UMPH Tool Review: Rounded Nut & Bolt Extractors

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No prizes for guessing that rounded nuts and bolts really, really piss me off!  Especially when their recalcitrant refusal to budge stands between me and and job-done-let's-have-a-beer-time!!


The example shown two photos above secured the Galant's tow-point and its recently re-sprayed stone-tray to the front chassis rail and had decided to go rounder than a rissole just as the final twist of the socket was applied.  (Insert profanity of your choice here - it's unlikely to be saltier than my rich and spectacular vocabulary was able to furnish at the time!). 


Normal recovery protocol involves vice grips and more un-PC language.  However, the hex was positioned such that getting anything other than a socket or a ring-spanner anywhere near it was impossible, requiring a reciprocal increase in verbiage your mother may not approve of. 

 A visit to the interweb flagged up two apparently achievable options that didn't involve welding a makeshift lever onto the remainder of the hex.  One was the highly recommended Irwin nut and bolt extractor, which received rave reviews but didn't seem to be available locally, and the other a variation on the much the same theme by ProTool.


ProTool's version would appear to be of the same design as all the other not-Irwin ones out there from the likes of Repco, Kinchrome and several other credible tool manufacturers.  As you can see from the photos above, this style has teeth that bite into the rounded periphery of the nut or bolt head and gives sufficient purchase to undo it.  

 The image of the bolt above shows just how badly rounded it was and demonstrates how effectively the tool removed it (two minutes' effort -v- and hour and a half of frustration and failure).  Job done!

 The nut and bolt extractors I bought were 1/2 inch drive.  However, 3/8 drive versions are also available at reasonable prices.  I wouldn't necessarily only recommend ProTool; any of the others in the same style are likely to work just as well.

 Verdict:  10/10 for performance and value.  The ProTools are made from chrome molybdenum, so I can't see them wearing out in a hurry, either.



U M P H

 (uppermiddlepetrolhead.blogspot.com.au.)

 All iPhone images.

Comments

  1. Liam Carter18 November 2019 at 04:29

    I like and suggest you to try LongPathTool program. It is very helpful for copying/deleting or renaming long path files.

    ReplyDelete

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