Any old hand-tool afficianados?

[Waldo1]

Tony, that attachment doesn't seem to line up or mate with any portion of that wrench. How about this question: I also took possession of a couple large drawers of drills and taps. Most of the taps have a nut tack welded onto the end. Is this just for ease of tapping or is there some other purpose?

 

[Ulma Doctor]

If that's what it is, it's called a slugging or striking wrench. Very common where there is no power available. A little hard to control torque I reckon, but a practical solution to a problem. I think Armstrong and Proto still make them, don't know who else.

Hey Tony,
i think Snap On Tools still makes them, as well as Matco Tools.

 

[Tony Wells]

Mike, most if not all of the slugging wrenches I've seen are longer and have a greater mass on the striking end. I think I have seen them in the SnapOn and Matco catalogs now that you mention it.

Like Greg, making up flanges is where i have used them. Hard to beat if you want something tight. Or if you need to break it free.

Well Waldo, it was a thought anyway. The nuts are welded on the taps so they can be run in a plain socket and ratchet. I've had to do that for reach a time or two, and it does work. Never seen a whole set done that way though, but I suspect for the same reason.

 

[Ulma Doctor]

How about this question: I also took possession of a couple large drawers of drills and taps. Most of the taps have a nut tack welded onto the end. Is this just for ease of tapping or is there some other purpose?

the nuts are to use a wrench or socket to drive the tap.
i have done the same thing in the field, it really speeds things up if you have a lot of holes to tap.
i'd run the tap in with a 3/8 ratchet once i got the tap started plumb.
i used 2 taps, one modified with the nut, one was left left au natural with the square end used a standard tap wrench.


just another tip 12 point sockets and wrenches if sized correctly can accomplish the same thing and drive very positively.
8 point and 4 point sockets are also in my arsenal.they make things nice.
i only use the 4 point sockets when i'm afraid of twistin' the corners off of a stubborn drainplug.

 

[Ulma Doctor]

Mike, most if not all of the slugging wrenches I've seen are longer and have a greater mass on the striking end. I think I have seen them in the SnapOn and Matco catalogs now that you mention it.

Like Greg, making up flanges is where i have used them. Hard to beat if you want something tight. Or if you need to break it free.

i had one that i made from an old(1920's at a guess) 1 1/2" box end wrench . i drilled and pinned the wrench shank and tig welded a block of alloy shaft steel to it. i could beat the tar out of that wrench.
it played a neat song when the intended nut got tight.
once you got tuned into the wrench you could reproduce torque by sound.
as funny as that sounds, i was amazed how close i could get.
i gave it to a friends' son that was starting out and needed some heavier tools. i'm pretty sure the boy still has it.