against all rules

[amertrac]

I acquired a adjustable wrench that was frozen tighter than a hinge.The person I got it from tried to free it up to no avail. So i love challenges so i talked him out it The knurled wheel was frozen to the shaft and the shaft was frozen into the bosses of the wrench handle and jaw. The screw head screw was altered from several tries to remove. The Method I tried was not the normal  way
I soaked it in rust formula for a couple days result-- the cleanest non usable wrench you ever saw. Boiled the wrench (in a double boiler on a electric burner)r)in a mixture of wd-40 an d kerosene for a couple hours result the cleanest slipperiest non usable wrench you ever saw.
at this point I tried another proven method that never fails. A wrench locked in a vice. and trying to turn the knurled wheel with a pair of small vise grip. result a the cleanest slipperiest non usable wrench with a slightly damaged knurled wheel.
now comes the last resort not recommended   insert wrench in a vice with the jaws of the vice tightening on the knurled tighten the vice,hoping to break the frozen wheel from the shaft by changing the circumference slightly. loosen and tighten several times . take out of vice and using pliers try to turn the wheel.-- result The cleanest slipperiest working wrench you ever saw. do the same on each boss of the shaft find a screwdriver that works and remove screw .I then filed the damage on the wheel and the threads on the wrench reassembled and worked the wrench up and down for an hour Result -the cleanest slipperiest good working wrench you ever saw    lol  bob w.

[fflintstone]

we need the "this thread is worthless without pictures" emodicon.

[amertrac]

we need the "this thread is worthless without pictures" emodicon.

The farthest think I was thinking about was pictures. Usually when i bite into a project I do not let go untill the project is complete or thrown so far into the woods I could never find it.  plus I have a problem posting pictures.So I guess i keep my projects to my self    bob w.

[Papaw]

So I guess i keep my projects to my self

NO _ NO!!  Please continue to tell us our exploits, pictures or not.

[HeelSpur]

Sounds like your having a blast to me.

[RedVise]

If that story doesnt make you chuckle, you are in the wrong forum !

Thanks for sharing !!

Brian L.

[scottg]

Usually when i bite into a project I do not let go until the project is complete or thrown so far into the woods I could never find it.

There is a great quote right there.

I think the woods out back of everywhere I have lived in the last 50 years, would yield up some evidence to back this up,  if you got a CSI team out there and give them time.
  yours Scott 

[john k]

Was at a big swap meet, buying tools I really didn't need, just cruising for bargains.   Among other things, I like the big old dark iron 12 inch adjustables, aka *crescent* wrenches.   Fella had a dollar box on the ground, and spotted a nice chrome 12 inch Crescent.   While he was making change I picked it up and found it had rusted tight.  Chrome was fine but the jaw and adjuster was as tight as if welded.   When the guy said, take it if you want it, who am I to argue?   Soaked it in brand X penetrant a few days, tapping lightly when I passed the shop.  Then clamped the handle in the vise.   Taking a reasonably sharp wide cold chisel and small hammer, locked it in the knurling and went back and forth til the wheel loosened up.   After that disassembly went fast, really just polished up the screws shaft.  Took the adjuster to the wire wheel to remove the burring I had made, put it together and hung it up.   Now I'm on the look out for more seized Crescent wrenches. 

[oldtools]

Been there, Done That!!! and they all worked...

[gibsontool]

I here what your saying about throwing those rejects into the woods, however my place is on a lake and if somebody were to drag a magnet behind their boat about 30' or so off shore across the front of my place they better have more than one guy in the boat or doubt like hell that magnet would ever see the the light of day again. LOL. Actually I pull my water out of the lake so I don't really do that but I can tell I sure have been tempted. Jim

[Branson]

Except for the clean, and now working part, I have a Diamond Caulk 12 in the same state.  My last resort, after two or three penetrating oils and gentle tap, tap, tapping was a propane torch, a steel wedge, and the vise grips.  It's still sitting in the vise until I find time and more patience to deal with it.
But hey, I bought it for a buck and the intention to make it a project.

[EVILDR235]

I have a block of lead that I pound on with frozen adjustable wrenches to loosen up the rust. It does not hurt the tool and does free them up.

EvilDr235

[gibsontool]

I remember my father and my uncles trying to take apart some piece of farm equipment many years ago. They were having a hard time with part of it and my Dad took a cutting torch and put some heat to the frozen nut until it was red hot and then threw a pail of water on it and they then got nut off without further trouble. I was pretty young so I don't remember many of the details but I would think it took the temper out of the steel. I have never had the need to resort to this but if a person did I think the nut or bolts may be able to be replaced or retempered.

[Branson]

Quenched at red hot, it probably wouldn't hurt the steel, at least not much.  The tips of punches, if carefully done, are well hardened for use by quenching (gradually) at red heat. 

[amertrac]

torches work well but momma frowns on useing them in the house and when it gets cold I do not go out to thr garage.the wheel chair stalls and i can't get it started   lol  bob w.