Could you be trying to know how to use a socket wrench? Well, using a socket wrench is one of the most basic and essential skills a person can have when it comes to tools. Sockets are used to fasten and loosen nuts and bolts. Using a socket wrench can avoid rounding off the bolt or nut. Which can make them difficult, if not impossible, to remove. This post will go over the basics of using a socket wrench.
What You Need: A Standard Socket Ratchet or Holder an Extension Bar
A socket wrench is much like any other wrench. It has a handle and head, the difference being that the end of the head is an oblong shape instead of a circular one. This shape allows for different size bolts. The socket wrench also has a ratchet. It allows you to quickly turn the socket in one direction and stop it from turning in the other.
The sockets themselves are oblong pieces that fit onto the head of the wrench. They have ridges around the middle, holding them in place on the wrench by a locking mechanism. You place the socket on the nut or bolt and turn it in your desired direction to fasten something.
Also read: How To Use Crowfoot Wrench | Explained in 5 Simple Steps
Image credit: unsplash.com
How To Use a Socket Wrench
1) Make sure that the socket wrench fits the bolt or nut you’re trying to loosen or tighten. There are different sizes of sockets, so make sure that you have the right size for the job.
2) Apply pressure to the handle of the ratchet while turning the socket wrench. This will help you apply more torque and make it easier to loosen or tighten bolts and nuts.
3) If you need to remove a nut or bolt, make sure that the socket wrench is pointing in the opposite direction of the way you’re trying to turn it. For example, if you’re turning a bolt clockwise and want to loosen it, turn the handle of the ratchet counter-clockwise.
4) To change a socket wrench from a right-handed position to a left-handed one, hold the ratchet’s handle in one hand and then flip the socket wrench 180 degrees. When you’re done using it in a left-handed position, flip it back again so that it’s in a right-handed position.
5) Try not to apply excessive force when using a socket wrench since this can damage the bolts or nuts you’re trying to loosen or tighten. You should use just enough pressure to get the job done.
6) Always unscrew bolts and nuts before you take them off of something unless they are attached to an object by welds. If you try to take a bolt or nut off without unscrewing it. First, you could break the bolts and nuts. If you’re not sure how to use a socket wrench properly, the best thing to do is read the instruction manual that came with your toolset.
You should always attempt to use the shortest length of extension bar possible that will get the job done. Using shorter lengths will prevent the socket from becoming loose and falling off the bolt. If you need more length, you can always go back and extend your reach with another piece of pipe or bar.
Also read: Best Inch Pound Torque Wrench Reviews 2020 | Top 5 Picks
Tips For Using A Socket Wrench
The use of a socket wrench is very common. If you have never used one before, it is important to review these tips so that your first attempt goes smoothly and safely:
Place the head squarely over the nut or bolt you are trying to loosen or tighten. It’s okay if you can’t get it completely flush with the item because all the different sizes of the heads vary a little bit.
Push down firmly with a slow and steady rhythm, putting a little bit more pressure on each push as you work your way around the nut or bolt. Never jerk the wrench back and forth. It might be tempting because it is faster, but this can damage both the socket and whatever you’re working on.
Once you have been working at the nut or bolt for a while, keep going until it starts to tighten or loosen. Then stop before you break something. If the nut or bolt is too tight to turn with either your fingers or a socket wrench. Work your way around it again with a little more force each time. Do this until you get it to the point where you can turn it with your hand.
Don’t force the wrench if it isn’t moving. If you need to apply more pressure, do so gently and gradually rather than excessively. Do not put more than a quarter of an inch (7mm) between the socket and the nut or bolt you are trying to loosen or tighten.
If the head slips off the nut or bolt, don’t keep trying unless you manage to get it right back on right away. If you have to use excessive force, try again starting from a different angle. Depending on what you are working with, using more force can damage either the socket wrench or whatever you are working with so try not to.
Ensure you have the right size socket wrench before starting any project with nuts or bolts. A socket wrench with a head that is too large might slip off and damage whatever you are working with or injure yourself. Using a socket wrench with a head that is too small won’t supply enough force to loosen the item.
Also read: 5 Best Spoke Torque Wrench Reviews of 2021
Image credit: unsplash.com
Major components of A standard socket wrench
Socket holder
The ratchet socket is fitted into a rotating and stationary base, which contains an internal mechanism with pawls that allow movement in only one direction.
Socket
A socket is a hollow oblong metal piece that fits over the head of the socket wrench or into another tool such as an electric or manual drill.
Ratchet
It allows forward and reverses movement on the socket. This can be locked in place to turn at a set speed.
Extensions
An extension adds more length to make it easier to reach bolts. Or nuts too far away from your body for standard mechanics. Some may attach directly to the head of the wrench, while others slide into place between the handle and head.
Conclusion
A socket wrench is a common tool. It allows you to get into tight spaces and apply more force than you would do with your bare hands. If you have never used one before, check out these tips for using a socket wrench safely and effectively. Remember that it’s always better to use less force rather than more. And if something starts to get stuck, stop and try working on it from a different angle.