Just realized I've been over-tightening flange bolts for years because of a bad habit from my first foreman.

Back in 2018, I was working on a big steam drum job in Toledo with a guy named Carl who swore by cranking every bolt to 'one more ugga-dugga' past spec. Last week, I had to re-gasket a feedwater heater at the local plant and found three cracked bolt heads from my own work six months ago. It finally clicked that I was just copying his way without thinking. Has anyone else had to unlearn a bad practice that got passed down to them?

3 comments

3 Comments

susansingh1mo ago

My buddy Dave had this thing about using pipe dope on every single thread, like his old crew chief taught him. He ended up sealing a drain valve shut on a condensate line last spring, caused a whole mess. Kinda like what @nancyg14 said about the weeping flange, it's crazy what sticks with you. Took him forever to break that habit.

nancyg141mo ago

Man, same here! I always thought tighter was better until a flange started weeping on me last year.

the_christopher1mo ago

Ever wonder if some of these old habits are just guys showing off how strong they are?