Wing Nut Tensioner

What the wing nut driver does

Hobson calls this part the Power-TX wing nut setter drive bit. It is made of S2 alloy steel, with a standard 1/4 inch hex drive bit shank at one end and a socket at the other that fits a wing nut. Hobson's sheet says it is used to tension the HDG strap tensioner, GSTMGFW30: the galvanised Z275 wing tensioner for 30mm punched bracing strap.

That tensioner is normally turned by hand with its wing nut. The setter goes in a driver like any other 1/4 inch hex bit, so you can take up the slack in each strap with the driver rather than turning every wing nut by hand.

Strap bracing is part of the building's structural design. Hobson publishes racking capacities for the strap bracing system on its bracing strap data sheets, and no capacity for the tensioner or this bit on its own: follow the bracing plan, AS 1684 or your engineer for where the bracing goes and how it is fixed.

Which tensioner it fits

• •Galvanised Z275 wing tensioner, 30mm (GSTMGFW30): the one Hobson names for this setter. It suits Hobson's galvanised 30mm punched AS 1684 bracing strap, which has 6.5mm tensioner holes.
• •316 stainless wing tensioner, 30mm (GST16FW30): Hobson's sheets show it tensioned by hand and do not list this setter for it, so we do not offer it for the stainless tensioner.
• •Galvanised Z275 hex tensioner, 30mm (GSTMGFH30): turned by its hex with a spanner or socket, not with this bit.

Wing nut driver dimensions

One setter, one size. Select the row to open it in the selector.

How to use the setter on tensioned bracing

These steps follow Hobson's installation steps for tensioned strap bracing, with the setter doing the turning. Nail galvanised strap with Hobson's mechanically galvanised connector nails, as its galvanised strap sheet shows.

1. Nail the first end of the strap to the layout on the bracing plan.
2. Stretch the strap tight over the whole panel being braced, and nail the second end while keeping it under tension. Fix the second strap the same way to form the X.
3. Fit one tensioner in each leg of the X, in the 6.5mm tensioner holes.
4. Put the wing nut setter in your driver, sit the socket over the wing nut and turn it to take up the slack.
5. Tension each leg a little at a time, going from one leg to the other, so the braced panel does not distort. Our own tip, not Hobson's: work in short bursts on a low clutch setting rather than an impact driver, and check the strap between them.
6. Stop once the slack is out. Hobson warns that over-tensioning reduces the capacity of the bracing strap.
7. Once tensioned, nail the strap to each stud and nogging it crosses in the braced panel.

The tensioner finish, not the bit, sets where it can go

The setter is a tool, so its S2 alloy steel only matters in your toolbox. What matters on site is the finish of the strap and tensioner it turns. Hobson's corrosion guide for metal connectors, which names strapping and bracing, allows galvanised Z275 for bracing enclosed in the building envelope, and for sheltered bracing only in very low and low corrosivity zones. Sheltered bracing in coastal and industrial zones needs Z275 with a soft seal coating or stainless steel; exposed bracing needs stainless steel or hot dip galvanising; in the sea spray zone, sheltered or exposed bracing needs stainless steel; and within 2m of a pool edge the guide asks for 316 stainless in every position. The galvanised wing tensioner this setter fits suits enclosed bracing in the wall or roof frame; for the other positions, see our tensioner page.

Wing nut drivers in Adelaide

Allmat supplies the wing nut setter, bracing strap tensioners, bracing strap, connector nails and framing connectors to builders, carpenters and frame crews across Adelaide and South Australia, along with the timber. Add the setter to a quote with your strap, tensioners and nails and we will price the lot.

Questions