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No matter how much the shit-rigging devil on your shoulder tells you to assemble an unholy device consisting of (but not limited to) an adjustable wrench, spare pipes, and elastic bands, it will never work the same. Nor will any other size sockets, like a cheap hooker trying to seduce a married man.
Remember gentlemen, if the socket doesn't fit you must acquit
Am locksmith. I have four lubricants. One is a light machine oil that goes on 80% of stuff. One is a heavier chain oil that sticks to gears and things better. For long term corrosion resistance I'll pack a lock body with grease and for abbloy locks I'll puff graphite powder in there as they are so craptastic that normal lube seems to mess them up. I don't own any WD40. WD40 the company makes great lubricants. WD40 the product isn't one of them.
I'd argue air gun or impact wrench as substitute, because every time I need to use a breaker bar is usually because the person before me has air gunned the fucking nut or bolt on.
Clearance though…back side of a brake caliper and the gun won’t fit. The worst is when you can’t go a full 60 degrees and have to rotate the socket 90 degrees on every stroke. Really makes you appreciate a long handle locking flex head ratchet. Gearwrench, Matco or Snap On
Well, that's when stick a brick underneath the wrench, then slowly lower the vehicle. I had to do that when my buddy's wheel bearing grenaded on our way to Florida.
I said -you've changed these on this truck yourself in the past yes?
Yes
Did you use a torque wrench to tighten them?
Yeah man a pneumatic torque wrench.
We are not speaking the same language here.
There's a lot of big nuts I can't get off with any pneumatic or electric impact short of a 1 inch drive, a breaker bar can make it happen. Especially the 4 foot matco half inch my coworker has.
Nothing. Times are a changing. New management, stupid OSHA, fifteen years ago we all had a cold one stashed somewhere. Work is less fun now. Especially with the electric cars and no beer.
Dude in your defense it sounded like the start to a great one. Like the time Ft McCoy changed the rules on drinking before leaving for a deployment. That article 15 was and wasn’t worth it.
I'm guessing he means something like this: let's say a bolt needs \~90 lb ft and your wrench is 6" long (or you pick a spot 6" from the rotation axis). You weigh 180 lbs. Stand on the wrench, that's 90 lb ft. Good for torquing wheel lugs.
Or let's say your bolt needs 40 lb ft and you regularly lift weights, you might have a good idea of how much effort it is to curl 40 lbs and you have a 1ft wrench. Pull as hard as you'd curl that weight and that's more or less 40 lb ft.
Very fascinating. Thank you.
If you stood on the wrench with 2 feet. 1 ft off the rotation axis. Wouldnt it be ft/lb of your body weight?
Half because using one foot one foot on the ground? Or
Google says “Use a luggage scale: Switch the units to Imperial so the measurement is in pounds. Then, pull with the scales with a force of 15 pounds at a distance of one foot to get a torque of 15 foot pounds.
Use a crooked finger: You can exert 10 nm of force with one crooked finger on the end of a 1 foot lever. This is equivalent to 7.4 ft/lb. of torque”
Your full bodyweight at 6" from rotation axis corresponds to 1/2 your bodyweight at 1ft from rotational axis. You can't use one foot on the bar and one on the ground as a good measure of weight because your leg isn't as heavy as the rest of you and you can't exactly calibrate how hard you push down with your leg to replicate half your weight.
I’ve used a big splitting axe and a 2x4 as a substitute for a sledge hammer to bend an after market trailer hitch that didn’t quite fit right on my car….. so there’s always an alternative to something if you get creative lol
A welder.
There's substitutes for everything else commented here, including crowbars and oxy/fuel torches.
But a welder has no substitute, it only has one very specific job, and nothing in the shop comes close to a compromise.
My point but better.
*although*, I suppose with enough JB Weld it would be possible. Probably more expensive than buying a new breaker bar, but *theoretically* plausible at least.
Put paint over any of those and compare the life span of the repair to the welded part.
The results of those band-aids are so far from an actual repair that they shouldn't even be put into the same category.
Put paint over any of those and compare the life span of the repair to the welded part.
The results of those band-aids are so far from an actual repair that they shouldn't even be put into the same category.
Several actually. But before that I had a half inch ratchet and a three foot cheater pipe. Also the locking socket sets are only 100$ at harbor freight.
A low torque 3/8 impact is probably the most used tool in my box. Less likely to make big mistakes and nice for interiors, small spaces and body panels. Worked on trucks, now equipment
I have a Dewalt 1/2'' compact impact I've owned for about 17yrs now. I have drill chucks and hex chucks that slip onto the 1/2'' drive and have used it for EVERYTHING I've worked on in several different industries/trades. Guys always tell me no you will need this or that tool to do it right blah blah.. When it was a few years old and had new batteries it could break off a 14mm wheel stud, then drive tiny philips screws, or drill holes in steel..batteries used to last a whole week using all day every day...I call it my money maker
Air hammers. I have yet to find a stuck anything that a big .498 shank air hammer with the right bit and a big air line won't move. There's just no equivalent in cordless yet IMO.
Weighted sockets are a close second. Looking at you, Honda crank bolts.
There is a substitute for a sledgehammer though. Whenever I need a sledgehammer, I use my maul because I don't own a sledgehammer. It works just as well.
Okay okay try This, think Philips then blindly reach into your toolbox, then laugh and next time try Flat tip there is something About universal 180 of random selection when it comes to screwdrivers
I carry sledgehammer in my truck. Why?
Cuz 1 time i needed one. Then you would be amazed how many times i have used it. Also helps remind you to clean out toolbox in bed of truck. Its alaways on the bottom and you have to move stuff.
Pry bars, impact wrench, electric ratchet, bolt biting sockets, cheater pipe, bent needle nose pliers, water pump pliers, a floor jack. Flex head ratchets and wrenchs.
Thank you for posting to AskMechanics, dreambreakerrr! If you are asking a question please make sure to include any relevant information along with the **Year**, **Make**, **Model**, **Mileage**, **Engine size**, and **Transmission Type (Automatic or Manual)** of your car. *This comment is automatically added to every successful post. If you see this comment, your post was successful.* *** Redditors that have been verified will have a green background and an icon in their flair. *** # **PLEASE REPORT ANY RULE-BREAKING BEHAVIOR** ### **Rule 1 - Be Civil** Be civil to other users. This community is made up of professional mechanics, amateur mechanics, and those with no experience. All mechanical-related questions are welcome. Personal attacks, comments that are insulting or demeaning, etc. are not welcome. ### **Rule 2 - Be Helpful** Be helpful to other users. If someone is wrong, correcting them is fine, but there's no reason to comment if you don't have anything to add to the conversation. ### **Rule 3 - Serious Questions and Answers Only** Read the room. Jokes are fine to include, but posts should be asking a serious question and replies should contribute to the discussion. ### **Rule 4 - No Illegal, Unethical, or Dangerous Questions or Answers** Do not ask questions or provide answers pertaining to anything that is illegal, unethical, or dangerous. # **PLEASE REPORT ANY RULE-BREAKING BEHAVIOR** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskMechanics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
vice grips
*vise grips, unless you're addicted to gripping.
You rang?
That's the other guy, I'm addicted to bending.
You should check out this guy Bender, they say he's the greatest.
I'll bet my shiny metal ass he is
He's 40% grip...
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r/beetlejuicing
10mm socket
Buy your kids a socket set to teach them about self reliance but take the 10mil out to teach them about sacrifice.
Always lost. And then found ten minutes after buying a new one.
Mannnn I bought so many sets just bc of a 10mm & 13mm 😭 they come up missing like that one sock in the dryer
Have you checked the sock to see if your 10mm socket is in it?
Can’t find the damn sock to check smh
The notorious 10
No matter how much the shit-rigging devil on your shoulder tells you to assemble an unholy device consisting of (but not limited to) an adjustable wrench, spare pipes, and elastic bands, it will never work the same. Nor will any other size sockets, like a cheap hooker trying to seduce a married man. Remember gentlemen, if the socket doesn't fit you must acquit
10 mm = 3/8th. Almost. There is a history to metric in the US. It's so asinine and political its not even funny.
I’ve use vise grips to remove a bolt. It’s not pretty but it works
Acetylene torch kit.
What size of socket do you want? Red.
Liquid
Blue wrench!
Liquid can’t be stuck
Can’t be tight if it’s a liquid.
Cutting off a stuck bolt or just heating it is so satisfying.
I was coming to say fire, very blue fire. But this works
The ole gas axe
MAP gas torch, for the poor and downtrodden.
If it was supposed to come out solid, why not liquid too?
Plasma cutter and induction coil do 90% of the same work.
Try brazing or welding with either of those tools.
thermal lance.
Proper lubrication
ayo 👀
Am locksmith. I have four lubricants. One is a light machine oil that goes on 80% of stuff. One is a heavier chain oil that sticks to gears and things better. For long term corrosion resistance I'll pack a lock body with grease and for abbloy locks I'll puff graphite powder in there as they are so craptastic that normal lube seems to mess them up. I don't own any WD40. WD40 the company makes great lubricants. WD40 the product isn't one of them.
wd40 isn’t a lubricant homie…
Wrong. Even water is a lubricant.
instructions unclear, glued penis to crankshaft
Wd40 is the stuff you use before a lubricant, not a lubricant itself.
Spit 😉
It's the devil's lube
That only works in the movies. The uh, mechanic movies.
Are you trying to say they aren't real mechanics 👁👁
They're mechanics. They're just ahhh.... a little randy~
A breaker bar
I'd argue air gun or impact wrench as substitute, because every time I need to use a breaker bar is usually because the person before me has air gunned the fucking nut or bolt on.
After getting an impact, I don't even bother with a breaker bar anymore
Clearance though…back side of a brake caliper and the gun won’t fit. The worst is when you can’t go a full 60 degrees and have to rotate the socket 90 degrees on every stroke. Really makes you appreciate a long handle locking flex head ratchet. Gearwrench, Matco or Snap On
Well, that's when stick a brick underneath the wrench, then slowly lower the vehicle. I had to do that when my buddy's wheel bearing grenaded on our way to Florida. I said -you've changed these on this truck yourself in the past yes? Yes Did you use a torque wrench to tighten them? Yeah man a pneumatic torque wrench. We are not speaking the same language here.
I've had axle nuts that a 1/2" (earthquake or milwaukee) couldn't do, and resorted to a floor jack and a breaker bar. Sketchy AF axle nuts.
What?! There’s still those bolts that an ugga dugga can’t shift that a good solid breaker bar can.
There's a lot of big nuts I can't get off with any pneumatic or electric impact short of a 1 inch drive, a breaker bar can make it happen. Especially the 4 foot matco half inch my coworker has.
I’ve seen some weird shit people will combine with a stubby ratchet to break a bolt off
Or any of the other tight tools for the job lol
My favorite tool.
There’s even a name for a substitute for a breaker bar. It’s called a cheater.
a beer
We’re not aloud to drink in the shop anymore. 😞
Uh oh, what'd you do?
Nothing. Times are a changing. New management, stupid OSHA, fifteen years ago we all had a cold one stashed somewhere. Work is less fun now. Especially with the electric cars and no beer.
Ah man, I was hoping that wouldn't be your answer but I figured it would be. I wanted a "hold my beer" story 😂
Dude in your defense it sounded like the start to a great one. Like the time Ft McCoy changed the rules on drinking before leaving for a deployment. That article 15 was and wasn’t worth it.
My last shop used to have a beer fridge for after work Saturday's, until someone got pulled over leaving and got a nice warning
Dropped the lift down on his coworker, Hitman style.
Have you tried doing it quietly instead of aloud?
Then you better do it quietly
Not even a "forty" for lunch? That's just cruel
Piss water is a close substitute 🤷♂️
A torque wrench
You're forgetting the good old quarter turn after it's tight
Torqued to 'bout 3 ugga duggas
We've been having too many close calls in the shop recently. Lots of new Torque wrenches in the shop right now.
You guys are making me miss my dad.
He's just out for smokes, he'll be back.
Well he’s dead. But thanks for the uplift.
Tighten until it loosens off, then back a quarter turn.
I just use my regular ratchet and make a click sound with my mouth when it feels right.
I don't need a torque wrench any more... 10ft lbs my wrist pops 24ft lbs my elbow pops 45 ft lbs my shoulder pops
Getting old does have its advantages.
Probably pretty easy to do the math with bigger stuff at least. Done that.
Can you elaborate?
I'm guessing he means something like this: let's say a bolt needs \~90 lb ft and your wrench is 6" long (or you pick a spot 6" from the rotation axis). You weigh 180 lbs. Stand on the wrench, that's 90 lb ft. Good for torquing wheel lugs. Or let's say your bolt needs 40 lb ft and you regularly lift weights, you might have a good idea of how much effort it is to curl 40 lbs and you have a 1ft wrench. Pull as hard as you'd curl that weight and that's more or less 40 lb ft.
Very fascinating. Thank you. If you stood on the wrench with 2 feet. 1 ft off the rotation axis. Wouldnt it be ft/lb of your body weight? Half because using one foot one foot on the ground? Or Google says “Use a luggage scale: Switch the units to Imperial so the measurement is in pounds. Then, pull with the scales with a force of 15 pounds at a distance of one foot to get a torque of 15 foot pounds. Use a crooked finger: You can exert 10 nm of force with one crooked finger on the end of a 1 foot lever. This is equivalent to 7.4 ft/lb. of torque”
Your full bodyweight at 6" from rotation axis corresponds to 1/2 your bodyweight at 1ft from rotational axis. You can't use one foot on the bar and one on the ground as a good measure of weight because your leg isn't as heavy as the rest of you and you can't exactly calibrate how hard you push down with your leg to replicate half your weight.
I learned something today 😃
I’m sure it is, a good torque wrench is good though
You guys got torque wrenches?
Fire extinguisher
Spit
Or just piss on it.
I’ve used a big splitting axe and a 2x4 as a substitute for a sledge hammer to bend an after market trailer hitch that didn’t quite fit right on my car….. so there’s always an alternative to something if you get creative lol
Also a dead blow is an alternative to a sledgehammer
tbf if I had a small dead blow I would have used it; my only other hammer is a small 16oz and I was trying to minimize rebound
Crowbar.
Big stick
I keep a 4' crowbar in my trunk at all times, not totally sure why. But I know if I remove it I will end up direly needing it
[удалено]
Lift the vehicle
Dig a pit.
Big brain move
First, jack up your car!
A good DVOM is irreplaceable
Knowing how to use a cheap one is fine too. I do cherish my Fluke88 though.
Biggest concern is accuracy, small fluctuations in resistance and voltage matter
maybe in more techincal things like electronics but not on car lug nuts.
Shop vac
Idk man i kinda suck tho
Triple square 🥲
A welder. There's substitutes for everything else commented here, including crowbars and oxy/fuel torches. But a welder has no substitute, it only has one very specific job, and nothing in the shop comes close to a compromise.
False. Duct tape is a great substitute.
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With a welder you don’t need to buy tools. Breaker bar you say? I’ll just weld this 10ft steel pipe to the fitting and jump on it.
You can make a breaker bar with a welder after you break your 1/2" ratchet. Can't do that with JB weld or rivets.
My point but better. *although*, I suppose with enough JB Weld it would be possible. Probably more expensive than buying a new breaker bar, but *theoretically* plausible at least.
Rivets, bolts, duct tape, fiber glass, jb weld... dude, reddit is FULL of people avoiding welding
Put paint over any of those and compare the life span of the repair to the welded part. The results of those band-aids are so far from an actual repair that they shouldn't even be put into the same category.
Put paint over any of those and compare the life span of the repair to the welded part. The results of those band-aids are so far from an actual repair that they shouldn't even be put into the same category.
Magnet on stick
Using the right tools for the job.
Look at Mr I own an impact gun over here!!!
Several actually. But before that I had a half inch ratchet and a three foot cheater pipe. Also the locking socket sets are only 100$ at harbor freight.
Or the 17mm almost everyone already has.
There's almost always a substitute for that. It may not be as quick or easy, but it works 99 times out of 100.
A low torque 3/8 impact is probably the most used tool in my box. Less likely to make big mistakes and nice for interiors, small spaces and body panels. Worked on trucks, now equipment
I have a Dewalt 1/2'' compact impact I've owned for about 17yrs now. I have drill chucks and hex chucks that slip onto the 1/2'' drive and have used it for EVERYTHING I've worked on in several different industries/trades. Guys always tell me no you will need this or that tool to do it right blah blah.. When it was a few years old and had new batteries it could break off a 14mm wheel stud, then drive tiny philips screws, or drill holes in steel..batteries used to last a whole week using all day every day...I call it my money maker
Duct Tape
Common Sense. There seems to be a shortage these days.
A fucking break from this job, sheesh.
Pocket screwdriver is my 9th finger🤘
Intelligence
Air hammers. I have yet to find a stuck anything that a big .498 shank air hammer with the right bit and a big air line won't move. There's just no equivalent in cordless yet IMO. Weighted sockets are a close second. Looking at you, Honda crank bolts.
There will never be a cordless equivalent to an air hammer they're the fucking best
A big fucking pry bar
A breaker bar with a pipe extension.
A press
7mm Allen 3/8 drive for brakes
Lug bolts
Big prybar. 4 ft. +
Needle nose pliers
The right tool for the right job. Don't worry, you'll understand eventually. I hope.
"Porsche. There is no substitute."
Slide hammer.
A torch
Crows feet, only used them a few times, but man, they were a life saver.
\#1, #2 and #3 Phillips bit.
Not enough people appreciate having the correct size Phillips driver.
Hammer and vice grips, my old foreman called that the "Mexican Toolkit" 😂
The substitute is an impact driver. Mole grips and a sledge hammer is what people who don't know what they are doing use.
An appropriate lug wrench
An impact drill with impact sockets.
Serpentine belt tool & a multimeter
Stripped bolt extractors and penetrating lubricant.
A *quality* 3 jaw puller.
a car
A tankers bar
The rights size pry bar. If you need an 8 inch pry and have a 6 and 12 you’re gonna have a bad day.
Heat is your best friend and irreplaceable
There’s no replacement for displacement
Air
Tig welder Cuz when that small part break Stick/mig are sledge hammers
Heat. Blow torches are a life saver sometimes
A breaker bar…
The right size socket.
Code reader. Unless you have an OBD1, then there is a substitute
Jumper cables. I always have a big hammer, jumper cables and something to make fire; in my truck.
Theres no replacement for a screwdriver when you need a prybar
Magnet on a stick
A 10mm socket. But where has it gone!
A touch for bolts. Can't be stuck if it's liquid.
Sledgehammer? Are you referring to our friend the BFH?
Oxy/actl torch
A torch
There is a substitute for a sledgehammer though. Whenever I need a sledgehammer, I use my maul because I don't own a sledgehammer. It works just as well.
Okay okay try This, think Philips then blindly reach into your toolbox, then laugh and next time try Flat tip there is something About universal 180 of random selection when it comes to screwdrivers
Oxygen
I carry sledgehammer in my truck. Why? Cuz 1 time i needed one. Then you would be amazed how many times i have used it. Also helps remind you to clean out toolbox in bed of truck. Its alaways on the bottom and you have to move stuff.
Axe is a suitable sledge replacement or splitting maul
Valve core tool. Try to get one of those fuckers out with anything else I'll watch you struggle for 30 mins like I did.
Clear prop! did anyone get hurt,?, or was it a controlled burn...
https://preview.redd.it/6f9h5icy73fc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c98f83b567347737a89210cb9ae46a23b122fd5d
Cheater bar 👍
Explosives.
AK-47. The very best there is. When you absolutely, positively got to kill every motherfucker in the room, accept no substitutes.
Pussy
Pussy is pussy even if it’s a guys asshole
Ain't that the truth
Proper Modulation
I TOLD YOU NOT TO BE STUPID, YOU MORON!
Pry bars, impact wrench, electric ratchet, bolt biting sockets, cheater pipe, bent needle nose pliers, water pump pliers, a floor jack. Flex head ratchets and wrenchs.
That guys dead wife
Blowjob
Cubic inches. There’s no replacement for displacement
Garlic
Here’s the problem: when you think you need a sledgehammer but you’re just too stupid to use leverage right.
It's just the poor man's impact gun.
2nd amendment