.

If one holds the hammer and the other holds the chisel they are still legal:happyyes:

Gloves, coal chisel and hammer or pliers.

The key is Gloves

Very good point. Some places it is the general rule.

 

[Besoeker]

Hello,

And now for the question:
Has anyone found a tool that will tighten lock nuts without using the screw driver and hammer??
Our Safety Dept. has tasked us with finding a different method of doing this task.

Any help will be appriciated.
Thanks
Ken

If they are hex lock nuts (the one's I've seen were) would something like this work?

We call it a box spanner. I don't know why.

 

[Little Bill]

If they are hex lock nuts (the one's I've seen were) would something like this work?

We call it a box spanner. I don't know why.

If they were hex nuts that might work. But the OP is talking about a round locknut with ribbed or spoked edges. Either takes a special factory made wrench or the tried and true
"tool #99"= screwdriver and pliers or hammer.

 

[Besoeker]

If they were hex nuts that might work. But the OP is talking about a round locknut with ribbed or spoked edges.

Ah, OK.
We use mostly steel wire armoured cable with brass glands and these also have lock nuts but they are hex.

 

[iwire]

On larger sizes I have been known to use a roto hammer to tighten locknuts.

 

[iwire]

Ah, OK.
We use mostly steel wire armoured cable with brass glands and these also have lock nuts but they are hex.

Yeah, but you guys are just weird anyways, you call trucks lorrys, cigarettes fags, drive on the wrong side of the road, spell color wrong and that does not even touch on the whole 'one voltage fits all' mindset.

 

[Besoeker]

Yeah, but you guys are just weird anyways, you call trucks lorrys, cigarettes fags, drive on the wrong side of the road, spell color wrong and that does not even touch on the whole 'one voltage fits all' mindset.

One voltage is good!
It's simple and no risk of frying stuff because of lost neutrals....
And smaller, cheaper, easier to install wiring than it would be at 110V.
Not to mention 50Hz that gives you a nice simple 20ms period instead of 16.66666666666........ad infintum ms.
And we use SI units - also simple - rather being mired in the past with the Imperial system you inherited from us and we ditched long since. A system that hardly anyone uses these days......except yourselves and a couple of other hugely influential nations, Myanmar and Liberia......

If liking simplicity is weird, I'll take that brand of weird any day!

 

[iwire]

One voltage is good!
It's simple and no risk of frying stuff because of lost neutrals....
And smaller, cheaper, easier to install wiring than it would be at 110V.
Not to mention 50Hz that gives you a nice simple 20ms period instead of 16.66666666666........ad infintum ms.
And we use SI units - also simple - rather being mired in the past with the Imperial system you inherited from us and we ditched long since. A system that hardly anyone uses these days......except yourselves and a couple of other hugely influential nations, Myanmar and Liberia......

If liking simplicity is weird, I'll take that brand of weird any day!

So I guess you would be fine with one size fits all clothes. It would be much simpler.











(Edit: Just to be clear, I am joking. No one needs to be offended)

 

[Besoeker]

So I guess you would be fine with one size fits all clothes. It would be much simpler.
(Edit: Just to be clear, I am joking. No one needs to be offended)

No offence taken whatsoever.
We Brits are known for our sense of humour......and simple electrical system.

Somewhat back on topic, we used to use conduit a fair bit in industrial premises and I still do see some remaining.

 

[jeremysterling]

We call it a box spanner. I don't know why.

We have box-end wrenches (we say wrench instead of spanner) that completely surround the fastener head. An open-end spanner grips two sides of the bolt head.