How to use a socket wrench?
Place it on the nut or bolt and twist the handle like you would a standard wrench. However, don’t take it off the nut or bolt. Instead, turn it in the opposite direction. It will ratchet back, and you can continue twisting it as a typical wrench. The back of the socket wrench is where you change the direction to either tighten or loosen.
How to remove a broken wrench?
If you have a small button on the wrench’s head or you can depress the switch on it, your socket should fall off. For other wrenches, however, it’s a bit more complicated and frustrating. Wrap a rag around the handle and the socket for a better grip. Grab the socket firmly in one hand and the handle’s head in the other. Then, pull hard.
How do you use a torque wrench to tighten a nut?
Turn the switch to the right for tightening and left for loosening. Place the socket on the nut you need to turn. Use it just like a regular wrench or pliers, except do not remove the wrench when you run out of space. Simply twist it back in the opposite direction and repeat.
How do you use a ratchet socket?
You can do this by holding the socket with one hand and using the opposite hand to turn the ratchet back and forth from left to right several times. 4. Fit the Socket on the Fastener
How do you use a socket wrench?
1:363:39How To Use A Socket Wrench - Ace Hardware. - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipInto it and to change the direction remember tightening and loosening is the same no matter whatMoreInto it and to change the direction remember tightening and loosening is the same no matter what tool you're using righty tighty lefty loosey.
How do you use a husky ratchet wrench?
1:368:45Husky Ratcheting Combination Wrench Review - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo it's you got to put it on one way and turn it and then flip it over to tighten it's got a niceMoreSo it's you got to put it on one way and turn it and then flip it over to tighten it's got a nice little arrow on both sides that tell you which way you're actually turning the the fastener.
Which way do you turn a socket wrench to loosen it?
To loosen a nut or bolt, the socket handle should turn counterclockwise. To tighten a nut or bolt, the socket should turn clockwise. If the socket is not turning in the appropriate direction, turn the lever on the back of the ratchet to switch the direction.
How does a ratchet socket wrench work?
A ratchet is a handle that snaps into one end of a socket by means of a square-drive connector. The other end of the socket fits over a fastener. A mechanism in the ratchet allows the handle to engage and tighten the fastener when you swing it in a clockwise direction and turn freely when you swing it counterclockwise.
How many teeth are the Husky ratcheting wrenches?
72 ratcheting teethHusky Ratcheting Wrench Features These wrenches have 72 ratcheting teeth for a 5° swing arc. You can get a lower arc swing like the SK X-Frame Ratcheting Wrench with a 1.7° swing or split the difference with a 3° swing. Those are nice to have, but they come at a much higher price point. So if you need them, get them.
What is a ratcheting box wrench?
What is a Ratcheting Wrench? A ratcheting wrench works virtually identical to a socket wrench – it has ratcheting pawls inside that lets it spin in one direction and turn the bolt in the other. At the same time, it has the relative profile of a combination wrench that you turn to when a socket won't fit.
Do you unscrew clockwise or counterclockwise?
Typical nuts, screws, bolts, bottle caps, and jar lids are tightened (moved away from the observer) clockwise and loosened (moved towards the observer) counterclockwise in accordance with the right-hand rule.
How do you open a socket set?
0:324:35Pittsburgh pro socket removal from harbor freight - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd you can pop that socket. Right out of there. So if you watch from the end here if you pop itMoreAnd you can pop that socket. Right out of there. So if you watch from the end here if you pop it from the right side you'll be able to pop that socket right out of there.
How do you know which way to turn a bolt?
0:251:56How to know which way to turn a screw - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo if you want to turn off the tap you righty tighty new clothes about and if you want to open it upMoreSo if you want to turn off the tap you righty tighty new clothes about and if you want to open it up and release the water it's lefty loosey so I'll show you.
How do you use a socket wrench as a screwdriver?
1:183:40Faithfull 25 Piece Screwdriver Bit and Socket Set - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that goes in there you can also use this you've got a screwdriver bit that can be used withMoreAnd that goes in there you can also use this you've got a screwdriver bit that can be used with power tools. But also you can get the extra force the extra twisting action with the ratchet.
Which way is tighten on a ratchet?
When looking down on the head of the ratchet, it should turn the socket clockwise to tighten a fastener, and anti-clockwise to loosen it. If the ratchet is turning the socket in the wrong direction, move the lever or dial switch on the back of the ratchet head into the other position.
What are the different types of socket wrenches?
5 Types of Socket Wrenches#1) Ratcheting. Ratching is the most common type of socket wrench. ... #2) Flex Head. There are flex-head socket wrenches that have a swiveling head. ... #3) T-Handle. One of the most basic types of socket wrenches is the T-handle. ... #4) Nut Driver. Another type of socket wrench is nut driver. ... #5) Gearless.
Why do socket wrenches ratchet?
The ratcheting feature allows you to keep the wrench connected to the bolt and eliminates the need to refit it with every turn of the bolt. This is especially important when working space is limited. Socket wrenches are so useful that they are standard equipment for mechanics, carpenters and many other tradespeople.
How to turn a nut?
Place the socket on the nut you need to turn. Use it just like a regular wrench or pliers, except do not remove the wrench when you run out of space. Simply twist it back in the opposite direction and repeat. Tip. When placing nuts or bolts, it is sometimes easier to just use the socket, spinning it with your hand until you need ...
How to tell what size nut to turn?
If you know the size of the nut you want to turn, you can find the measurements labeled on the side of the sockets. If you don't know the exact size, grab a likely looking socket and try it on the nut or bolt you want to turn. If it's too loose, try a smaller one.
How to remove a socket wrench?
Some socket wrenches come with a button that lets you easily take the socket off the fastener. When you’re done, pop the button to remove the tool from the fastener. If your wrench doesn’t have a quick release button, you’ll have to remove the socket manually, which may take some muscle.
What is a socket wrench?
A socket wrench is a type of wrench with a socket on one end that’s used to turn fasteners. Another term you may have used heard to describe a socket wrench is a ratchet wrench. It’s a handheld tool with a ratcheting system attached to the handle and you use it to loosen or tighten nuts and bolts by pulling or pushing the handle while ...
How to check if socket wrench is working?
You can do this by holding the socket with one hand and using the opposite hand to turn the ratchet back and forth from left to right several times. 4.
How to fix a socket that is too small?
If the socket feels too small or too big on the fastener, try another size before using the socket to loosen or tighten the fastener. This is important to avoid damaging or breaking what you’re working on. Start with a larger size and work your way down to avoid getting the fastener stuck in a socket that’s too small.
What is a good socket set?
A good set will have many socket size options and is usually easier to use (for example, a higher quality wrench should have the quick release button mentioned in step 6 above).
How to fix a fastener that is stuck in a socket?
Start with a larger size and work your way down to avoid getting the fastener stuck in a socket that’s too small. 2. Connect the Socket. If you’re using the type of wrench with multiple detachable sockets, connect the socket to the handle. If you’re using an adjustable socket wrench, lock the correct size in place once you’ve determined ...
Why is it important to choose the correct socket size?
To avoid damage and get your job done as quickly and easily as possible , it’s very important to choose the correct socket size. This is probably easier than you think, because you usually won’t have to measure or guess the size by sight.
Why use socket wrenches?
One of the benefits of socket wrenches over traditional wrenches is the detachable so ckets. When attempting to find the right-sized socket, you can simply slip a socket over the bolt to see if it fits. This is much easier than trying out different wrenches.
What is the most confusing part of a socket wrench?
One of the most confusing parts of using a socket wrench is putting it together. The first thing to do is to identify the different parts of it.
How to tighten a bolt?
Select the socket to fit the bolt or nut you’ll be tightening or loosening. Slide the socket onto the handle by clicking it into place on the square knob. Select whether you’ll be loosening or tightening. Place it on the bolt or nut. Twist the handle like you would a standard wrench.
What happens if you use a socket that is too big?
With a socket that’s too big, the inside of the socket chips and damages the bolt head. If you continue to attempt to use the wrong sized socket, the corners of the bolt head will wear out. Once it’s been damaged enough, you won’t be able to get a grip on it with a socket or wrench and a specialty tool will be required to remove it.
How to fix a socket that won't release?
If it doesn’t release, first try applying WD-40 where the socket connects to the head. Allow it to sit for a few minutes at least before attempting to rerelease the socket.
How to keep sockets from getting stuck?
Pro Tip: Regularly applying a lubricant such as WD-40 and keeping your socket wrench in a dry location when you aren’t using it will help prevent the wrench and socket from getting stuck together.
How to get a socket out of a bolt?
Place it on the bolt or nut. Twist the handle like you would a standard wrench. Don’t remove it from the bolt or nut; simply twist it in the opposite direction. Continue twisting one way, then the other, until you’re finished. As simple as that sounds, you may still find yourself overwhelmed when trying to select the right socket, ...
What Is A Socket Wrench?
Is A Wrench The Same Thing as A Ratchet?
- Although people use the terms ratchet and wrench when they’re describing the same thing, technically there’s a distinction between the two. A ratchet is actually a type of wrenchand the most important piece of a ratchet wrench is the socket mechanism that stays in place while the handle is either pushed or pulled by the user. Not only this is more convenient, but it also speed…
The Best Way to Use A Socket Wrench
- The steps below will tell you everything you need to know about how to use a socket wrench, including how to select the right wrench for your project. This information is designed for beginnersand should help you understand how to properly and safely work with this tool.
Tips and Tricks
- Invest in high-quality socket set, especially if you plan to use your wrench multiple times or on many different types of projects. A good set will have many socket size options and is usually easi...
- If you’re really having to use muscle while turning the handle, check to make sure you aren’t damaging the jaw of the wrench.
- Invest in high-quality socket set, especially if you plan to use your wrench multiple times or on many different types of projects. A good set will have many socket size options and is usually easi...
- If you’re really having to use muscle while turning the handle, check to make sure you aren’t damaging the jaw of the wrench.
- Don’t use a socket that’s too big or too loosefor the fastener. This can damage or strip the fastener and even allow you to slip, which can be dangerous.
- You can purchase extensions for your socket wrench, which can make your work a lot more comfortable. For example, you may find you need a shorter or longer bar for different tasks. Buy a wrench tha...
Bottom Line
- Now that you have a clear understanding of what a socket wrench is, the basic steps to using one, and some general tips for purchasing and working with socket wrenches, you should be able to apply this information to your own daily life.