Took me 3 years to realize I was over-torquing my liner clamps

I always cranked those stainless band clamps down as tight as I could get them. Thought I was being thorough. Then last month I pulled a liner that had a visible wrinkle right under where the clamp was. That's when it clicked - I was crushing the pipe instead of just holding it. Been using a torque wrench set to 35 inch-pounds since then and my last 6 jobs have gone in way cleaner. Anyone else have that moment where you found out you were muscling something that should be delicate?

2 comments

2 Comments

blake_smith1mo ago

I did the exact same thing until I saw a liner all chewed up where the clamp bit in. Felt like an idiot. Torque wrench is the move. Now I just snug em up and check with a feeler gauge too.

troy_wilson81mo ago

Wait, you check with a feeler gauge after torquing? That’s actually genius because I’ve always just gone off the click and hoped for the best. Do you use the gauge on the clamp itself or the gap between the tube and the liner? I feel like that’s something I should have thought of years ago (you know, before I ruined a couple of cheap liners). Might have to steal that trick for my next project.