TorqTALK

A Helping Hand When You Need It Most

Release-assisted back-up wrenches are the best tool for stopping opposite nut turn during torque.

Do you find yourself crazier than a squirrel chasing a nut when the opposite nut turns during torque? Does your job require an extra person to hold a back-up wrench in place? Are you pushing safety limits by beating on a stuck striking wrench?

If you are fed up with the troubles associated with dangerous back-up wrenches, it’s time to consider a safer alternative.

A release-assisted back-up wrench, like the FastBAK, is a simple, hands-free mechanical device that slips over a nut and stops it from turning during torque. It does this by using a reaction arm to react against the adjacent nut. It’s great complement to your hydraulic torque wrench and doesn’t require an additional person to hold it.

With a built-in release mechanism, the release-assisted back-up wrench provides a safer and more effective alternative to dangerous and archaic methods, such as striking or slugging wrenches.

The unsafe practice of wedging a standard striking wrench between the stationary nut and the reaction point is not only dangerous but also time consuming. If you place the wrench head completely on the stationary nut, it is nearly impossible to remove without extensive hammering. If the wrench is too far off the stationary nut, it can fly off during the reaction process and injure someone. Either placement is dangerous and OSHA frowns upon use of hammers and hammer wrenches in this manner.

The demand for safer and more efficient practices on the jobsite necessitates the need for a better solution. When looking for a good quality release-assisted back-up wrench, it is important to find one that offers the following features:

• Versatile. A release mechanism that fits multiple wrench sizes.
• Strong. A tool that is made with quality materials and will withstand the forces put on it during use.
• Easy. A built-in, quick-release mechanism that allows the tool to easily slide off the nut without hammering.
• Low Profile. By reducing bulk, the back-up wrench fits in more places.
• Easy-Release Handle. Many reaction wrenches need an extra tool to loosen the jack screw. Finding a reaction wrench with an integral handle is important to avoid dealing with the additional tools others require.

A release-assisted back-up wrench is just a smart choice when it comes to stopping the stationary nut from turning. So, if you are tired of chasing that nut through inefficient and unsafe work practices, its time to move to the best choice for a back-up reaction system – a release-assisted back-up wrench like FASTORQ’s FastBAK

FASTORQ’s FastBAK provides all of the features needed from a good reaction wrench and is available with one release mechanism that fits wrench sizes from 1-1/16 inch to 3-1/8 inches. It is also available in metric sizes and is customizable. As an added benefit, the FastBAK also allows customers to adapt their current striking wrenches with a simple modification. To find out more about FASTORQ’s FastBAK, check it out in action in our SpinTORQ video (located at 0:57 on the video). 

• FastBAK in our Spanish SpinTORQ Video 
• Portuquese in our Portuguese SpinTORQ Video