Spinning chain:

One end of the chain is attached to the tongs, another end to the spinning cathead, and the third end left free.

The free end is wrapped around the tool joint, and the cathead pulls the chain off the joint, causing the joint to spin rapidly and tighten up.

After the free end of the chain is pulled off the joint, the tongs are secured in the spot vacated by the chain and continued pull on the chain (and thus on the tongs) by the cathead makes up the joint to final tightness.

Terms Related to Spinning chain

• Chain tongs

  A hand tool consisting of a handle and chain that resembles the chain on a bicycle. In general, chain tongs are used for turning pipe ...

• Chain drive

  A mechanical drive using a driving chain and chain gears to transmit power. Power transmissions use a roller chain, in which each link is made ...

• Pin

  1. The male section of a tool joint. 2. On a bit, the bit shank. 3. One of the pegs that are fitted on each ...

• Boomer

  A link and lever mechanism which is used to tighten a chain holding a load on a truck.

• Load binder

  Chain or rope used to tie down loads of equipment, or the "boomer" used to tighten the chains.

• Makeup cathead

  A device that is attached to the shaft of the drawworks and used as a power source for screwing together joints of pipe. It is ...

• Spacing-out joint

  The joint of drill pipe that is used in hang-off operations so that no tool joint is opposite a set of preventer rams.