Dear site visitors Labuda blog» From the presented material, you will learn how to make a universal key yourself from a bicycle chain, a bolt and three nuts with your own hands. Represented step by step photos assembling the key and so let's go ..
Many of you have probably encountered such a problem .. when the edges on the loose nut or bolt are slightly knocked down and the usual wrench it just scrolls without doing its job. This can be solved with the help of a home-made chain wrench working in compression, that is, the stronger the handle of the key, the stronger the chain will be clamped and thereby unscrew any even the most eaten nut or bolt.
To make a universal wrench, you will need a piece of bicycle chain, two nuts and a bolt. We screw the nuts onto the bolt and weld a piece of chain to them in such a way that a grip is obtained and welded to the other side of the nuts. Next, we put the chain on the nut or bolt that needs to be unscrewed and tighten the bolt, thereby tensioning the chain, everything can be unscrewed)
materials
- bicycle chain
- nut 2 pcs
Tools
- welding inverter
- UShM (Bulgarian)
Step-by-step instructions for assembling a universal key with your own hands.
So, necessary details to assemble the key.
Two nuts are screwed onto the bolt.
We measure the chain, namely how much is needed from nut to nut.
We make a mark in the place where the chain should be riveted.
We clamp the chain in a vise and cut off the rivets with a grinder.
We knock out the rivets.
Then it is stretched and welded on the other side of the nut.
Scale and excess metal is removed using an angle grinder (grinder)
Then we unscrew the bolt and loosen the chain to the required diameter.
We insert the nut and tighten the bolt along the thread, thereby tightening the chain and clamping the resulting connection.
We test the key in action.
We consolidate the material covered by watching the video. Enjoy watching)
Despite the fairly large variety, in the construction market, tools for screwing or screwing various pipe connections, Special attention experts pay to the chain key. The chain wrench is a prominent representative of the manual metalwork tool designed for the installation of pipes or fittings in hard-to-reach places. Such equipment allows you to work in conditions where the use of a standard adjustable wrench or sponge wrench is impossible.
Design features
The simplicity of the design of the chain wrench makes it very convenient and quite easy to use. Any of its models consists of a clamping mechanism and a handle. The clamping mechanism includes a chain and "cheeks" attached to the handle with bolts. The main element in the design of the chain wrench, of course, is a metal monolithic handle. At one end of its base there is a threshold, which serves as a kind of support for pipes. On the nut there are special notches that protect against the occurrence of scrolling of the pipes being held. The next important element is the chain. During operation, it wraps around the workpiece along the entire diameter. The chain is attached to the base of the key with a retainer that allows you to hold the generated voltage.
Special jaws and an adjustable flexible chain provide the necessary fixation of the pipes.
Due to the absence of any fixed elements in the design of the key, it is possible to work in confined spaces.
To use a chain wrench, it will be enough if there is a distance equal to the thickness of the chain between the structural parts and the pipe. In operation, the chain encircles around the perimeter desired item, and the threshold in this case acts as a special obstacle when sliding. In turn, the lock that fixes the chain in a predetermined position does not allow the initial girth of the pipe to weaken. Due to the uniform distribution of the applied forces over the area of the products, the risk of various deformations or damage is eliminated.
The principle of operation of the chain wrench is as follows: the chain, fixed on the handle, is thrown over the pipe and tightened tightly, resting directly on the material with the sponges. Then, when applying efforts (pressing the end of the handle), the key turns in the required direction. At the same time, the jagged ends of the "cheeks" rolling over the product provide its maximum clamping with subsequent self-braking. The chain in this case acts as a fixing element. Usually it comes with a margin and, if necessary, can be easily replaced.
Working with a chain wrench is simple, but you should remember a few simple rules:
- thoroughly clean the teeth of debris that has fallen into them before and after finishing work;
- it is strictly forbidden to use any gasket materials between the pipe and the chain;
- do not increase the wrench lever with additional pipe cuts. This may break his handle.
Caution should be exercised when using this tool when working with parts with high finish parameters or with thin-walled pipes. Significant compression can lead to abrasion of surfaces or collapse of the product.
The main materials in the manufacture of chain wrenches are aluminum and steel. Keys made on the basis of high-strength steel will last a long time. To facilitate the design of the key, aluminum is additionally introduced into the composition, but this does not affect the strength characteristics in any way. Aluminum allows to reduce the total weight of the key by an average of 40%. Often aluminum is used in the manufacture of handles.
Specifications of the chain wrench
In the operation of the chain key, the following main parameters are distinguished:
- the ability to use the tool in places with difficult access;
- for small loads, the wrench is equipped with a one-piece forged alloy steel handle and a special sponge;
- key works with any metal pipes different diameters;
- for heavy loads, some chain wrench models have variable (double) jaws made from the same alloy steel. Such a key is considered indispensable when it becomes necessary to have a sufficiently rigid grip of the key with the pipe. In order to increase the amount of effort applied, an extension arm can be additionally used. Depending on the nature of the work, the chain wrench can be modified by placing replaceable jaws in the structure.
As with any other plumbing tool, an important factor is the quality of the chain key itself. Many mistakenly believe that the main criterion for choosing a chain wrench is the allowable opening size. However, it is not. When choosing a tool, you should be based on the quality of the key, especially on its handle and "cheeks", since, as a rule, they are assigned most of all loads. It is very good if the key is made of high strength steel. In the future, this will determine its wear resistance in operation. Also, when choosing this type of equipment, you should pay attention to the trademarks of world famous manufacturers that have long earned the trust of many consumers.
To date, both classic and lightweight key models are produced. Often, standard models are characterized by a greater mass than lightweight keys.
The most famous brands that are in demand among buyers include RIDGID, REED, SPARTA and STAYER chain wrenches.
The most reliable keys, known to professionals all over the world, are currently RIDGID. This company produces more than twenty types various keys. The products of the world leader are characterized by high strength, reliable grip for pipes of different diameters, as well as an ergonomic handle and its length.
The choice of such a tool is quite wide, so be sure to weigh all the pros and cons before settling on any particular manufacturer.
Wrote in the title "universal wrench" and coolly doubted. What a key it is when it comes to the real almighty lockpick-opener-twist, which can be made in a couple of minutes from an old and useless bicycle chain. Having such makeshift fixture, you can no longer google and yandex something like “buy a universal wrench”. You will have a truly almighty tool at your fingertips if you pick up a rusty chain and decide to put in just a little effort.
So let's go. First, we will tell you how this adaptation is made, and then we will show with several examples how it is able to move mountains.
Making a universal wrench: a minimum of words and a maximum of photos
For making it fantastic a simple tool you will need:
- unnecessary bicycle chain;
- a wooden block of such a thickness that it allows you to freely grab it with your hand;
- a sufficiently long screw with a nut;
- drill with a diameter corresponding to the size of the screw.
From wooden block We measure a piece with a length slightly exceeding the width of the palm.
Carefully cut off the measured piece.
At 2-3 cm from the edge, we outline a place for attaching the chain.
We select a drill with a diameter corresponding to the size of the screw.
We drill through hole, into which the screw will freely enter and insert it there. Then we take the chain from which our universal wrench will be made, and we find in it a collapsible link that allows us to open it.
With an awl, remove the locking pad, disassemble the collapsible link, and then open the chain.
We put one of the extreme links of the open chain on the tail of the screw.
We fix the link with a nut, which we then tighten well.
And now our universal wrench, which we just intended to buy, is ready. And now let's see how our miracle tool works and how to use it.
How to use an Allen wrench and what it can do
The size of the capture of a home-made key can be selected by throwing on the tail of the screw that chain link that provides the required size of the capture loop.
So the loop turned out to be quite large.
If another link is hooked onto the tail of the screw, then the loop may be smaller.
As for the possibilities, for our tool they are almost limitless. For example, they can easily open the abutting cork of a plastic bottle.
With our key, you can completely free to rip off the completely round old nozzle that has rusted to the country tap.
A universal wrench made in this way will allow you to unscrew a rusted bolt of any size.
Our tool is capable of unscrewing the seemingly stuck head of an old faucet.
So, we see that the easily made universal wrench is almost omnipotent. Like this stuff? Do you want to give us praise for the fact that we reminded you of the existence of a well-known homemade product for a long time, or does this tool seem unnecessary to you and you have a desire to scold us? , write about your impressions, and your opinion will be immortalized on the Internet.
