Adding extra Leverage to a Combo Wrench
- Thread starter Cervidae
- Start date
DirtRoad
Well-known member
Pipe
454ragtop
Well-known member
If using the box end, hook another box end wrench into the open end, old trick.
Jim
Jim
FoMoCoPower
Well-known member
a second combo wrench
btbsandman
Well-known member
Yes but use a Mac or Pittsburgh wrench for that technique.
abvw
Well-known member
Like this...
I'm a little weary of linking my fd+ like that, how well do they hold up?
we used to "double wrench" all of the bolts when assembling machines at the pipe foundry, but we were using 2 1/4 wrenches and 1 7/8. two people hanging off of the second wrench in order to get it tight enough and "torqued down". definitely made for a fun time when removing them next year during next shutdown.
but i've used this old trick many a times to get a little extra leverage in tight places, or where a wrench can be hard to push on by hand. never had a problem, on just plain old craftsman wrenches.
also used wrenches many a times to turn other things like allthread with a t handle that have been overtightened and had the shaft bent so it was hard going all the way out. never an issue.
Outlawmws
Well-known member
I've been doing the double wrenching periodically to my Craftsman RP wrenches for decades and to my dad's old Williams and Protos before that. never had one fail personally...
mrobins297aaa
Well-known member
see you learn something new everyday........never new that, thanks for the tip
whew thats enough for today
whew thats enough for today
If for some reason I can't do the trick as posted above and a pipe won't work either, I've run a thick allen wrench or something else solid through the closed end (ideally, open end works too, just watch for busted knuckles). In tight spaces, I can lean on a wrench much easier that way.
devilsnight
Well-known member
- Joined
- Nov 4, 2012
- Messages
- 181
"double wrenching" will put little nicks in the open end of your wrenches. doesn't cause any problems but will happen. Nobody ever seems to admit to it but, I do, in a pinch. Difficult to reach turbo mounting nuts, I use a 3lb hammer to pound the wrench around the rest of the way. again, doesn't affect a quality wrench but..... works
Fedwrench
ALLIANCE MEMBER
When I went to school at the GM training Center in Burbank, there were a couple of Snap on combination wrenches that had the open end jaw broken off form doing that in the engine classroom.
Don't do it. use a longer zero offset box end wrench, or a socket with a breaker bar.
ChevyEFI
Well-known member
The thin profile of the handle will bend eventually.
beamrider
Well-known member
I've seen this in the catalog a few times, don't think its worth $25 tho...
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=67696&cat=1,43456,43407
Personally, it's always been wrap a rag around the wrench, and use a piece of pipe.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=67696&cat=1,43456,43407
Personally, it's always been wrap a rag around the wrench, and use a piece of pipe.
Chuck122
Well-known member
Every time I'm about to double wrench, it looks to me a thought the wrench is not meant to be stressed that way, then I feel like a **** and find another way
jakemac
Well-known member
Rubber mallet or a deadblow.
If it don't fit, get a bigger hammer.
If it breaks, blame the next guy.
If it don't fit, get a bigger hammer.
If it breaks, blame the next guy.
I guess the real trick to double wrenching is to know when enough is enough! 
I sometimes resort to thin wall square tubing if more leverage is needed. For example 20x40mm for 22-28 mm wrenches. Gives better control than a pipe and is relatively light and requires less space than a pipe.
I sometimes resort to thin wall square tubing if more leverage is needed. For example 20x40mm for 22-28 mm wrenches. Gives better control than a pipe and is relatively light and requires less space than a pipe.
greasemonkey44
Well-known member
i use a longer wrench, double wrench, pipe, or a deadblow
usually the dead blow does the trick or an impact
usually the dead blow does the trick or an impact
Square tubing. Insert open end of wrench on the diagonal.
The diagonal of a square is significantly longer than the diameter of a circle for a pipe roughly the same outside diameter as a comparative square tube's width from flat to flat.
Try it. You'll like it.
The diagonal of a square is significantly longer than the diameter of a circle for a pipe roughly the same outside diameter as a comparative square tube's width from flat to flat.
Try it. You'll like it.
Drew_flux
Well-known member
pipe or a 2" socket and a extention
sberry
Banned
imho it's less about "using it the wrong way" and more about "using it in a situation that calls for it", like when you have a wrench somewhere in a deep spot, and absolutely need some more torque on it, and can't get a socket on it, but can't get the leverage you need. it's far less taxing to use this method than to put a hammer to the end of it. in my opinion.
Never used them but these look kind of cool for people worried about connecting wrenches the way pictured above.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WIWIRE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B004WIWIRE/?tag=atomicindus08-20
Made this up and used it a couple of times before finding my 3/4" drive sockets.
programs to take screenshots
Kind of like sberry's arrangement better, takes the stress off the open end.
programs to take screenshots
Kind of like sberry's arrangement better, takes the stress off the open end.
richfinn
Well-known member
I like to use my serpentine belt tools if I need more leverage (size permitting), but I have linked spanners together as well for years and years and never damaged one
the gypsy
Well-known member
I prefer this idea more than putting wrench to wrench. It gives you more choice of angles to work in.
sberry
Banned
I actually like yours better from design. I put a 1 1/4 pipe on a long handle double box Cman,,, 36 inch added leverage, came with a snap, must have been in hundreds of ft pounds.
rick carpenter
Well-known member
Who makes the beefiest box end wrench? Some mfr not worried about slimness or tight access. If cheap enough, you could just cut off the open end and use whatever pipe length you need. Or use ironworkers' spud wrenches.
Jim51
Member
Exact principle I was thinking of using to build my own out of some scrap bar stock. Nice link, perfect solution.
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
I usually double my wrenches up like mentioned here. I have found however that it isnt always effective with my modern snap on combinations as they are too thin. I have a piece of 1 in wide by 1/8" strap with a couple prongs welded on it perpendicularly similar to Sberry's and Lilredex. I have seen an actual manufactured version of these tools before and have considered buying one, Ill try to find the link.
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
TangoFoxTrot
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- Joined
- Jan 23, 2009
- Messages
- 1,961
I have one of those and I've used it quite a bit. It's held up really well.
It's a great solution for when you need large wrenches and something like a cheater bar is just too small to slip over a wrench end.
4x4gearhead
Well-known member
Nice! thanks for the input, Im currently looking into getting one, It would be great for reaching hydraulic hoses i'd bet.
beamrider
Well-known member
I have one it works , the chrome is not great on it but it doesn't damage the wrench