Squirter® DTI Testimonials

On our new videos:

"Those videos seemed know what my questions were and answered all of them." - Chief Construction Engineer, Mega EPC Firm

"Fantastic! We need more information like this to be available." - Jonathan

"Yes, this is an excellent video and the rest of your library is commendable. I've learned a lot and I'll be recommending these. Thanks for posting." - Eric

"Even if you're not in structural steel fasteners, A325 or A490 STRUCTURAL BOLTS, very worthwhile to take a few minutes to watch. Very informative. It's nice to be able to see how some of these fastening marvels work. Great job!" - Doug

Hi Chris, Your CD of the videos is creating quite a stir in the office (a good thing). We want to put it in our Knowledge Online database if it is OK with you. We also want to use it to train our QC and field engineers. The videos are GREAT!

Thanks, Dave

"After that bolting class you held, we haven't heard anything about bolts. QC just keeps signing off on them."

"The time spent by the steel erector tensioning the bolts on this project was much less than usual, and the Squirter® DTI allowed for a complete and accurate inspection of bolt tension...." click to read entire letter

I really wanted to thank you for the help with the Squirter® DTI's last week. Barnaby and Rob were extremely helpful and saved us from ourselves a couple times… You had been very clear with me that we needed to use a USS washer (over the non-standard hole and the under Squirter® DTI).... It makes a lot of sense to use the larger washer under the squirting DTI (on non-standard holes) so that you get an even distribution of the silicone...

The squirting washers really worked well. I was very impressed with the repeatability in the force that we measured in the Skidmore and in the larger specimens they really worked well. We were able to obtain a good measurement of the slip coefficient for the galvanized faying surfaces. In addition, the Squirter DTI's demonstrated some of the shortcuts that were likely taken during the original (Turn-of -Nut) bolt installation. The bolts were probably not snug tightened prior to applying the required number of turns. Some of the bolts were only tightened up to about half the tension they were supposed to have.

In any event, thanks again for all your help. This was my first experience with the Squirter® DTI's and I was very impressed.

"ConXtech has used Applied Bolting's Squirter® DTI since our very first structural steel moment frame was erected in 2004. We use the Squirter® DTI's for our bolted Bi-Axial SMF connection and its use creates a win-win-win situation for the Erector, 3rd Party Inspector and Owner. The Erector benefits as their Ironworkers are able to keep their eyes and attention on the bolt assembly during pretensioning, looking for the orange squirt of the DTI instead of looking away at a hydraulic pump gauge or torque indicator. This keeps the Ironworkers safe and efficient. The Squirter® DTI's create a vivid visual indicator of a properly tensioned bolt, providing the inspector with a straight-forward process of inspection and thus efficiency. The orange silicon squirt also becomes a highly visible marker of pretensioned bolts, reinforcing and reminding the inspector of connections previously inspected, again creating efficiency. And finally the Owner benefits from Squirter® DTI's through its safe and cost efficient support of properly pretensioned bolted connections.

"All kidding aside, your squirter bolts were a huge success on our building as for the amount of bolts used. The time and cost savings from the QA process as being able to use a visual and the paper trail (inspection reports) as opposed to having to physically check the torque on each connection is tremendous. All the personnel here on site (Government, Engineering group, Boeing, and the subcontractors) have all given a positive feedback. We will be setting more steel (columns) inside the building for piping supports and we will be using your squirters for the connections. Thanks again for your support on this project. I do hope to see you back up here."

"Squirter DTIs are useful because the installer can see what is happening. Once calibrated, as the bolt tension builds up, the squirted silicone appears…."

Observation from Tom Picaso of Edison Mission Energy, Irvine California, who has built and now maintains 200 generators, at the June 2008 AWEA Trade Show in Houston, where 350 wind power exhibitors were present:

"...Your Squirter® DTI is only the third product I've seen at this trade show that can really help contractors in this business ..."

"I've specified standard DTI's for years, but found that our contractors sometimes didn't check with a feeler gage as diligently as they should. With Squirter® DTIs, they can see if they have tightened it enough, and they don't miss any. And, Squirter® DTIs are a big help with the ICC Special Inspectors too, because they can see the squirt has happened even though they might not have been right there at the time."

"I've used Squirter® DTIs on several of our large OG&C projects and would do it again. They're a time saver, and they helped the trade craft on our projects do the bolting right."

"A year ago we were using turn-of-nut, and we were reluctant to change. Now we use Squirter® DTIs and we're very happy. They really help the bolting team understand what they are doing."

"We love those Squirter® washers. They're an absolute time saver. I'm a believer and so is our QA/QC department. They’ve convinced us. You can visually inspect the tension you put on them. You can see it. They know that they are down (the bumps are flat). There is an initial dollar impact, but by the time you are done it's worth all of it. The best part of it all is the assurance they give our client, they know the bolts are tight."

Since their first Squirter® DTI job two years ago, The Shaw Group as gone full steam ahead with Squirter® DTI's on many of their structural steel jobs. Leaving Doug Epperson, QA/QC Manager, with not much to say other than, "Squirter® DTIs are a QC's dream".

Recent Shaw Jobs that have used Squirter® DTIs:
Duke Marshall Steam Station
Duke Belews Creek
Cleco Rodemacher Station

"There is no comparison. It is so much easier. Even the bolt up crew likes Squirter® DTIs. It's so much easier on me, it's not even funny. Everything is working out great. No problems. I do 100% visual on the Squirter® DTIs, and then get up close for 10%."

"We use Squirter® DTI (Direct Tension Indicating) washers from a company called Applied Bolting Technology. They have a very clever washer that squirts neon orange silicone gel when it is reaches the correct tension. The main benefit of these washers is that the special inspection of the bolts can be done visually and therefore more efficiently and safely. They are included in our package."
(read full article)

"I advocate Squirter® DTIs on every job we do. The labor force saves time in installation, the QC is easier, so we like em. I published a "Heads Up" article a couple of years ago to let our people know that they should look carefully at Squirter® DTIs.

"While I was convinced that the squirter® DTI was the way to go before I even installed one, my superiors weren't, but they were amazed at how much easier it was to properly install a bolt using a squirter® than with just a torque wrench or the turn-of-nut method. Besides the almost idiot-proof installation, most of the carousel inspectors love it when they see us using them. So if you're not using Squirter® DTIs toss out whatever you're using now and grab a bag. You'll never go back!"

"Great success with Squirter® DTIs. Everybody loves them. It worked well."

"Wonderful. Eliminates a lot of the guess work. You don't need to use the feeler gage. It's been great. Makes the job easier."

"I LOVE Squirter® DTIs! I don't know how we ever did a job without them. They eliminate all the bolting arguments. I get about twice as much productivity from the bolting crew. No kidding, I REALLY like them. We never have to go back to a point, because the QA people can see everything's done. No more feeler gages!""

"Plenty of support here for your product (Squirter® DTI's). It's obvious measuring tension is better than torque. Squirter® DTIs are quick, easy, and it works. On the inspection side, it saves time."

"Squirter® DTIs make bolting easy for the bolt-up crew, the QA people, and the client likes them too. No marking, no torque wrenches, when the DTI Squirts/compresses you know it's tight. You get 100% inspection. There were a couple of points where we didn't have Squirter® DTIs, and they were a lot of work for us."

"...Squirter® DTIs are the best thing since sliced bread. I've checked every bolt on this job and with Squirter® DTIs you can tell by looking at them which ones are tight. When we had to lug a torque wrench around, you only got to inspect the bolts which were easy to get at. With Squirter® DTIs you can inspect ALL the bolts, and you know once in a while you find one that isn't done. The ironworkers like them too, after they get used to them. I think AEP should use them on all jobs...."

"...We're BIG squirter® fans here. When it squirts out, you know you're done and so does everyone else..."

"I’m going to need a lot of Squirter® DTIs on this job."

"“In my experience, Squirter® DTIs are much faster than turn-of-nut, and torque can mean many different things."

"This is my first project using the Squirter® DTIs and we will definitely look to use them again in the future. We found that they have provided us a considerable time savings in getting the bridge signed off by the CEI, in lieu of using the Turn of Nut method."

"Very Very Nice. Working great. Alliant likes them too. They can see them without crawling on the steel. The orange is working great."

"We were very pleased with the way the squirter® DTI washers performed on our project. The contractor indicated that they made the job go faster and I know that they made inspection quicker and more accurate. We will certain use them on any future major construction projects.

"...We've about fallen in love with those Squirter® DTI washers. They keep the inspectors real happy. And we used your CD ROM to get us started on the right foot too...."

"... Let me tell you. Squirter® DTIs are light years ahead of any other tightening method. We'd rather use a squirter® DTIs than any other method. On this job, we've got an owner's inspector out here that goes around and checks EVERY DTI with a feeler gage, and 99% of the time he doesn't find anything wrong. The squirt already told us that the bolt was tightened right, and that's what the inspector finds. He doesn't have to do all this feeler gage checking - he just wants to. "

"Without squirter® DTIs, you have to tighten the bolt, call for inspection, maybe retighten, then go on. With squirter® DTIs, it's fast. You just snug the joint, make them squirt enough, then get out of there. "

"squirter® DTIs are an inspector's dream. I'm 57 years old, in this business for 30 years, and the older I get the easier I forget. With squirter® DTIs I don't have to get way out there on the end of a beam to see if everything is done. I just look for the orange squirt to know where we've been."

"We started with regular DTI's, but once you sent us some bolt lube and squirter® DTIs to try, all our problems went away! We quickly shifted to squirter® DTIs for the rest of the job. They're a positive indicator for the craftsman, which is great. My next job like this one will have squirter® DTIs on it from the start. Definitely."

"We're using calibrated wrench here, and what a nightmare. Skidmore calibration every day, every lot, and then what have you got? With squirter® DTIs, like we were using on the big SCR steelwork at Belews Creek, there's a pretty big saving when you start to look at it. No equipment tied up, not much labor. And the workers can do their own quality control. They know when they see the squirt that they've done it right. I heartily endorse squirter® DTIs. I'd like to see them on every job."

Conversation with construction crews on the Massachusetts DOT/Cianbro Calvin Coolidge Bridge project, October 2002, as Cianbro was celebrating 100,000 man-hours without a lost time accident:

"...The squirter® DTIs are working just fine. Sure, once in a while, we don't get the expected squirt, and just about all the time when we look into it, there's a reason: the bolt's really cocked in the hole, the bolt's dried out, the hole is ragged. But, overall, they work great. Our guys can see when they're done tightening.

"But it's the inspection that's EASY. The state inspectors can see where we've worked. We don't miss tightening a bolt. We don?t have to lug around a torque wrench. They make for a good bolting job for us.

"And, after going 100,000 man-hours without a lost time accident, it looks like the squirter® DTIs helped us get there. We don't have to pull on a torque wrench, and we don?t have to try to get a torque wrench into all those tight spots either..."

"..... We call 'em 'bleedin washers'. They work real fine. You can tell when you're done so you don't overtorque the bolts. Calibration was easy. You just set the guns from the squirt. It's easy to tell how much squirt is OK ....."

"[....These squirter® DTIs .....] sure beat the (expletive deleted) O!XX!?? out of a torque wrench!!!!!!!!!!!!"

"... We're using squirter® DTIs here. We absolutely like them, and we intend to use them on all our future projects. We're rockin'. We still use a feeler gage a bit, and squirter® DTIs cost a little more than regular DTI's. It doesn't matter. We'll use them again ..."

"...My ironworker foreman says them squirter® DTIs work real fine ....."

Southern Company - Alabama Power's Plant Miller, the eleventh largest power plant in the USA, generating 2800 megawatts from coal, is installing SCR's over the next year or two. It's a lot of steelwork, and a LOT of bolts. Southern's Ivan Plyler, Project Manager, tells us he and Williams Power are using squirter® DTIs so they can see where the ironworkers have done some work, and then they can inspect it. They don't have to climb the steelwork unless they see that some work has been done on the bolts, which is apparent from the orange silicone.

"...these DTI's provide a consistent and accurate method of achieving the correct tension when tightening the bolts for the steel connections. As the nuts are tightened, the DTI is flattened, and the orange silicone squirts out when the proper tension is achieved....The benefits being that it would minimize the chances of any bolt not having the correct torque, thus providing a better product, and at the same time it would reduce the instances where the entire connection would need to be checked....."

"I'm glad that Florida has adopted Applied Bolting's squirter® DTIs washers as their preferred method for bolting. I believe it is a very good product and it saves the contractors lots of time."

"We like 'em. It's easy to tell when the bolts are tight. It used to be that you'd have to stretch the bolts all to heck, but not with squirter® DTIs. We like them, and we'll use them again....."

"The feedback on squirter® DTIs at the San Francisco airport racks is absolutely positive. The mechanical installation was simplified significantly by not using a torque wrench or any of the other "..#@!!.." methods of tensioning. They also saved some time to offset the additional cost of the DTI's. Best of all, there was not a single complaint about using the squirter® DTIs. Instead everybody liked using them. We're going to consider using them again."

If we can get the price down to a more competitive level, Squirter® DTIs might be possible going into a new job. Definite advantages in quality."

(Note: added letters and words for clarity)
"I have been inspecting steel structures for the past six months and have just inspected the ...supply of Squirter® DTIs washer give(n) to us. The washer(s) made the inspect(ion) very easy. I could see from a distance that the liquid (silicone) had been disbursed. Upon checking these load indicators, I found them to be very tight. It was difficult to fit the gauge under the corner of the bolt. These washers had been exposed to sever(e) weather the past month and a half and the colored liquid (silicone) was still in place

"...Those 1 1/8" A490 squirter® DTIs worked great!.... They're sure better than the old kind!... "

"We used squirter® DTIs on our barge ferry aprons. This is our first squirter® DTIs job, so we were pretty green. The squirter® DTIs worked great. The crew was able to control the bolt tension much better. We even brought all five crews in from all over the state to show them squirter® DTIs. They really were impressed. In the future we will be using squirter® DTIs"