What Is A Socket Wrench

What is socket wrench used for?

A ratcheting socket wrench – commonly known as a ratchet – is a mechanical tool that tightens and loosens nuts and bolts more efficiently than other wrenches.

What’s the difference between wrench and socket wrench?

Instead of needing a separate wrench for each size fastener, only a separate socket is needed. The ratcheting mechanism of a socket wrench makes the task of tightening or loosening nuts faster and easier compared to a conventional wrench. This feature is particularly advantageous when working in cramped spaces.

What is the difference between a socket wrench and a ratchet?

What is a Ratcheting Wrench? A ratcheting wrench works virtually identical to a socket wrench – it has ratcheting pawls inside that lets it spin in one direction and turn the bolt in the other. At the same time, it has the relative profile of a combination wrench that you turn to when a socket won’t fit.

What does a socket wrench look like?

A socket wrench is most commonly a handle with a 90 degree ratchet, along with a set of cylinder shaped “sockets” of various sizes. The sockets fit onto the ratchet by way of a square nub. You can set the ratchet to either tighten or loosen, then keep the socket in place on the nut while you turn the handle.

What can I use instead of socket wrench?

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.

How do you unscrew a socket 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.

Can you use a regular wrench instead of socket wrench?

Wrenches perform the same function as ratchets and sockets — tightening and loosening fasteners — but there are differences and situations that call for one over the other. 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 a socket wrench the same as a torque wrench?

A torque wrench is a specialized tool similar to a socket wrench that allows the user to specify a torque rating which the tool then assists in not going over it. This ensures that your bolts and nuts are correctly tightened, while not over-tightening.

What size is my socket wrench?

There are 5 different sizes of ‘drive socket’ that are commonly used: 1/4″, 3/8″, 1/2″, 3/4″ and 1″. The smaller the drive is, the smaller the head is likely to be as well. There are two main reasons for this.

What are the two types of sockets?

Sockets come in two basic types—connection-oriented and connectionless. These terms refer to types of protocols.

Why are monkey wrenches called monkey wrenches?

Charles Moncky, a Baltimore mechanic, invented the monkey wrench around 1858. Moncky’s wrench was named using a purposeful misspelling of his name. Stillson, a steamboat firefighter, received a patented on September 13, 1870 for an invention later known as the Stillson pipe wrench.

Who uses socket wrenches?

One of the most common places you see sockets being used is in automotive garages, where they can be used with turning tools such as ratchets, torque wrenches or impact wrenches. The socket and turning tool are used to tighten or loosen nuts and bolts on vehicles.

Do you need a socket wrench?

Wrenches. A ratchet and socket combination (sometimes called a socket wrench) lets you turn a nut or bolt without repositioning the tool on the fastener — like you need to do with a wrench when there isn’t enough room to turn it in a full circle. This can make the work quicker.

What are the two basic parts of a socket wrench?

The two basic parts of a socket wrench are the socket and bar or handle.

Can you use any socket with a torque wrench?

Absolutely as long as you have the right size socket for the size of the drive on the end of the torque wrench You sure can, but don’t use them with a pneumatic system. A lot depends on how high you have the wrench set to twist the bolt or nut. If it exceeds the capacity of the socket it will break.

Why shouldn’t you use a torque wrench as a ratchet?

You shouldn’t use torque wrenches as your general use ratchet wrench because they’re sensitive and misuse will result in their losing calibration, rendering them useless for their intended purpose.

Can I use a torque wrench to loosen bolts?

You certainly could use a torque wrench to loosen bolts, it is not the best idea. Torque wrenches are precision measuring instruments, using them to loosen bolts is not in line with that purpose. You end up stressing the tool when it is used as a breaker bar, and you often need excessive force to loosen bolts.