Large flat wrench: A quick way to make a large wrench is to make it of wrought iron. A piece of iron 1 × 1⁄2 × 4 ins. is bent at almost a right angle. The inside corner is the corner made by the natural bend the metal takes when shaping it.
Wrenches
Scarf this corner by placing the peen of the hammer on the corner and striking the face of the hammer with the sledge or by using a bob punch if one is available, or it may be made by using the peen of the hammer without the use of a helper. Select a piece of round iron 7⁄8 in. in diameter. Upset the end of this and scarf it to fit the scarf made in the angle piece. Heat both pieces to a welding heat. Place them on the anvil and weld the handles to the jaws. The inside is rounded up at the same time the scarfs are being welded into place. Draw the points out to a short taper and bend them up in the shape of a wrench on the heel of the anvil. This is a simple way of making a large wrench that can be used for all kinds of work.
Alligator wrench
Alligator wrench: Stock 1 × 1⁄2 × 5 ins. steel. The alligator wrench is one of the handiest tools to have in a home or shop. For general repair work it is indispensable and is easily made. Mark off 11⁄2 ins. from the end of the stock. This is the jaw part. Place the other end of the stock in the fire. Take it out and from the centre-punch mark draw the handle out 3⁄4 in. wide, 3⁄8 × 8 ins. long, and tapering to 3⁄8 × 1⁄4 in. at the extreme end. The edges of the handle should be rounding. Place the jaw ends in the fire and heat red hot. Punch 1⁄4 in. hole back 11⁄2 in. from the end. Draw out the end and shape as shown in the drawing. With a three-cornered file, file the teeth on a slant and close together. This slanting will allow the wrench to let go of the work better than those filed at right angles to the axis of the piece. The teeth should slant backward and should be put only on one side of the jaw. Both jaws should be hardened and tempered a blue colour. To do this, heat the body of the steel back of the jaw to a red heat and plunge the whole into water one inch beyond the depth of the jaw. When cold take it out and polish. Draw the temper in the same way as you would for a knife blade. (See article on [tempering and hardening].)
SOCKET WRENCHES
Socket wrenches are useful for tightening nuts in places that are difficult to reach. It is most convenient when many nuts of the same size are used, as bolting shaft irons for vehicles, etc. Some are made to fit an auger brace; some have solid handles with a cross bar, and some have holes punched in the shanks to place the iron bars in while twisting the nut on the bolt. This drawing shows a style of wrench in general use. It can be made in two different ways. One is called the welding method, the other is the solid method.