Posted By Eric Taylor Kevin, it's the same as push / pull loads for manual handling. All you are doing is pulling against a torque spanner etc to apply the load. The actual torque applied is irrelevant, it's the load the person has to apply to the equipment that matters.

Posted By Konstanty Budkiewicz Kevin, Be assured that there is no average grip. It varies with the diameter of the gripped component, strength of the particular related muscle group, posture, and repeat rate of application. That said try the following that I found in a Wikipedia link: http://www.bleng.com/pdf/grip1.pdf Kon CMOISH

Posted By Chris Jerman Kevin, I understand where you are coming from. The principle with the examples that you are talking (torquing?) about are really about 'average' people. What ever people say, there ARE average people about. These figures are used every day in deciding how high to make a park bench, how long a skipping rope should be, how many pairs of extra large pants to stock etc etc. Now with a hand tool or hand only, there HAS to be a degree of understanding of its use. If a 20 st bloke stands on the wheel brace to tighten the nuts, my Mum will be unlikely to be able to get them off as shown in the manual. However, if we agree the rules of 'hand tight' as you appear to suggest, we all have to play the game my Mum then has the reserve position of being able to use HER foot to get them off, making things all equal. Terms in engineering that deal with these do exist, 'nip up by hand' tighten until resistance is felt etc etc all give credence to this. If you actually wanted figures, I would suggest taking a range of measurements of how many torques it takes to UNDO some fittings that have been tightened by operatives under observed conditions. It's a bigger discussion than can be answered in one go, but personally I'd start there - with some measurements of what people can (un)do comfortably. Of course it depends upon how tight you NEED them. The car nuts for example? Well an average motorist following the instructions in the book should be able to apply sufficient torque to keep them on. (remember to check them after 30 miles!) Chris

Posted By Paul Leadbetter Kevin I thought that torque was measured in Newton metres (or foot-pounds in old money!) Paul

Posted By Eric Taylor Kevin, 20lbs/sq in isn't a torque it's a pressure. Torque is measured in force per unit length, eg, lbs/ft, as in the torque is the same as hanging a 1 lb weight off a spanner a foot long, ( from the centre of the fastner). You can apply the same TORQUE using half a pound and a 2 ft spanner and so on. You need to work out the force you will apply to achieve the torque, then equate this to the push pull limits in the manual handling regs. Tiny wee weak person can apply thousands of pounds foot of torque given the correct tooling.

Posted By Jane Blunt [hide] [delete] Re: Hand Torque Settings Posted by Jane Blunt on Thursday, 24 January 2008 at 13:29 (user : 45 , IP: 131.111.8.99 ) Eric You are nearly right, but not quite. Yes, 20lbs/sq in is a pressure. Torque is measured in force multiplied by length, not force per unit length. The units of torque are lb ft not lb/ft. The rest of your argument is correct, since 1 lb x 1 foot is equal to 0.5 lb x 2 ft. Regards Jane Blunt