subject: What is a strapping tool and why would you need one? [print this page] If you are like many people, you may not have heard of a strapping tool, much less have any idea what they do. However, chances are you've seen the items they secure being transported or mounted all over the place especially if you live in a city or near industry. In fact, they are essential to many of the things you enjoy, from cable television to the gas you put in your car. This overview will help you understand more about strapping devices and what they do for you.
What are they and how do they work?
Whenever a heavy load is secured by metal strapping, a special implement is required to safely secure the load. In order to bind metal straps together, you have to use an implement that can secure them to each other tightly enough. This is accomplished by using a buckle that can apply enough pressure or tension to affix both ends of the band together tightly. This is why it is necessary to use an appropriate tool as you cannot secure the buckle on the steel strap tightly enough with your hands alone or even with typically tightening implements such as a wrench or pulley.
These devices allow you to tighten the band to the correct tension, secure it, cut it, and fasten the ends into the ears of the buckle so that they will stay in the correct place. These are all critical steps when it comes to safely transporting heavy loads. And because they are made out of steel, they have better structural integrating and are typically not weakened by environmental wear and tear or corrosive surroundings.
Who uses them?
What may be the most surprising thing is how many people use them as part of their jobs as almost anyone who builds or installs things in an industrial setting uses one. You are likely to find a strapping tool used in any of the following projects or at the following sites:
- Installing phone wires or cable
- Putting up street signs
- Installing stoplights, stop signs, or cameras at intersections
- Construction of oil drilling platforms, both on land and offshore
- Working with cables on boats and ships
- Chemical plants
- Water treatment facilities
Strapping tools may not be something you know much about, but they make it possible for you to talk on the phone, watch your favorite shows, surf the Internet, and even drive safely!
What is a strapping tool and why would you need one?
