Most people have heard of torque wrenches even if they don’t work with tools. Relatively few people have heard of torque screwdrivers, though, and those who have usually work in specialized fields where they are commonly used. In other fields, like automotive repair or facilities maintenance, the reaction to finding a torque tolerance for a…
What’s the difference between a regular screwdriver and a torque screwdriver? Torque screwdrivers can detect and limit the amount of force they apply to a screw; regular screwdrivers can’t. Why is that important? Because if you don’t apply enough force to a screw, it can fall out of the hole. If you apply too much,…
If you have ever noticed the tiny screws that keep your laptop together, then you know how important fasteners are to the assembly process. The whole laptop is held together with small screws, and removing just one or two of these screws can cause vital components to slide out. Forget one when you put the…
Scuba diving can be a wonderful experience. Whether witnessing the multiplicity of ocean life in the reefs and kelp forests or mapping hidden caves in mountain lakes, scuba divers experience an element unknown to those of us who walk above. But with that comes an element of danger. Scuba divers—from coastal tourists to scientists to…
Modern farming is a capital-intensive industry. The large machines that family farms and corporate farming operations employ to seed, weed, tend, and harvest can represent sizeable portions of multiple years worth of revenue. In order for the farm to succeed, these tractors, combines, harvesters, and other large pieces of equipment must do enough work to…
Bad news from the backcountry. After two weeks of waiting for the right weather conditions, a local extreme skier lifted off in a light helicopter this morning to drop into fresh powder on a technical slope at 13,000 ft, hoping to shoot some high-quality action footage. The flight and the drop went okay—just not the…
Without the right assembly tools, you don’t have a production line. It’s the tools, after all, that allow your workers to assemble the pieces into a product. That doesn’t mean that finding the right tools is easy, though; each product is different, each factory is different, and there are hundreds of different tool options. How…
Modern appliance manufacturers must work continuously to improve the efficiency of their operations in the face of stiff competition domestically and abroad. Producing household or commercial appliances—like dishwashers, washing machines, or televisions—requires a faster pace and greater accuracy than ever to meet the market’s demands for speed and volume. At the same time, lightweight, inexpensive…
Good question. Knowing your tool is the first step towards working in a safe, productive manner. An air tool is a powerful instrument, capable of doing a great amount of work in a short time. But to be used safely and effectively, its operator must know and follow best practices for operation and maintenance. While…
Which is better—a canoe or a raft? A canoe is certainly faster and easier to maneuver. That’s gotta be the best, right? Nothing beats fast. On the other hand, rafts are more stable than tippy canoes and are better equipped to carry cargo. So, the real answer is, the best boat for you depends on…