Help with 411 in the world of wrenches, sockets, bolts, etc.


  #1  
Old 12-15-12, 01:35 PM
A
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 81
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Help with 411 in the world of wrenches, sockets, bolts, etc.

So today I was roaming Lowes looking at all the types of wrenches. I have to tighten 1/2 inch hex bolt and nut. I was confused for the longest time because I thought logically, you need to look for 1/2 inch wrenches or sockets for those ratchet wrenches. I figured out the size wrench or socket I needed was 3/4. For my educational purposes, I asked an employee to explain this and to make matters worse, he told me the numbers should match, "If you want to tighten 1/2 bolts, you need 1/2 wrenches." Then he even took me to the aisles and tried to fit some wrenches to the bolts, and he himself had a look of confusion. I just chalked it up as him being a newbie like me. So here are my questions...

1. Is the labeling wrong at my local Lowes? I think I already know the answer to this. It is not wrong, I'm a newbie.

2. Okay, so if it's not wrong, then is there a universal calculation to figuring out wrench sizes for the different nuts and bolts I will encounter in the future? In my situation, it was adding 1/2 inch. Is adding half an inch the universal math?

3. All my life, the way I tighten nuts and bolts is with two wrenches. One is to hold the bolt, while the other is to do the turning on the nut. But there must be some something for this that would eliminate the need for a 2nd wrench, right? Is there anything that we can put on the bolt and not have to hold it?

Thank you for your time!
 
  #2  
Old 12-15-12, 01:43 PM
M
Forum Topic Moderator
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: USA - N.E.Tn
Posts: 45,643
Received 832 Upvotes on 729 Posts
I'm not entirely sure I understand your question
The wrench size is dictated by the size of the bolt's head or nut. Metric nuts/bolts use wrenches or sockets that increase by the metric sizes, same goes for SAE.
Sometimes a lock washer will keep the nut from spinning once it gets partly tight but normally you always use a wrench [or socket] on each side.
 
  #3  
Old 12-15-12, 01:49 PM
PJmax's Avatar
Group Moderator
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Jersey
Posts: 64,816
Received 3,922 Upvotes on 3,518 Posts
The size of a bolt is expressed by it's diameter not its head size.
A 1/2 bolt fits in a 1/2 hole and normally uses a 5/8" wrench.
A 3/8 bolt fits in a 3/8 hole and normally uses a 9/16" wrench

You can put a star washer between the nut and the metal and it will hold the nut from spinning.
 
Attached Images  
  #4  
Old 12-15-12, 01:58 PM
A
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 81
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
Okay, thanks guys!

BTW, today I also saw something called "stop nuts" right next to the "Lock nuts." What's the difference?
 
  #5  
Old 12-15-12, 02:01 PM
Gunguy45's Avatar
Super Moderator
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 19,281
Received 6 Upvotes on 6 Posts
Well...1/2" bolt will have a larger head and the nut will probably be one size larger than that. Even that can vary depending on the bolt and nut. 1/2" designates the size of the bolt shank...not the head or nut.

That's why you buy things in sets. I'm no Pro, but I have at least 4 sets of combo wrenches (2 SAE, 2 Metric...plus misc individual pieces), same for sockets only more so.
 
  #6  
Old 12-17-12, 06:19 AM
W
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 6,395
Received 63 Upvotes on 55 Posts
Hex Nuts and Bolt Heads

The wrench or socket size is determined by the measurement between parallel sides.

I measured a 1/4" nut (fits a 1/4 x 20 tpi bolt) and the wrench size needed is 7/16" (distance between parallel sides of the nut).
 
  #7  
Old 12-30-12, 02:27 PM
JungleJim's Avatar
Member
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 56
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes on 0 Posts
no real "formula", just use them enough and it comes natural, 3/8 bolts 9/16 wrench, 1/2 bolts 3/4 wrench 5/8 bolts 15/16 wrench, 7/8 bolts 1 1/4 wrench, 1" bolts 1 1/2 wrench...
 
 

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
 
Ask a Question
Question Title:
Description:
Your question will be posted in: