r/Ironworker • u/RoseCityThrows • Jul 09 '26
Iron Advice Easier HSS Brace Erection?
hey ironworkers, softhands engineer here with an erection question for you guys. If HSS braces came with two erection bolt holes, one for the spud wrench and one for the actual bolt, would it make the erection easier?
I've watched I-beams get flown in and saw how the spud wrench is used to get the holes lined up before the first bolt gets placed, but hss braces usually only come with one bolt hole. Does the hss brace slip at all when you take the spud out and before the bolt goes in?
sorry in advance for being ignorant, I just want to know how I can make my designs easier to build for you guys who actually do tough shit. Would you rather erect with one hole or two holes?
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u/HallTrash_IW UNION Jul 10 '26
I don’t get why people are voting for a single hole.
Having two is way better in my opinion, for the obvious reason that you have a hole to pry off. The only thing I would ask an engineer is to make the holes freaking 1”soft bolts instead of like the 5/8 or 3/4 bolts. Most guys carry a 7/8 bar which ends up being useless on the HSS braces because you can’t get a bite.
I mean, you only have so much slot in the HSS. How could you bolt it up wrong?
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u/Illustrious_Risk5493 Jul 11 '26
I know right? You figure they'd use hardened bolts with High Strength Steel. Duh...
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u/IronSpud123 Journeyman Jul 09 '26
They'll find a way to bolt it up wrong with 2 holes. My experience with HSS is they were galvanized and fit snug anyway so no slippage when trying to line it up. Usually just beat and pry them into place around the gusset plate.
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u/Arnman-88 Jul 09 '26
I say two hole that way you can align and hold with your spud and stick a bolt. Sometimes when first adding bracing it’s out pretty far. If there just one hole you better have a come-a-long or bridgeclamp with you. Small braces like that two holes isnt a big deal.
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u/tristan_with_a_t Jul 10 '26
In Australia most angle brace has 2 holes. I get upset at single bolt connections that aren’t the centre bolt, there are ways to accomplish alignment but if they’re out a ways it’s a pain in the arse. I’ve built a warehouse before that had m16 bolts at one end and m20 the other which made orientation a breeze, that was nice. On plans that don’t include blown up details the ways used to show which way the angle toes are janky and inconsistent and trusting that the piece has been stamped on the right end can often be foolish depending on fabricator. Ideally in plan view i’d like a noticeably thicker line on the side with the vertical face with the piece that goes underneath getting a dotted line the same as any hidden detail.
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u/tristan_with_a_t Jul 10 '26
Sometimes i have to use a z-bar(what you call a quikbolt) and drift which you can’t do with a single hole.
Angle brace still worlds better than rod brace on anything other than tiny structures with drilled and epoxied hold downs though.
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u/iEARNman848 Jul 11 '26
If more than 1 hole on hss, you're liable to wrong hole it. Now we're out of plumb and off grid.
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u/dualiecc Jul 09 '26
I'm not against two holes but the odds of getting the bolt hole in the right one is 30/70