The two wrench trick

[cherrybomb]

We've all done it,is there any good times or are there times not to? Any brands to avoid or are you abusing?Thoughts?

 

[Gmonkee]

Never a good use of shiny new heirloom wrenches of course but I suspect it is done quite frequently.

Mine will see that use and they are nothing special by brand or design. Just be careful if the hooked part slips it can hurt.
Buy an 18" breaker bar when you can too. It's better for the job.

 

[ssdave]

My thought is that it damages both the open end of the tool being augmented, and the box end of the tool being used as a lever. I just use a breaker bar instead, or tap the wrench with a heavy soft faced hammer instead. I've only used the 2 wrench trick when absolutely necessary because of an emergency need and limited tools.

 

[Pipe_guy]

I've done it lots with good wrenches and with junkers. Usually on larger nuts and bolts that the impact won't bust loose. I've had cheap wrenches bend a bit but never had an issue with a quality wrench.

Sent from my SM-G950W using Tapatalk

 

[1982fxr]

Still have the Chinese 3/4" Wrench my neighbor broke doing that in high school, 1976 chevy truck exhaust manifold.

 

[kb1982]

I've popped a few of my Craftsman V series box ends using this method. In a perfect world, a breaker bar and a box end crowsfoot would have been best suited for the job. An el cheapo Companion wrench finally got the job done, but that was after the fire wrench put in a little work. If its all you have and need to get the job done, utilize that method. Don't be surprised or pissed when other outcomes occur though. I can say, 18 mm and 19mm wrenches and sockets are the only USA made Craftsman tools I tend to have destroyed over the years.

 

[FSrepair&fabrication]

Its a great trick when you need extra leverage and only a wrench will fit. Dont use it to hold nuts/bolts while tightening or loosening the other side with an impact. We did this trying to align a set of hedrickson axles and i lost a front tooth when the wrenches went flying.

now when i need an extra long wrench ill grab an el cheapo, cut off the open end slip a pipe over the handle and weld it

 

[WittHay]

German engineered wrench extender, Mueller Kueps

The strongest open end wrenches i found are older Snap-on. 70's and 80's

 

[Codejack]

tap the wrench with a heavy soft faced hammer

I usually hit it like it owes me money.

But then, I think we've established that I am hard on tools

 

[Mr_B]

I do this fair bit and never had issue if use some care and use breaker bars when can .
I bought an extra long box end aviation style wrench set that tends replace need for double wrenching unless double wrenching spanner angles work better for clearance position reasons. deep polished chrome spanners like snapon tend chip/dig chrome easy if double wrenching, I only use stahlwille as plating type about one of best for hard used wrenches .

 

[Mr_B]

Its a great trick when you need extra leverage and only a wrench will fit. Dont use it to hold nuts/bolts while tightening or loosening the other side with an impact. We did this trying to align a set of hedrickson axles and i lost a front tooth when the wrenches went flying.

now when i need an extra long wrench ill grab an el cheapo, cut off the open end slip a pipe over the handle and weld it

Do like idea of cutting wrench and adding bit of nice pipe for custom length set, I may do this when I next see a half decent used spanner set, could look nice with pipe ends knurled and be quite useful for little cost .

 

[bsaint]

I take like a grade 12 nut and bolt, use it as a joint, and extend the wrench that way.

 

[Ign]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=271998

 

[bcradio]

I take like a grade 12 nut and bolt, use it as a joint, and extend the wrench that way.

Got a pic of this?

 

[VinceG]

German engineered wrench extender, Mueller Kueps

The strongest open end wrenches i found are older Snap-on. 70's and 80's

these are awesome

 

[DadsTools]

I only performed the two-wrench trick once. I did it because I was impatient and in a hurry. Something just felt very wrong about it to me while trying to turn that get-up. Never did it again. Now I just get a breaker bar.

 

[bsaint]

Got a pic of this?

It's literally a bolt and a nut screwed together.

 

[Aqua-Andy]

Done it plenty of times with my SO wrenches. All the naysayers have got to be backyard mechanics that either have all the time in the world to do a repair or don't do that much work. Sometimes double wrenching is the only option to loosen a fastener in a tight spot. Just use a breaker bar? Chances are the reason you are double wrenching is because there is not enough room for a breaker bar or long ratchet. Sometimes you got to do what you got to do to get the car fixed. I'm sure I'll get flamed for this post but there is a difference between turning wrenches on an internet forum and in the real world.

 

[hangfirew8]

Agree, only do it due to clearance issues ruling out breaker bars and sockets. Also agree I do whatever it takes to get the job done. I am also aware that I might have to deal with a rounded-off bolt in that limited-access area if it all fails.

As a DIY I save so much money that I can afford to risk a few tools. I don't TRY to destroy any, but really, if I can't get it warranted, I can afford to replace it with the 300% job savings over dealer labor costs.

Also I have the commercial version of a nut-on-bolt, one solid piece of steel. EZ-Red or HF I forget I've only used them a couple of times. Having the magnets built-in make them worthwhile for helping keep the wrenches doubled-up while you get ready for the Big Pull.

 

[rlitman]

German engineered wrench extender, Mueller Kueps
...

That's an option. I happen to have Klein cable benders, and I've used them in a similar manner.

 

[Ign]

It's literally a bolt and a nut screwed together.

It's literally the same concept as the EZ Red I linked

 

[Kev442]

I tended to only double wrench when space was so tight that I could not break things loose with one hand, so not tons of torque needed, just access.
I solved that problem with a serpentine belt kit. Very shallow six point sockets and a huge bar for leverage. Quite possibly the best $30-40 bucks I've ever spent.

 

[Sam'sAutoParts]

I do it frequently, usually at home (I don't have any air tools at home). At work I will only do it if that's the only option due to clearance. I actually don't use breaker bars all that often anymore. If I can't fit the impact in a space I can usually break it loose with a long handle ratchet.

I did use my 3/4 bar last week, but the power was out and I was working without air by flashlight. Must have been nearly a 1/8" of dust on it. Had to use it to break some caliper bracket bolts loose. Maybe I should have tried the 2 wrench trick...lol

 

[bsaint]

It's literally the same concept as the EZ Red I linked

You actually linked another Garagejournal thread lol. A nut and a bolt are generally free and frequently found around a mechanical shop, many times in the trash. I dont know why anyone would buy this kit.

 

[pi_guy]

Done it for years never had an issue.
Often it a case of no clearance even with small sizes like 1/2 9/16, I sometimes would use cut allen keys to make a joint.
Taking a short box wrench putting a open end or a breaker bar with proper size allen socket can make life easy. Also it is normally easy to break the bolt with a short box wrench but when it breaks free and your had swings into something hard and blood leaks out age teaches you that healing takes a while. So doing those tricks that preserve the body helps.
In my modify wrench drawer there is a whole set of cut off box wrenches that fit a pipe but these days likely to use crowsfoot or some combination setup.

 

[btdobie]

Don't do it with cheap wrenches. I jammed my knuckles straight into solid metal one time when I did it with some cheapos and the end of the wrench Shattered.

 

[ajchien]

Good times? When there's nothing else you have that will give you the leverage or access you need.
Bad times? When you do have the proper tool that could do it.

The worst that has happened to me have been nicking the edges of the open ends, spreading the open ends, and getting frustrated when the wrenches fall apart.

 

[MikeF2316]

I've done it a few times, and never appeared to have damaged anything. Sometimes that's the only thing that works, given clearances etc. But I try not to do it, I have lots of breaker bars and sockets for when I need lots of leverage.

 

[toolaholic]

Ez red wrench connectors. https://www.zoro.com/e-z-red-hex-wr...MIjt2Y8LS31QIV2BeBCh0W_gdPEAQYAiABEgIGv_D_BwE

 

[Alamedasam]

Hey, don't beat me up, but I wouldn't do it at ANY time, since it's not the proper use of the tool. I say this as just over 4 years ago, a very close friend,(who is a very proficient heavy duty tow truck operator), lost an eye doing the very same thing.

I have to say that he is a loyal Snap-On customer, but another driver had used his truck & lost the proper wrench & socket for the Volvo driveline bolts. While using a pair of wrenches in the'Two Wrench Trick', one of the wrenches broke launching part of it right into his eye, causing severe damage.

After over 4 agonizing years, many, many long & painful surgeries, numerous bad infections, even spreading to his good eye, his damaged eye is still not able to see properly or even operate correctly.

Because of this stupid mistake, (which he agrees was his fault), he has been un-able to work his trade. His commercial license, including all exemptions has been revoked by the DMV. He may never get it back!

The TWO WRENCH TRICK.......I don't think so scooter!

 

[btdobie]

Hey, don't beat me up, but I wouldn't do it at ANY time, since it's not the proper use of the tool. I say this as just over 4 years ago, a very close friend,(who is a very proficient heavy duty tow truck operator), lost an eye doing the very same thing.

I have to say that he is a loyal Snap-On customer, but another driver had used his truck & lost the proper wrench & socket for the Volvo driveline bolts. While using a pair of wrenches in the'Two Wrench Trick', one of the wrenches broke launching part of it right into his eye, causing severe damage.

After over 4 agonizing years, many, many long & painful surgeries, numerous bad infections, even spreading to his good eye, his damaged eye is still not able to see properly or even operate correctly.

Because of this stupid mistake, (which he agrees was his fault), he has been un-able to work his trade. His commercial license, including all exemptions has been revoked by the DMV. He may never get it back!

The TWO WRENCH TRICK.......I don't think so scooter!

Also a good argument for safety glasses. I never heard a story of someone wishing they hadn't worn safety glasses.

 

[Codejack]

Also a good argument for safety glasses. I never heard a story of someone wishing they hadn't worn safety glasses.

I got a cut on my forehead when a box (cardboard, but with product in it, so fairly heavy) fell off a rack and hit me in the face

Note: I still wear safety glasses

 

[jeejay]

I take like a grade 12 nut and bolt, use it as a joint, and extend the wrench that way.

Got a pic of this?

I was thinking a nut and bolt might move the wrong way, and a hex bit is one piece.

Taking a short box wrench putting a open end or a breaker bar with proper size allen socket can make life easy.

Sounds like the same kind of thing. I hadn't read all of this, just stumbled upon that "German engineered wrench extender", and looked it up here. Read some reviews on it also, and watched a video. It appears to be both flexible and breakable, so I'd go with something like a hex assortment, which could be used for more than one thing (not that I'd plan on extending wrenches regularly, but I don't suppose a long pattern handle is stronger either, because the ends may be the thickest parts, or those longer one-piece wrenches aren't thicker for having such long handles, so this should be about the same strength for the same length).

Could be done inline with either, and at least contact both jaws.

 

[ovrrdrive]

I never felt the need to try this either. If I can't break it by hand then it gets hit with a hammer. It's rare though that I can't either break it loose or round it off by hand though. It's rare to need a hit to help out.

Tools are tools to me. I don't care if they get beat up as long as they don't become nonfunctional.

 

[JohnDeere1]

I remember when I first learned the trick an old wrencher taught me and I thought it was great when I had very little tools. Also used to take like a sparkplug or other deep well socket and use a long extension or 2 to make my ratchets longer it works great too.

Anyone else ever do this use a deep well socket and extension to make a ratchet longer?

 

[Sine Swept]

I learned this trick from my dad at home on the farm. I don't remember there being too many small metric tools around, I definitely grew up on SAE - in Canada. I would likely go with convenience as to the reason I would see him double-wrench.

The last time I used the trick myself I would up with a nice gash on my wrist and a new set of wrenches! The wrench slipped and I got caught slipping. Then I went and bought better wrenches. I did find a nice 18 inch Snap On breaker bar - which was also Canadian made and it would fit nicely in a tireless wheel well.

 

[PeterT]

It a nut is that stubborn, I break out the acetylene torch

 

[S/RConcepts]

I remember when I first learned the trick an old wrencher taught me and I thought it was great when I had very little tools. Also used to take like a sparkplug or other deep well socket and use a long extension or 2 to make my ratchets longer it works great too.

Anyone else ever do this use a deep well socket and extension to make a ratchet longer?

I've done that trick with ratchets before, the Snap-On handles are the best shaped for this. That said, this is exactly why I now have an FLLF80 and a TLLF72 in my box. I've ran into a few situations where the standard 'long handle' ratchets were just a hand length too short.

As far as the wrench trick, I've done that a few times, but I never like doing so. Almost every time I have it's not been because of a bolt that's too tight, but because of an front mounted accessory on a transverse mounted engine (water pumps and alternators come to mind).

Imagine, if you will, being buried elbow deep for 20 minutes (on a waiter, no less) trying to get a wrench on one stupid fastener. When you finally are able to do so, you're not about to let go of that wrench, so your free hand naturally gropes around the tool cart (which is almost always barely in reach) to find something of use. 9/10, the first thing you'll grab is another wrench, so you use the wrench trick and you're done.

 

[Mr_B]

I use a wrench power bar

only double spanner when a total must, done it a lot in younger years before long flexi ratchets and extending ratchets and never had slightest issue, particularly fussy on quality wrenches though from an early age .
safety squints and some light gloves would be good though .

 

[Al Borland]

Flare nut crows-foot or socket and a breaker bar. (With cheater pipe, of course)
When something breaks, start swearing, get the torch and really screw the thing up.