Socket wrench for square nuts
For a small wrench take a bar of 3⁄8 × 11⁄4 × 6 in. soft steel. Mark off on the bar 2 ins. from each end and on these centre-punch marks fuller down on the top and the two sides so that the bottom of the fuller will measure 1⁄2 × 1⁄4 in. Draw these ends out to 1⁄2 × 1⁄4 in. any length. Cut the four corners off and make the centre round. Bend the two arms as shown and punch 1⁄2 in. hole through the boss. Be careful to prevent cold-shuts while doing this. Drive a drift pin into the hole and forge the shape as shown. Bend the two arms as shown and weld together. These should be worked down to a 1⁄2-in. round. The ends can be made into a brace shank by squaring the end and tapering it to fit the jaws of the brace. Or weld a piece of 1⁄2-in. round iron long enough to bend it into the shape of a brace, putting a round knob on the end for a hand hold. This makes a simple wrench and one that can be used in many places where flat wrenches are not convenient.
OPEN WIRE ROPE SOCKET
These sockets are made for wire cables, ropes, etc., and are best made of mild steel. Place the end of a 11⁄2-in. square bar in the fire and reduce it as shown in the sketch. Cut two outside corners off, as shown by the dotted lines. Round the ends up. Punch a 1⁄2-in. hole 2 ins. from the rounded end in the centre of the piece. Then cut a piece out with a sharp chisel, equal to the width of the hole. With the fuller, open the jaws out. Now cut the socket off 4 ins. from the rounded end and drill a 1⁄2-in. hole through this end of the socket. A drift pin 3⁄4 in. on one end and tapered to 3⁄8 in. on the other is now driven into the 1⁄2-in. hole at the jaw side.
