Laying pipe underground (example: sewer pipe, cable conduit, pipe casing, etc) is commonly performed using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) rigs that bore into the ground and insert pipes. These rigs usually have an on-board tong that screws the pipes together. However, pipes commonly get attached incorrectly and need to be unscrewed (i.e. "broken out") and the on-board tongs cannot perform this pipe break out. Workers then must improvise ways to unscrew the pipes using pipe wrenches, chains, and machines. These methods are very dangerous and have resulted in injury, and in some cases, death.

Upon completion of drilling, the hammer or drill bit needs to be removed from the end of the drill which is hard to accomplish when the rig is on the opposite side of a body of water or some other non-traversable area. Scorpion hydraulic chain tongs simplify the break out and make up process. The hydraulic chain tongs are compact, easy to transport, and easy to use. A Scorpion tong can be operated in horizontal, vertical, or any angled position. Scorpion units can be mounted on excavators, attached to cranes, and even operated in a standalone configuration on its own wheeled base. If a hammer needs to be attached at a specific torque, the Scorpion can be set to make up with that specific torque. With OD ranges of 1" to 48" and torques of 3,000 to 250,000 ft-lbs, the Scorpion is perfect for HDD and all underground construction make up and break out needs.