A stupid question...

[jjoel]

When ripping a nut off of a bolt with an impact, what is the preferred tool to hold the bolt still to keep it from spinning? Is it ok to just use a ratchet or could the impact have adverse affects on it. Is it preferable just to use a wrench? Just curious.

 

[Ratchet.]

I always use a wrench, or a breaker/t-bar with a socket as id think that the impact shocks would damage it,might be ok, but id rather not try it tbh

 

[bad_idea]

crescent wrench is my typical goto.

 

[Outlawmws]

The impact is on the nut from the impact side, so unless you have a loose fastener rusted so badly that the impact starts hammering directly on the bolt head, and therefor the holding tool, I don't think it much matters.

 

[metal1313]

i ususally use a socket and breaker bar. that way i dont have to keep positioning the wrench if the bolt is long

 

[garfunkle24]

Here's a hot tip for you: Once the bolt is broken loose don't just hold the nut with your fingers and buzz it out with the impact (or other power tool). If said nut has a peeled thread or burr and the bolt has a damaged or rusty thread and catches again, it will make a mess of your thumb.

You probably don't need to ask me how I know.

 

[adcrawfo]

Here's a hot tip for you: Once the bolt is broken loose don't just hold the nut with your fingers and buzz it out with the impact (or other power tool). If said nut has a peeled thread or burr and the bolt has a damaged or rusty thread and catches again, it will make a mess of your thumb.

You probably don't need to ask me how I know.

I'll second this truth. It hurts like the Dickens.

Sent from my Milestone X2 using Tapatalk

 

[e-tek]

I would use a wrench whenever feasable due to the deliterios effects of the impact beating on the ratchet mechanism (as you said but no-one else thought it important), and also because I often let the wrench move against something that will hold it while I impact the bolt off. Whenever I try that with a ratchet it gets jammed, or something hits the reverse lever/button.

 

[Drew_flux]

I use a wrench or t bar/breaker bar. I dont like the idea of impact hammering, going through a ratchet holding the bolt.

 

[crewchief888]

wrench or breaker bar/socket

i've stripped a couple of ratchets and ratcheting wrenches doing this.

 

[JASTECH]

+3 On hurting thumb, more then once too.

 

[Monte]

box end wrench

 

[greasemonkey44]

i use a solid wrench usually, or the open end of a gearwrench
i know what you guys mean about it binding; lost a good bit of skin to my new impact and a 17mm wrench.....it bound and slammed my middle finger into the rotor

 

[davesnothere]

Wrench.

 

[nexum1919]

obvious selections will be an open end-boxed end, but most of the time there's no access or if there's access, sometimes one person cannot hold the wrench and operate the impact at the same time (inside a frame member) if you place a box end inside a frame and jam it tight, as soon as you pull the trigger on that impact, the wrench will shake loose and fall into some deep dark hole.
for those situations that you cannot hold the opposing wrench and pull the trigger at the same time i prefer this hybrid kid: thats what you get when you leave your adjustables and locking pliers at the same drawer overnight:
Stanley 85-610 10-Inch Long MaxGrip Locking Adjustable Wrench
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00009OYGZ/?tag=atomicindus08-20

i hate using ratchets against impact guns, impacting seems to rattle the selector spring out of position and put them perfectly into halfway, thus stripping the gears, breaking springs. but most often that flex head is the only way to reach. i try to put my fingers on that selector tab to make sure it stays put, but that rattling and buzzing feeling coming inside that ratchet makes your teeth grind.
to duplicate the access of that flex head, i prefer to use the 'swivel socket wrenches', instead of buying a complete set this works wonders for $10, you can add extensions between the handle and socket, more useful than that swivel socket wrenches:
Williams Flex Head SQ Driver 3/8" - 1/2
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/WilliamsD/11920.html

on extreme situations where you have to go a full 'U' to hold opposing nut, instead of using the flex head and an extension, i try to use the a solid handle and two u-joints, u-joints lock nicely when flexed beyong their working angles, a useful feature in this case

 

[Syndicate]

When ripping a nut off of a bolt with an impact, what is the preferred tool to hold the bolt still to keep it from spinning? Is it ok to just use a ratchet or could the impact have adverse affects on it. Is it preferable just to use a wrench? Just curious.

I use an adj wrench or a reg wrench.

Oh!!! And PS There really is no stupid questions, only the ones that go unasked!