Welding method: Cut a piece of metal 1⁄4 × 1 in. of Norway iron. The length of this bar must be determined by the size of the nut it is to be used for. Heat one end of the piece of iron and scarf it. Repeat on the other end. Bend the piece into a collar or ring, weld the two ends together, forming a cylinder about 1 in. deep—any diameter. Select a piece of round iron for the shank, the size depending upon the size of the socket. Upset one end of the round iron to fit the collar made.
Weld collar, then put stem in, and weld
Drive the shank into the collar about one half the depth of the collar, place it in the fire, and at a welding heat weld the collar to the shank. If the wrench is to be for a hexagonal nut, make a hexagonal drift pin (a square one for a square nut), and drive the pin into the collar. Place it all on a swage and round up with a top swage. Drive the collar down until it takes the shape of the drift pin. To do this successfully requires many heatings, and it can be done only while the metal is hot enough to yield always under the hammer blows. Should the drift pin stick after the collar is driven into it, place the pin on the anvil, giving it a slanting blow. This will loosen the pin and it will come out easily.
The shank should now be driven down as shown in the sketch, and two holes punched in at right angles to each other. These are holes to place iron bars for turning the wrench. These holes can be made in two ways: one, by forming lugs or bosses on the shank and punching holes in each one, or, a sharp tapered round punch, flat and sharp on the end, can be used to split the metal and force the sides out as the punch is driven in.
If the cross bar is to be used in place of the holes, a cleft scarf made in one end of the shank and a 3⁄8-in. bar of iron welded to this about 4 or 6 inches long on either side of the shank will act as a handle.
Open-sleeve or socket wrench: The wrench given here is for practically the same use as the one just described. It is lighter than the other. The opening is longer and allows the bolt to protrude through the nut without forcing the wrench off. This wrench is made of machine steel, and the size must be determined by the size of the nut.
