How Tight Should My Acrow Props Be?
Acrow props are an essential tool for supporting timber beams, or for supporting masonry with timber needles or strongboys. An adequate number of Acrow props, when they’re in good condition and tightened properly, can support the load of just about any project.
But if you’re using Acrow props for the first time, or you just want to make sure that they’re completely safe for your next project, you may be wondering how tight your Acrow props should be. Should the outer tube be tightened completely? Is there a risk that over-tightening may damage the bolt or the prop?
In this quick guide, we’ll discuss all of these topics, and help you understand exactly how tight an Acrow prop should be when supporting load-bearing structures. Get the details now.
This is how tight it needs to be
As tight as you can get them – by hand. When supporting load bearing structures, the last thing you want is for the prop to loosen. The outer tube could collapse or shift, resulting in an eccentric load, and the loss of proper support.
To prop up a large, heavy load safely, you must spread the load across multiple props, and tighten them as much as you can once they have been positioned, and their sole plates are in place. Make sure you consult with a structural engineer and use an adequate number of props.
To tighten the prop, just use a standard box end wrench that fits over the bolt. Then, hold the prop with a gloved hand or a rag to keep it in place, and prevent it from cutting your hand. Then, tighten the bolt as much as you can by hand. Keep going until you can no longer make the wrench budge.
The outer tube, inner tube and bolt, as well as the threads, of an Acrow prop are all made out of high-grade steel, not aluminium or any other softer metal, so you don’t have to worry about accidentally over tightening the bolt, as long as you’re turning it by hand. Then, repeat this process for every prop that you’re using on your job site. The bolts should have absolutely no “play” or movement.
However, we don’t recommend using any kind of power tool like an impact wrench or air gun to tighten the bolt. If you do over-torque the bolt significantly, you could end up stripping the head, which will make the Acrow prop unsafe – and make it hard to remove. Because you won’t be able to adjust the height, you may have to cut it away with a saw or even a plasma cutter, to get it out of the way.
Periodically, every several days, we recommend checking the tightness of your Acrow props, just for peace of mind, and to ensure that they are strong, safe, and supporting their loads properly.
Related Topics
- How to acrow prop a ceiling?
- How far apart should acrow props be?
- How many acrow props do I need?
- How to install acrow props?
The History Of Australian Scaffolds – Providing Acrow Props For Years!
Australian Scaffolds is a leading provider of Acrow props and scaffolding in New South Wales. We’ve been serving satisfied customers for years, with rentals as well as equipment sales. No matter what your scaffolding needs may be in the area, we can help – and our history of experience and customer satisfaction ensures that you’ll get exactly what you need from Australian Scaffolds.
For more information about acrow props, please call us on 1300 919 905 or fill out the form below and we will get back to you shortly.
[ninja_form id=2]
