Best tool to tighten square nut
- Thread starter KSJeff
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SeisMec
Well-known member
Anchoring a basement wall to keep it from being pushed in by the earth surrounding the basement is one thing.
Attempting to use the anchors to move the wall back into position and also push the earth back by an inch at the same time is a completely different proposition.
Attempting to use the anchors to move the wall back into position and also push the earth back by an inch at the same time is a completely different proposition.
The system is designed to move the walls without excavating. That's the whole purpose of installing it. However, it clearly hasn't done a good job of keeping it from moving, so maybe it won't move it at all.
I'm going to have to dig up the north wall anyway, so if this doesn't work, I guess I'll dig up this east wall as well. The north walls getting 4x13 I beams. This wall may too.
I'm going to have to dig up the north wall anyway, so if this doesn't work, I guess I'll dig up this east wall as well. The north walls getting 4x13 I beams. This wall may too.
gahrajmahal
Well-known member
You are a GJ member and live in Kansas, yet you don't collect old farm/tractor/buggy/unknown use wrenches?
Shame on you.
I bet one of these would have fit.
What he said! Me, on the other hand am trying to substantiate purchasing
a set of these which would work excellent for square nuts.
https://www.garrettwade.com/paralle...yrvxcokldb7HEfzHOKQtaa2PuscW23iUaAkIkEALw_wcB
ssdave
Banned
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It may very well be an exercise in futility, but this is already there, so I'll tighten it up and see how it looks. They cover the entire east wall every 50" or so and only half of the wall has moved. The drainage problems that caused this have already been addressed. But I suspect you're correct and I'll have to dig it up.
I'm digging up the north side similar to what you're describing above. I have to jack up the house to move the wall.
Thanks again for all the advice. I do appreciate it.
I'm digging up the north side similar to what you're describing above. I have to jack up the house to move the wall.
Thanks again for all the advice. I do appreciate it.
duneslider
Well-known member
This is super interesting. Are these wood framed basement foundation walls, and not concrete foundation walls?
I have heard of wood foundation walls being used in some places but honestly never actually seen one anywhere.
Never seen this sort of concept for keeping walls from caving in either, pretty creative ideas out there.
I have heard of wood foundation walls being used in some places but honestly never actually seen one anywhere.
Never seen this sort of concept for keeping walls from caving in either, pretty creative ideas out there.
The conversion factor is around 1.18 for square to 12 pt.
In your case a 1 1/2" 12 pt socket/box wrench should fit.
Socket size should be smaller if it is flanke drive or spline type - same if the squares corners are rounded.
1 1/2"socket regular
1 1/2" socket for 1 1/4" square
Ratchet square drive examples:
11 mm or 7/16" 12 pt will fit a 3/8" square
15 mm 12 pt fits 1/2" square
22mm or 7/8" fits 3/4" square
You need a 19/64" 12 pt to fit a 1/4" square - I don't have a 19/64" 12pt wrench in my tool box to show
Note: 12 pt is not really the right tool for a square since it only engages the corners of the square - not for high torque applications.
In your case a 1 1/2" 12 pt socket/box wrench should fit.
Socket size should be smaller if it is flanke drive or spline type - same if the squares corners are rounded.
1 1/2"socket regular
1 1/2" socket for 1 1/4" square
Ratchet square drive examples:
11 mm or 7/16" 12 pt will fit a 3/8" square
15 mm 12 pt fits 1/2" square
22mm or 7/8" fits 3/4" square
You need a 19/64" 12 pt to fit a 1/4" square - I don't have a 19/64" 12pt wrench in my tool box to show
Note: 12 pt is not really the right tool for a square since it only engages the corners of the square - not for high torque applications.
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SeisMec
Well-known member
All of your advice looks pretty sensible to me.
I'm the guy from Beryl and I'm definitely not a carpenter or builder, just a former mechanic with oodles of relatives that were builds, carpenters, plasters, cabinet makers, bricklayers and general contractors.
My opinion is that attempting to move innumerable tons of essentially non-compressible earth with a (3/4" treated plywood? block?) wall just ain't gonna work.
Having let this simmer on a backburn all day now, it seems the most likely scenario would be that tightening up the nuts enough to gain 1 inch - without removing some of the dirt - will just push the plates through the wall.
ssdave
Banned
Kscardsfan
Well-known member
You are a GJ member and live in Kansas, yet you don't collect old farm/tractor/buggy/unknown use wrenches?
Shame on you.
I bet one of these would have fit.
I too am in Kansas, and have put away a fair amount of square bolt tools because of my tendency to wrench on old junk.
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I have the same anchors in my house. The company that installed the anchors left a socket behind so I can tighten them up. Try a company that does installs, maybe they can sell you the right tool.
It looks like the one in the picture is going to be in a finished wall. I have nine of those. I measured the anchors out and drew a picture. After the drywall was replaced, I cut in a two gang old work electrical box with the back cut out of it over each anchor bolt. I put a two gang blank cover over each box so I can access them fairly easily. You could also use a two gang old work low voltage box, but I didn't have any of those on hand when I did it.
I am supposed to tighten mine up twice a year, but it gets done when I think of it which isn't that often. When I do tighten them up, I try to do it when the ground is dry.
It looks like the one in the picture is going to be in a finished wall. I have nine of those. I measured the anchors out and drew a picture. After the drywall was replaced, I cut in a two gang old work electrical box with the back cut out of it over each anchor bolt. I put a two gang blank cover over each box so I can access them fairly easily. You could also use a two gang old work low voltage box, but I didn't have any of those on hand when I did it.
I am supposed to tighten mine up twice a year, but it gets done when I think of it which isn't that often. When I do tighten them up, I try to do it when the ground is dry.
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sparky 1971
Well-known member
It's not going back an inch. At least not anytime soon. I have the same anchors in my basement. I am supposed to tighten them twice a year. When I do it, I make sure the ground is dry, no rain for at least two weeks, and get after it. Using an 18" 1/2" drive ratchet, I can usually get about 3/4 one full revolution before getting concerned about something bad happening. I have been doing this since 2002, so I suppose I may have gotten an inch out of it so far. The anchors are really to keep the walls from coming in any farther.
alinc100
Well-known member
How about a 6-10" piece of square tube steel that has an 1-1/4" I.D. and then tighten with a pipe wrench? Maybe have to file the corner square, relieve the opening a bit?