Tightness - finger, hand, arm, FT

Tightness - finger, hand, arm, FT

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Discussion

paolow

Original Poster:

3,246 posts

265 months

Saturday 12th September 2015
quotequote all
Just curious really - while I was at school (a while back admittedly) we were taught such terms as 'finger tight', 'wrist tight', 'arm tight', 'full tight' etc when tightening fittings. Ive always thought it a good guage and today, when doing up some short (10mm) m2 bolts thought to myself 'wrist tight' because they wouldnt have taken much more in the metal they were going into.
I was reminded of my youth and intrigued and googled to see if the terms were in common parlance but apart from FT (of course) but couldnt really find any evidence they are in use - or in fact have ever existed.
Did I just imagine it or was this ever common parlance? Granted in terms of engineering where torque wrenches etc are all used for everything they are less useful - but I just found it popping into my head and wondered if they are still used at all?
Just curious...

bearman68

4,795 posts

139 months

Saturday 12th September 2015
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Heard of finger tight of course, but the rest....
I'm not sure I would know what wrist tight is to be honest....

Turn7

24,165 posts

228 months

Saturday 12th September 2015
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FT='Kin tight surely ?

thefrog

341 posts

226 months

Sunday 13th September 2015
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Not from experience, but what about ?

finger tight=we know
wrist tight=spanner or ratchet done up to wrist strength
arm tight=tightened with full arm span, pulling on spanner or ratchet
full tight=apply body weight

(totally made up of course, the length of the spanner/ratchet will obviously alter the resulting torque applied)

paolow

Original Poster:

3,246 posts

265 months

Sunday 13th September 2015
quotequote all
thefrog said:
Not from experience, but what about ?

finger tight=we know
wrist tight=spanner or ratchet done up to wrist strength
arm tight=tightened with full arm span, pulling on spanner or ratchet
full tight=apply body weight

(totally made up of course, the length of the spanner/ratchet will obviously alter the resulting torque applied)
Thats exactly my understanding smile
obviously it would depend on the tool being used - and its a pretty crude guide - but its a guide nonetheless....

Collectingbrass

2,393 posts

202 months

Monday 14th September 2015
quotequote all
thefrog said:
Not from experience, but what about ?

finger tight=we know
wrist tight=spanner or ratchet done up to wrist strength
arm tight=tightened with full arm span, pulling on spanner or ratchet
full tight=apply body weight
BFH = needs a big effing hammer
RRR = "refitting is the reverse of removal"...

(totally made up of course, the length of the spanner/ratchet will obviously alter the resulting torque applied)
Fixed that for you smile

I always tighten more than I had to put into removal to make up for the missing bolt or screw which went pinging off into the dark, spider ridden corner of the workshop / hedge.

Peanut Gallery

2,523 posts

117 months

Thursday 17th September 2015
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Please may I also add the following

Bodged Tight = tighten till strip and quarter turn back.

Martin350

3,783 posts

202 months

Thursday 17th September 2015
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Full tight is achieved when you fart.

It's the human body's inbuilt torque wrench. yes

paolow

Original Poster:

3,246 posts

265 months

Monday 21st September 2015
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hehe I did laugh at those last two smile

trickywoo

12,331 posts

237 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2015
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If I'm working with aluminium I'll always use a torque wrench otherwise the above guides are fine.

What really makes me wince is people saying finger tight + a turn or a turn and a half, particularly when used in relation to sump nuts.

woodypup59

634 posts

159 months

Wednesday 23rd September 2015
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F tight (as in 'kin tight) was an official Rolls Royce spec back in the 70s.