Table of Contents
Hook the wrench onto the bolt and grasp the nut with a pair of large pliers. Hold the nut in position and pull on the end of the wrench. Give 4-5 sharp tugs and see if the bolt moves. If the bolt still doesn’t loosen, heat it with the propane torch for another 10 minutes, or move on to another method.
How do you unscrew a nut with a wrench?
Try a 6-point wrench or socket on your seized nut/bolt. Start by rocking the bolt by tightening then loosing, this may be all you need to break through the rust. Try and avoid 12-point wrenches and sockets as they likely to slip and strip the bolt head.
Can you loosen nut with a socket wrench?
You can use standard wrenches to loosen nuts, but a socket wrench will make the job easier. Place the socket over the nut that you want to loosen. Pull the handle counterclockwise to loosen the nut.
How do you loosen a socket with a screw wrench?
Attach the socket to the head of the wrench – you should hear a click when its properly in place. Select the direction using the flip switch to decide between loosening and tightening. Place the socket on the nut. Twist it back in the opposite direction and repeat until the bolt is fully loosened or tightened.
What do I do if my wrench is too small?
What to Use if You Don’t Have a Wrench Duck tape. Duct tape is useful in almost any situation but you may be surprised to learn that you can use it to loosen bolts. Two coins. Who would think that money can be used as a makeshift tool? Zip-tie. Another nut and bolt.
Which way does ratchet loosen?
To fasten, socket must turn clockwise. To loosen, socket must turn counter clockwise. For how to use a ratchet on newer wrenches, use the directional change feature to tighten or loosen.
How does torque wrench work?
How Torque Wrenches work. These tools are calibrated to apply a certain amount of torque to a fastener. The amount of torque that is applied depends on the amount of force on the tool’s handle and the length of the wrench. When the indicator determines the desired torque has been reached, stop twisting the bolt.
What tool do you use to loosen bolts?
Wrenches are used to tighten and loosen fasteners, mainly nuts and bolts. Wrenches are generally made from a chrome-plated steel alloy. The material makes wrenches both durable and simple to clean.
Can you use pliers instead of a wrench?
Although pliers can be used to tighten and loosen nuts, this is a task better suited to the wrench. Pliers tend to damage the surfaces of fasteners and are usually more difficult to use than a properly-sized wrench.
What to use when you don’t have pliers?
If you need pliers to grip onto something large, you can try a pair of stainless-steel kitchen tongs, although you may struggle with torque. If you think you can manage it with your hands but need a better grip, try using a silicone kitchen mitt or one of those jar-opening pads.
What can I use if I don’t have an Allen wrench?
Sometimes you can use small types of flat headed screwdrivers as an allen wrench by putting the end in the socket so that the 2 edges of the screwdriver work as leverage in the hole to turn it. A wider socket on the bolt or nut, use a wider flathead screwdriver.
Which wrench is the best choice for loosening a bolt?
For example, a box-end wrench is a good option for loosening stuck fasteners because you can apply more torque without risking damage to a ratchet mechanism. A wrench with an open end fits around a fastener instead of over it, so you can slip it into an area where there isn’t room for a socket.
Is it OK to use a torque wrench to loosen?
A torque wrench is a tightening tool. It is a very sensitive and precise tightening tool, and should never been used to loosen bolts.
What should you not do with a torque wrench?
Never use a torque wrench beyond its range/capacity mentioned in instruction manual. Do not use any extension like a pipe to avoid incorrect reading unless it is recommended by manufacturer. Never push. Always pull the wrench during applying torque.
How do you release a ratchet socket?
Look at your ratchet and determine if it is a quick-release model. If your ratchet has a button on the top of the end where the socket attaches, you have a quick-release ratchet. Depress the button to release the socket and pull it off.
How do you reverse a ratchet?
How to Reverse Ratcheting Wrenches Position the ratchet wrench with the wrench head on the bolt; the hexagonal shapes should compliment each other and have a snug fit—the wrench around the nut. Slide the direction control to the left. Twist the ratcheting wrench to the right. When your run out of space.
How do you use a wrench safely?
Safe Use of Wrenches: A Guide 1) Only use quality wrenches. 2) Match your wrench size to the job. 3) Always pull, never push. 4) Keep wrenches clean. 5) Never strike a wrench with a hammer. 6) Do not attempt to add leverage with other objects. 7) Never use a damaged wrench.
How do I loosen a bolt?
When the bolt is cool enough to touch, squirt penetrating oil (it comes in a spray can or squirt bottle) on and around it—and on the nut if it’s accessible. Be careful, that stuff is flammable. Tap the end of the bolt a half-dozen times with a hammer to help loosen the threads and allow the oil to penetrate.
Which way tightens a screw?
Shop-work. Typical nuts, screws, bolts, bottle caps, and jar lids are tightened (moved away from the observer) clockwise and loosened (moved towards the observer) counterclockwise in accordance with the right-hand rule.
Can pliers be used for tightening and loosening small nuts?
Pliers are often misused as general-purpose tools. Their use should be limited to operations for which they were designed: gripping and cutting (never for loosening or tightening nuts). Always use wrenches on nuts and bolt heads, never use a pliers. In fact, don’t use pliers when any other tool will do.
