HOW TO PROPERLY USE CHAIN-TONGS

CHAIN-TONGS ARE AN EXTREMELY USEFUL TOOL. THEY ARE USED TO ASSIST IN THE MAKE UP AND BREAK OUT OF TUBULARS. THEY CAN ALSO BE VERY DANGEROUS.

Designed and sized to provide extra leverage for the toughest jobs.

CHAIN-TONGS ARE MADE UP OF THREE MAIN CHAIN-TONGS ARE MADE UP OF THREE MAIN COMPONENTSCOMPONENTS

CHAIN

NUT & BOLT

JAWS

Do not apply a side load to the handle – Putting a strain on the tong that it was not designed forcan result in a broken jaw or twisted handle.

Do not use as a lever, lifting device or to bend tubing – Tong is designed to turn pipe. Improperuse may result in damage to the handle.

Do not use in conjunction with a power drive, threading machine or any mechanical/hydraulicdevice to make or break – Use of a power drive, threading machine/hydraulic devices to applyforce to the handle can result in wrench failure and/or serious personal injury.

Do not modify or alter a Chain-tong – Modifying may result in tong failure and seriousinjury.

Do not use a tong that is not properly maintained. Inspect your wrench frequentlyfor damaged or worn parts.

Clean teeth with a wire brush. Dirt in jaw may result in the wrench slipping.

Replace jaws with worn teeth or any other damage. This may result in the wrench slipping or possiblefailure of the jaw.

Inspect chain for separation of the links or any other damage. This indicates the chain has been overstressedand should be replaced.

To prevent rusting, keep chain and jaw well lubricated with oil and store in a dry place.

Do not use a tong with a bent or twisted handle – A bent handle indicates the tong has beenoverloaded and could be damaged. A bent handle should never be straightened. A tong with a bent ortwisted handle should be taken out of service. Do not use cheaters – A “cheater” is usually a piece of pipe slipped over the handle of a tong toincrease the amount of leverage. This may result in the bending and/or breaking of the tonghandle. A “Cheater” can also slip off the handle during use, causing injury. If greater leverage is neededuse a larger set of chain-tongs.

THINGS TO KNOW

NOW… LET’S TALK

• WHEN USING TONGS TO MAKE-UP, HOLD TONGS IN RIGHT HAND.

• WHEN USING TO BREAK-OUT, HOLD TONGS IN LEFT HAND.

• NOTE: THIS ONLY VARIES WHEN A TUBULAR/THREADS ARE UPSIDE DOWN - A GOOD RULE OF THUMB TO REMEMBER IS THAT USUALLY YOU ARE PULLING TONG TAIL TOWARDS YOURSELF WITH RIGHT HAND WHEN MAKING UP. WHEN THREADS ARE UPSIDE DOWN YOU ARE PUSHING TAIL AWAY FROM YOU WITH LEFT HAND.

• REMEMBER CHAIN ALWAYS GOES AROUND THE BACK SIDE OF TUBULAR.

• ALWAYS BE IN CONTROL OF THE CHAIN

USING CHAIN-TONGS PROPERLY

BRING THE CHAIN AROUND, AND TO JAWS.

NOTICE HOW THE

JAWS ARE SET

LOCKING THE CHAIN

THE CHAIN LINKS

CONTAIN PINS THAT

LOCK SECURELY INTO THE

JAWS

CAN YOU FIND THE HAZARD?

CAN YOU FIND THE GOOD PRACTICE

BEING USED?

IT IS A GOOD PRACTICE TO HAVE YOUR

HAND ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE CHAIN TO KEEP IT FROM

SLIPPING

SEE THE HAZARD YET?

NOTICE THE TOP

PIN IS NOT

LOCKED IN PLACE.

ALWAYS CHECK CHAIN PRIOR TO USELOOK FOR THESE THINGS!

REMOVING CHAIN-TONGS

• SLIGHTLY PULL TAIL TOWARDS

YOURSELF

• REMOVE PINS FROM JAW

• KEEP CHAIN IN HAND

WHILE KEEPING CHAIN IN HAND,

PULL CHAIN FROM BACKSIDE OF

TUBULAR

REMEMBER – ALWAYS BE IN CONTROL OF

CHAIN

GOOD INFORMATION

RECAP – PROPER USE

LOCKED

ANTI - SLIP

CONTROL OF CHAIN

Any Questions?