Last Updated on January 11, 2023 by TechChecking
A socket wrench is an important tool to loosen or tighten a nut or bolt. Different types of socket wrenches make jobs easier and smoother. It is a cylindrical cap-like mechanism that fits over a nut or bolt to make it loosened or tightened. Sockets are to use to attach to a socket wrench, ratchet, or different other handles which create torque. Once all are set up, you simply tighten or loosen the bolts by turning the handle in the direction you intend to. Turing the handle in the right direction usually makes it tighten while turning left loosens it. Let’s now learn how to use a socket wrench to loosen a bolt. The methods would be easy and simple.
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What Is A Socket Wrench?
A socket wrench is a type of hand tool that has a wrench with a socket on one end this is used to turn fasteners to tighten or loosen the nuts or bolts. They can be called ratchet wrenches as well. In a word, a socket wrench is a ratcheting system that is attached to the handle in order to loosen or tighten nuts and bolts. You can pull or push the handle while the socket is perfectly fitted around the fastener.
How to Use a Socket Wrench to Loosen a Bolt
If you are a newbie, knowing how to use a socket wrench to loosen a bolt is important. The step-by-step guide will help you a lot. Let’s now know about it. This information is truly helpful, especially for starters.
Step 1: Select the Correct Wrench Socket First
The first step of how to use a socket wrench is to select the right socket first. Socket wrenches usually come with adjustable and different sizes of sockets. Since they are varieties sizes of sockets, the socket wrenches can be used for a variety of projects and fastener sizes. By choosing the right socket size, you can easily and quickly do the work without damaging your socket wrench.
However, to select the correct size, you can simply fit the socket to the fastener. Well, if the socket feels too small or too big on the fastener, just try another size to make it a proper fit. Without finding the proper and right size of wrench socket, you cannot start your job. This is why it is important to select the right socket to avoid damaging or breaking it.
Step 2: Connect the Socket
As in step 1 you have been successfully able to find out the right socket, it is now time to connect it. Well, if it is a type of wrench with multiple detachable sockets, you should connect the socket to the handle. In case, you are using adjustable wrenches, lock the right size in place once you think it is the right size to use. So, use the wrenches wisely.
Step 3: Fit the Socket on the Fastener
This step is one of the most important steps to perform. It needs accuracy and passionate trying. So, don’t rush. Now align the socket with the head of the fastener. Try to make it fit so that the fit should be tight enough to tighten or loosen the ratchet. So, get the work done accordingly.
Step 4: Start Turning the Fastener
You may already know which side turning the fastener makes it tighten or loosen, right? However, reminding you again – turning the fastener clockwise would tighten it, and turning counterclockwise would loosen the nut or bolt. Now, rotate the wrench handle in the direction you want the nut/bolt in or out of it. Well, if you get a good enough grip, you can try repositioning the handle and restarting it to make more turns. So, do the work carefully.
Step 5: Keep It Turning until Completely Tightened or Loosened Up
Now rotate the handle until you completely tighten or loosen the nut or bolt. Once you are done, pop up the button to remove the tool from the fastener. However, if your wrench doesn’t have a quick-release button, you need to remove it manually. You can know more here.
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Some Tips and Tricks
- Investing in a high-quality socket set is a wise decision. With the different sizes of socket wrenches, you can use them multiple times in any DIY project or anywhere you want. Remember, high-quality wrenches have the quick release button that certainly helps a lot.
- Using muscle may the chance to damage the jaw of the wrench this is why you have to be very careful about how much pressure you may put on there.
- Sockets too big or too loose for the fastener are not recommended to use. This may potentially break or damage the fastener or can slip it off which can be really dangerous.
- Purchasing extensions for socket wrenches can make your work very easy, comfortable, and quick. You should invest in a few extension sizes as well. These tools will obviously help you work in far or hard-to-reach places, such as when working with car parts.
- Keep your socket organized by size and keep them in the right place after finishing your work. This technique can save you both valuable time and energy in the long run.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is a ratchet the same as socket wrench?
Ratchets and sockets are used for the same purpose; tighten or loosen nuts or bolts. They come in different types and sizes. As they perform the same functions as a conventional wrench they are not much different. However, there are some particular tasks that the works can be done easily and comfortably with that particular tool.
2. How do you reverse a ratchet?
A ratchet or a wrench whatever tool it is – the principles are the same. Turning the handle of the ratchet clockwise would tighten it up and turning it anti-clockwise would loosen it up. So, use the turn you need to do.
3. What to use if you don’t have a wrench?
Well, if you don’t have a wrench or ratchet tool, to continue your work you can use some help using your brain. If you truly don’t have the required wrenches, use duct tape, two coins, and a zip-tie.
4. What tool do you use to loosen bolts?
Wrenches are very useful and essential tools for tightening and loosening fasteners like nuts and bolts. Wrenches easily can be set with the fasteners and the work gets done without any pressure and in a short time. They are very handy hand tools.
5. Can I use a torque wrench to loosen lug nuts?
A torque wrench is used to tighten nuts or bolts. It is really a very sensitive and precise tightening tool that is never used to loosen nuts or bolts.
Final Words
We have discussed thoroughly how to use a socket wrench to loosen a bolt. If you have read till here, you might have learned something at least. Knowing how to use a socket wrench to loosen a bolt, you can do these types of jobs by yourself. As a starter, you need to know how to use a socket wrench. Know more about how to get a nut out of a socket.