Flanges play a central role in industries such as oil & gas, power, pipelines, petrochemicals, wastewater, and potable water. From installation to maintenance, handling flanges need the right expertise and specialized tools for the job. If you have a facility and maintenance of pipeline and flanges is part of the job, this post will highlight the main tools that you need to have.

Flange Facing Tools

The commonest flange maintenance activity is facing. Because of constant vibrations and pressure, flanges can easily get damaged, and it is very important to have the right facing tools. The facing tools are used to machine sealing surfaces onto the flange by developing a spiral serrated finish. Make sure to select either the external or internal mount types with either hydraulic or pneumatic driven motors. With a good facing tool you can face a wide range of flanges, from valve flanges to boiler feed pump flanges.

Flange Spreader

If your flange is tightly fitted and requires to be separated, a considerable force will be required, but this can easily damage it. To avoid this damage, you need a flange spreader. One example of a good flange spreader tool is the Simplex SF tool. The advantage of the Simplex Spreader is that you can use it on a wide range of flanges to separate them and probably change the seal or install a different flange. You might also want to use an appropriate clamp to firmly grip the pipe, especially when the plumbing line is loose.

Bolting Tools

Whether your flanges require loosening or tightening, you need appropriate bolting tools. These will depend on the nature of your flange, a number of bolts, and sizes. Some of the best tools for the job include torque multipliers, torque wrenches, and bolt tensioners that are hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric. Remember that when it comes to tightening the flange bolts, the correct bolt tightening sequence is very important to avoid damage to the seal and flange itself.

Nut Splitters

Many flanges, especially those located outdoors, can get rusty and firmly grip the mating parts so that it is near impossible to remove. In such a situation, you need to have a nut splitter that works by forcing a chisel into the nut’s flat to split it. When you turn the screw at the end of the splitter’s handle, the anvil/ chisel moves against the nut, pinching and then splitting it so that it does not damage the bolt. You might find some nut splitters with two chisels for faster nut splitting.

The tools we have described in this post are only a few of what you need for flange maintenance. Other equally important tools to add to your plumbing and hydraulic maintenance toolbox include clamshell cutter, bolt saw, flange pullers, and flange aligners. To get higher value from your tools, it is prudent to ensure you buy high-quality models from the top brands. Also, flange maintenance should always be done by professionals.