JACK-HOLDING TOOL MODIFICATION

by Doug Mahard

I find the standard jack-holding tool irksome to work with because it constantly slips. The tool can be easily modified in three ways to effectively pull the jack against the let-off rail and lock the tool in place. Here are the modifications:

1. Cut 10 millimeters from the tip of the lower tong.
2. Put an upward 90-degree bend 4 millimeters from the tip of the upper tong.
3. File a notch wide enough to accept the bridle wire on the left side of both tongs by squeezing the tongs together and filing 35 millimeters back from the 90-degree bend. Make this notch 4 millimeters deep.

The first two improvements allow the upper tong to reach in further and grasp the backside of the let-off button. The notch, when action design permits, allows the tool to lock to the bridle wire under the bridle wire loop, thus keeping the tool stationary.

After field testing for over a year I have found this modification doesn’t lend itself to all actions. But when it works it works like a charm.

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Updated: 16 November 2002