Substitutes for the 15 mm Wrench

Sometimes, a stuck bolt or nut proves difficult to remove.

The most common reasons a mechanic or handyman needs substitutes for the 15 mm wrench include stuck bolts and damaged bolt heads. When a standard, open-end 15 mm wrench cannot break a stuck bolt or nut free, heat may help, according to an editorial from The Family Handyman, a print and online DIY magazine. If heating cannot solve the problem or the damaged bolt or nut makes the use of a standard wrench unfeasible, some substitutes for the 15 mm wrench might help if used with care.

Adjustable Wrenches Offer Leverage

Adjustable wrenches provide greater leverage.

An adjustable wrench often offers a longer handle than traditional open-end wrenches and may provide the leverage needed to break the bolt free. Ensure that the wrench contacts the nut on both sides as well as the two back surfaces. Tighten the adjustable wrench jaws securely. The Family Handyman suggests never turning an adjustable wrench away from the mobile lower wrench jaw. An adjustable wrench may round the edges of a stuck bolt with enough applied force.

Socket Wrenches and Cheater Bars

Socket wrenches offer several attachments and easy cheater bar access.

If the adjustable wrench fails, try a 15 mm socket attached to a long socket driver or a socket wrench with a cheater bar. Cheater bars add length to the wrench and thus provide increased leverage. Many applications make socket wrench use difficult, but most socket wrench sets offer several extensions and varying lengths of sockets to meet a variety of challenges. A socket wrench, especially with a cheater bar, may round damaged bolts or nuts off, warns industry expert David Zimmer of Cottage Life, an online home improvement magazine.

Locking Pliers

Locking pliers may work when all else fails.

Locking pliers, often called by the proprietary eponym vise grips, may save the day when other wrenches fail. Locking pliers offer the adjustable grip of a wrench combined with the teeth of pliers and the added bonus of a spring-loaded locking mechanism. Once securely attached, locking pliers may offer just enough bite in the damaged metal of a bolt or nut and break the stuck fastener free. Adjust locking pliers tight enough to provide resistance when snapping the handles closed.

Nut Splitters

Stuck rusty nuts may require the use of a nut splitter.

When tough nuts refuse to break free, both Zimmer and The Family Handyman recommend nut splitters. Nut splitters fit over a nut and offer a thumbscrew-style chisel attachment. Common nut splitters provide wrench surfaces allowing for the application of serious force to the chisel aimed at the side of the nut. As the chisel applies force, the nut breaks or deforms enough to allow for easy removal. Always wear safety glasses when using tools.

References

• How to Loosen Nuts, Bolts and Screws
• Unsticking a Stuck Bolt