EXHIBIT 23.6
 
                       [SALOMON SMITH BARNEY LETTERHEAD]
 
                        CONSENT OF SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
 
  We hereby consent to (i) the use of our opinion letter, dated April 6, 1998,
to the Board of Directors of ZERO Corporation included as Appendix C to the
Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus which forms a part of the Registration
Statement on Form S-4 relating to the proposed merger of STB Acquisition
Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of Applied Power Inc., with and into
ZERO Corporation and (ii) references to our Firm and such opinion in such Joint
Proxy Statement/Prospectus.
 
  By giving such consent we do not thereby admit that we are experts with
respect to any part of such Registration Statement within the meaning of the
term "expert" as used in, or that we come within the category of persons whose
consent is required under, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules
and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated
thereunder.
 
Salomon Smith Barney
 
June 30, 1998