Welding sockets for 1-off tools? How to do it?

[jride200]

Basically, I'm trying to make my own torque adaptor.

In order to torque a particularly unusual item (30 ft. lbs.), I'm planning to weld a 3/8" drive socket onto a wrench which I already own. The wrench is made from die cut steel plate, approx. 1/8-3/16" thick. I'm thinking that I will drill a hole in the wrench to the accept the OD of the socket (I have plenty of edge distance), inserting the socket, and welding. Naturally, I would place the socket a known distance from the center of the fastener to be torqued and use math to determine the torque wrench setting.

Any additional advice on how to do this? I've heard that sockets weld readily, because they are made from such high quality steel. Do I need to grind away the chrome plating of the socket?

Thanks in advance.

 

[sdowney717]

only 30 foot pounds?
you could just braze it together.
can probably just weld through chromed steel with a torch.

 

[Sokoloff]

For 30 ft-lbs and a 3/8 drive socket, why not just use a 3/8 drive torque wrench with a range up to 30 ft-lbs?

 

[sberry]

Yes, sockets weld well, sometimes I clean the chrome, usually not. Wire, 7018 work best but most any electrode will usually do. Also depending on how critical the application is, test a couple things till you get a feel for what 30# is. There is a ton of stuff in the world I don't bother torquing.

 

[jride200]

I'm sorry. I was a little less than clear.

This, is what I need to torque:

This, is the wrench which I already own:

Naturally, Park Tool Co. make 3/8" drive tools for this application, which would allow one to apply torque directly, but I'm a starving student. And... it would give me some good practice in the shop.

 

[speed bump]

I ussually just clean them with whatevers handy and grab some 6010/6011 (whatevers on top) and weld. I haven't ever had a problem.

 

[Hank McMauser]

Why not just drill a 3/8 hole then file it to a 3/8" square? It would look tons better than having a socket welded to it.

 

[sberry]

How about just putting the thing on and tightening it with the wrench? They may call for a spec but that is likely to give some idea about tight the **** out of it or tight it easy, I doubt its a big deal if they include that wrench for use with it. Maybe way over thinking it?

 

[jride200]

Drilling and filing

Duh! Why didn't I think of that!

 

[jride200]

How about just putting the thing on and tightening it with the wrench?

I suppose you mean with Channelocks or a pipe wrench? These are very high end bicycle components. They're not oilfield tough nor do I want to mar the finish. And, I'd like to torque them the correct amount. But you are right about over-thinking it... its one of my vises.

 

[sberry]

30 ft lbs compared to a good firm snug on a 3/8 bolt with a common 3/8 ratchet.

 

[Rigmaster]

+1 on the thought that you're over thinking it. I understand they're high end bike components and you want to do it right, but I think "good n tight" using the correct tool should be just right.


Reminds me of an old QC Engineer friend of mine who searched high and low for a small torque wrench that read in inch pounds so he could properly torque his light switch and elec outlet faceplates without cracking or distorting them......

I kid you not........

 

[sberry]

I see a pic of the wrench, I was thinking you would use it, hadnt considered channeloks.

 

[mrb]

what is that thing? it looks like a part that goes under a sink. on the space station.

 

[jride200]

what is that thing? it looks like a part that goes under a sink. on the space station.

Beer just came out of my nose. Don't know why I thought this was so funny, but I did. In bicycle speak, its called a bottom bracket. It houses the bearings upon which the pedals rotates. In this case, the bearings are housed outboard of the frame.

 

[crewchief888]

what is that thing? it looks like a part that goes under a sink. on the space station.

i'm gonna say it's the bearings/ spacers for a lower crankset

 

[Simz144]

It may sound stupide but how long is that wrench....

Since 30ft/lbs...... Is putting 30 lbs of force 1 foot from the centre of the thing you torque.... if your wrench is 8 inch long, and you put 45lbs on it, you should have it torque to the spec you need..

It think I'm not wrong, may be

 

[cronic]

Just buy a Park Tool BBT-19

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B002WH0HJ8/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[jride200]

Of course I could just buy the tool (I know well that it is available), but I already own the wrench. Was just thinking of a fun mod.

 

[Bolster]

Reminds me of an old QC Engineer friend of mine who searched high and low for a small torque wrench that read in inch pounds so he could properly torque his light switch and elec outlet faceplates without cracking or distorting them......

WELL?!? Don't leave us hanging... what the heck IS the proper torque for an electrical outlet faceplate mounting screw??

 

[designer485]

I have installed that style bottom bracket many times and hand tight with that wrench is more than adequate. There is really no reason for a torque wrench.

 

[buildyourown]

As an avid cyclist, bike mechanic, and frame builder, rest assured, accurate torque is not that important. The threads are left hand threaded on the right side specifically so they won't back out. I have both tools: the one pictured, and the park 3/8" drive mentioned. I just use the socket version with a breaker bar and get it comfortable.

That said, I regularly use old, random sockets as a base when making custom tools at work. Grinding off the chrome helps a lot.

 

[caper]

I don't usually drill the tool for the socket to fit in it.I just lay the socket on the wrench and weld away.3 or 4 tack welds would enough to hold it together for 30 ft lbs.

 

[pp702nw]

WELL?!? Don't leave us hanging... what the heck IS the proper torque for an electrical outlet faceplate mounting screw??

Tighten it until it makes a cracking sound, then, back off a 1/8 turn

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

You could be really inventive and hang weight off of it just measure the distance from the center to the end of the arm and do math. Then add weight. And Presto instant tourqe wrench.

 

[Bruce Lancaster]

"Since 30ft/lbs...... Is putting 30 lbs of force 1 foot from the centre of the thing you torque.... "

Well...someone just finished that thought in post 25...but anyway, as a student surely you know someone with access to the chem lab or something to get to an accurate scale.
Drill a hole in that wrench, hang on a basket, add carefully measured stuff to match the computed equivalent on 30 at that distance.
To make it really elegant...weight could be made up of chosen tools or bike components and the service manual, so no extra stuff...or, really elegant...what torque would be applied if you ran a string from the hole UP and applied the weight of the bike to the job??? Not only would you achieve every bike person's goal of zero weight addition, you would be making the basic weight you have do the work of a tool that ways something.

 

[babyman1737]

"Since 30ft/lbs...... Is putting 30 lbs of force 1 foot from the centre of the thing you torque.... "

Well...someone just finished that thought in post 25...but anyway, as a student surely you know someone with access to the chem lab or something to get to an accurate scale.
Drill a hole in that wrench, hang on a basket, add carefully measured stuff to match the computed equivalent on 30 at that distance.
To make it really elegant...weight could be made up of chosen tools or bike components and the service manual, so no extra stuff...or, really elegant...what torque would be applied if you ran a string from the hole UP and applied the weight of the bike to the job??? Not only would you achieve every bike person's goal of zero weight addition, you would be making the basic weight you have do the work of a tool that ways something.

Or you could just be really smart and torque the bolt with your torque wrench at an exact 90 degree angle, this way you wouldn't even need to use math or silly baskets.....
If you don't get what I mean by 90 degree angle, just think of the letter "L". Where one part would be this tool you're making, and the other part as the torque wrench.

 

[Bolster]

Tighten it until it makes a cracking sound, then, back off a 1/8 turn

Aha! So my current method is the correct one. Thanks for the verification!

 

[pp702nw]

Aha! So my current method is the correct one. Thanks for the verification!

2 Inch pounds works too.

 

[Boiler]

I agree with the rest, use the wrench until it feels pretty tight. If you're serious about it, buy the special socket for your torque wrench.

If you had a fish scale, you could apply it perpendicular to the wrench, with its hook going through the hole, and do the math. I've actually done that before...

Welding a socket on and using a torque wrench is probably less accurate than guessing how much force you've put on the wrench and multiplying by length.

 

[malibu101]

I believe you. Like some engineers-they know what needs to done but not how to do it.
That application requires a torque screwdriver.

 

[caper]

I read through this thread and shake my head at all the stupid reasons why he shouldn't weld a socket on his wrench and how it won't be accurate and silly ways of getting the right torque and,to my mind,you all missed the the most important part of his original post.He WANTS to build a custom torque adapter because he CAN.Why should he spend money,that's tight as a student,on something he can make and as he said he gets to spend some quality time in the shop learning how to make a tool.I think it's a worthwhile endeavor just for learning that you can make things to get by when the proper tool isn't readily available.I can't begin to count how many times I had to fabricate a tool to get something done.Once your working in the real world there often isn't the time to get the right tool and sometimes it's just not available.Learning how to do things outside the box is an invaluable tool to a good mechanic.

 

[danski0224]

Tighten it until it makes a cracking sound, then, back off a 1/8 turn

You are supposed to count the number of turns until the cracking sound, then install a new part, then tighten 1/8 to 1/4 turn less than the previous count.

Works every time.

 

[forceyoda]

Why not pay the $20-$30 and buy the right tool?
I have the chris king and it works perfectly. Another thing to consider if you do that welding is the drive side cup has left hand threads. If you buy the right tool you can still use torque wrench in the cw dierection by turning it from the non-drive side using a 6 inch extension.