Hammering on a combination wrench

[kblee27]

I got a small impact driver, but the torque was not enough to loosen a battery terminal nut that was seized by corrosion salt.

So I put the closed end of a combination wrench on the nut and strike at the open end with a small hammer. It did the trick to loosen the nut.

I was just wondering if there's some way to make striking a wrench easier, as the edge is thinner than the flats and I'm likely to hit my hand instead.

 

[T45]

I was just wondering if there's some way to make striking a wrench easier...

use a bigger hammer,

 

[Tallpilot]

I use a dead blow and hold my hand as close as I can get to the box end on the nut then hit as close to the open end as possible. If you don't have deadblows or a soft face mallet I recommend you try one.

 

[jallyn]

I use a dead blow and hold my hand as close as I can get to the box end on the nut then hit as close to the open end as possible. If you don't have deadblows or a soft face mallet I recommend you try one.

^This. Use a deadblow. Safer, easier.

 

[Snap_cap]

I use a soft-faced hammer or a dead blow, whichever is within reach first.


Would be nice if some manufacturer made smaller size slug wrenches, as there is a legitimate need on occasion to beat the heck out of a seized smaller fastener.

 

[buffalobill]

Small slug wrenches would be sweet, you could also use them for tight access areas as a stubby box.

 

[kythri]

They don't sell them retail anymore, but the Craftsman Cross-Force wrenches fit that bill for me.

The 90-degree rotation of the open end provides a decent surface to whack with a dead-blow.

 

[stercorarius]

Cut a Pittsburgh wrench in half. Clamp one end in a vise. Heat and twist 90*

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[Billy Jack]

My late father was once a flat-rate mechanic. Among all his Snap On tools was a set of black finish Craftsman double-box wrenches, in addition to the same sizes in Snap On. When I asked him what the Sears wrenches were doing in his box his reply was "in case I have to hit one with a hammer. Snap Ons are too precious for that". He'd whack 'em on the opposite box end. That was the 50 years ago, long before deadblow hammers.

Bill

 

[ducksface]

The
Interwrap a second wrench as an extension
Trick

No whacking.

Someone will post a Meme or diagram....

 

[Gmonkee]

The mid grade import wrenches that are a little thicker and easire to risk damaging are perfect for this.
Good fit to fastener is important of course but finish doesn't have to be. You are going to beat on it anyway.

For a maker to step up and create a new specialty wrench of this style would be a huge risk. The potential pool of buyers for who would want them for regular use is small.

 

[Wamsutta]

I've done that before, although I put a rag over the wrench first so I don't scratch it.

 

[crewchief888]

i think every wrench i own over 1" has been hit with a hammer on more than one occasion.

usually in a tight spot, and i use the biggest hammer i can maneuver into place and get a swing with.

 

[mdnelson86]

I've got a set of craftsman and gearwrench twisted wrenches that have the handle twisted so the box end and open end or 90 degrees off. The first set was given to me as a gift and I honestly thought they were pretty dumb. But they are my go-to wrenches now for when i have to pound on a wrench with my palm or hammer.

 

[Ole Slewfoot]

Cut an air chisel to a V block, and just use it on a regular sacrificial wrench.
You can cut the wrench down pretty short.

 

[OccupantRJ]

When it comes to bang a knuckle or bang on a wrench, the wrench looses. I usually use a deadblow or a brass hammer.

 

[uncwstudent]

I hammer combo wrenches a decent amount to loosen fasteners. It's one of my signature techniques.

 

[Mr_B]

I have some gedore slogging spanners, few other brands do these, good chunky spanner set with wall drive ring will do fine though .

 

[Strouty]

I think that using a hammer is better than leverage in most instances. I do try and use a dead blow hammer and I would think twice about doing it with my Snap On wrenches, but I would still do it if needed.

 

[T45]

Black oxide is a nice touch...no chipping chrome
like others have said,
a copper/bronze/lead or similar hammer
with a softer face also helps

 

[Mr. T]

I'll use my 70mm to hit my 65mm (or anything 45mm and over with the next size up). Nice DIN 894s, haven't made a mark in one yet.

If something is really stuck I'll cinch a web sling to the end and hook it to a crane. Then I hit it with a sledge.

 

[earlthegoat2]

I spent some time in third world countries wrenching on junk and even those guys used a steel hammer wrapped with a rag to do what you are describing. In other words, that was as close to a dead blow hammer as they had so even they knew how much safer it was to use a dead blow.....if you had one.

A South African apprentice of mine always used a rubber mallet and a long box end wrench as a breaker bar. That was how he was taught in SA and it was not worth it to me to tell him to use a breaker bar when he was getting the job done and was NOT breaking any tools in the process.

 

[jd_1138]

Why not use a socket with a 25" breaker bar? Or put a cheater pipe at the end of the wrench.

 

[Cummins_Tech]

Doubled up wrenches always works for me when I need a lil more oomph


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[Mr. T]

Why not use a socket with a 25" breaker bar? Or put a cheater pipe at the end of the wrench.

Leverage is great when you can use it, a lot of times space is at a premium; So you hit the wrench with something.

 

[jd_1138]

Leverage is great when you can use it, a lot of times space is at a premium; So you hit the wrench with something.

It's a car battery; I'm sure there's space to use a breaker bar or cheater pipe, unless it's in a weird spot.

 

[Mr. T]

I apologize, I was speaking in general. This kind of got off topic. You make the right point for the original post.

 

[kblee27]

Thank you all for your replies.

I was thinking a gearwrench x-beam would make pounding on it easier.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0014ZXTSU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
As I don't have the heat to twist a wrench.

Or maybe an adaptor if available to turn a surface into an anvil.
And definitely a dead-blow hammer.

I find hammering more useful as some crud will be knocked loose, compared to just using a long extension or cheater bar.

 

[cherrybomb]

I would double up wrenches,breaking bar or my last resort would be brass or other dead blow hammer.steel on steel could send a piece flying,doubtful but possible.

 

[jd_1138]

I apologize, I was speaking in general. This kind of got off topic. You make the right point for the original post.

no worries mate, it's the internet it always gets off topic. lol

 

[tym]

I've done this occasionally too. Sometimes you need the shock load to break something free.

 

[jonesg]

I got a small impact driver, but the torque was not enough to loosen a battery terminal nut that was seized by corrosion salt.

So I put the closed end of a combination wrench on the nut and strike at the open end with a small hammer. It did the trick to loosen the nut.

I was just wondering if there's some way to make striking a wrench easier, as the edge is thinner than the flats and I'm likely to hit my hand instead.

Hit it with the FLAT of the hammer.
A 3lber means no need to swing in tight spots.

Small impact on battery? sparks...pop!

 

[FigureItOut]

I came across this monster aluminum wrench today that's beaten on routinely everyday. It's 3 &3/4" and 2 &1/4" open ends.

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[Parrothead]

I have to do this almost every time I have to work on my cars. 3lb mini sledge does wonders. The wrenches don't look all pretty and fancy when done, but they've done their job and whatever I was trying to remove is removed. That's all I can ask for.

 

[maintguy]

I keep an older pieces together set of american made box wrenches for this purpose. I also have a set of some real cheap off brand that I can cut down if needed.

When I worked on rolling mills. We once used a 4 inch hit wrench with a picec of 6 inch pipe on the end for leverage. We used a a "smasher" coil and a fork lift to break it free, while heating it. Man those were the days

 

[crewchief888]

I've done this occasionally too. Sometimes you need the shock load to break something free.

^^^^

sometimes using all the leverage in the world wont break loose a stubborn fastener... the shock of the hit does wonders....

 

[leg17]

^^^^
sometimes using all the leverage in the world wont break loose a stubborn fastener... the shock of the hit does wonders....

I suspect copper or lead would give more of a 'shock' than a deadblow.

 

[Coach James]

I always thought of a hammer on a wrench as my poor man's impact wrench. I use a rubber mallet or wrap a rag around the end of the wrench and hit it with my hand.

Coach

 

[WittHay]

A wrench for a battery terminal is fairly small to be hammering on. Usually I use a big hammer on a raised panel or satin finish wrench,

Had a set of new Snap-on combinations from 1 1/6" to 1 5/16". Never used them as i didn't wan't to scratch them and something about using a 4 lb. hammer on a $100 wrench wasn't right.

 

[sberry]

Good way to ruin a battery.