Knuckle Buster

All hand tools at one time or the other by someone have been called knuckle busters.

There is a Williams Tool company still in business they don't have any thing by that model number.http://www.jhwilliamstoolgroup.com/Content/16.htm

How about a picture?

Thanks for the Williams reference. I have 3 to check out--in 3 different locations, and 3 different names.

I don't have a photo of the Williams Tool Co #804A, because it belongs to someone else. But I do have a drawing of a possibly similar tool homemade by a farmer some years ago. The Williams one would certainly be better, and I think it has a ratchet on one end.

Now I know what you are talking about. I have a friend who was a heavy equipment mechanic (Manitowoc Cranes), he would use a heavy-duty strap wrench on the shank of an impact socket extension. You would not think that this technique would work (especially with a 1" drive impact) but it works very well. The strap wrench would release when it was over-driven.

I suspect my present extensions are too smooth for the strap wrench to grip, but I'll have to try it sometime. Perhaps put a piece of sandpaper between the strap and the extension?

12" pipe wrench does a good job on 1/2" extension, that has been roughed up with a grinder. I have a couple of cheap extensions, that are chewed up a bit for this purpose. for roughing up grind some shallow groves with the edge of the wheel

Roughing--a good idea and easy to try.

Or Dry leather!

Stu.

Mr. Obvious here. Looking like a extension that begs for ratchet or breaker bar. Could weld either to the extension as we sometimes do for Foreign Material Exclusion requirements. We've used pipe for long extensions and welded a wrench or socket on the pipe end and turning tool to the top, or we've stuck the extension in and welded that. Have busted knuckles. Superglue works to close most cuts. Hardly caused any ill efec..a.sd,d,...s,s.. Joe

I'm well aware of that!! I have several in various sizes and ages--some my Father bought. One thing he "learned" me about them--try to put the moveable jaw in compression; in your photo that is pull down on the handle.

One is actually supposed to move the capture of the nut within the wrench all the way into them leaving no space between the back of the jaws.

I hate it that on the History Channel Modern Marvels intro the wrench is pictured being used improperly.

While taking a, "Shop Practices," class in the Aviation Department classes in college, we were told the following.

If you would like to be assured of an, "F" in this class, be found in possession of either a, "Crescent Wrench,", or a pair of, "Vise Grip Pliers !"

The message was there that were was a proper tool for each job, no shortcuts.

I have one of these adjustables from, I think, Stanley tools which incorporates a mole grip mechanism so that you can adjust the jaws to suit then lock it on to the nut, very useful tool.

This is the one.

It's made in CHINA.... That's what's wrong with it....

Go buy a Crescent brand with the curved arrow on it....

The curved arrow shows the direction of travel, and those cheap chinese ones are junk.

I work for Swedes, who claim to have invented the adjustable crescent. I have one but it is metric, left handed and smells slightly of sardines.

I'm going to make a WAG (definitely not a SWAG). Since the OP seems to imply (or, I'm willing to infer) that part #804A was actually called a knuckle buster in the Williams tool catalog, I wonder if this could actually be a tool associated with the steering knuckle for a car/truck.

Maybe it's actually one of those forks to separate the upper or lower ball joint from the steering knuckle?

I don't think so based on the description I received.

No. I already have one of these. Don't use it much now that I have an air impact wrench.

Are you referring to a 'NUT CRACKER'? If so, they are available to bust rusted nuts.

I've just remembered, the knuckle busters were also, called Monkey Wrenches, particularly in the British Isles and her Commonwealth Countries.

Stu.

Quite correct, adjustable spanners (ok, wrenches!) are sometimes disparagingly referred to as monkey wrenches here. (Or, in reference to a rural province here in South Africa, I've also heard the term Free State micrometer being used in jocular fashion - but only if the Free Stater in question was weaker/slower/drunker than yourself!)

More seriously, when I started as a young engineer, my linesmen used old torque wrenches that indicated the correct torque by slipping and turning freely when the torque limit was exceeded. As this often happened with other steel work in close vicinity, it used to cause them to hit their hands against it, and they used the term knuckle buster for said torque wrench. Needless to say, I updated the technology rather quickly!

This F wrench was part of the tool kit for model A and T fords and is sometimes called a "Ford" wrench here in the colonies.

I think this is what I know as a "monkey" wrench.

They were supplied in the tool kits of early American cars, too. Back in the old Harley "Shovel Head" days, we carried one with part of the handle cut off and a small hammer. This was used to loosen the nut on the real axle to order to tighten the chain.

I still see some of the old "Nuckle Busters" for sale at garage sales.

I can safely state that there is not a tool made in the USA that will ever undo a European towball..........ever!!!

Yes, I know.

I have one on my 'Benz'

You are the first to know that exactly!!!!

Shall we tell the rest of them?

The ball and the arm are a single piece of drop forged steel.........its illegal to have a ball that is NOT part of the arm.......eg. screwed together.

Yes. I have two of them somewhere. One is made with a pair of steel rods that were twisted around each other to form a handle, and still have a hole in the end to hang on a nail. Now I am forced to try to dig them out.

Well, I'm not familiar with that tool name. But I do have a related story about Williams Tools. In 1989 I was relocated to Buffalo, NY for a escalator project. JH Williams Tools were located there as well. I bought a 1/2" drive ratchet for the at the time a ridiculously high $54.00 !! Probably the best ever single hand tool I have. Worth twice that amount. I believe JH Williams is still in business in Buffalo, NY. Joe

Some people here (if I understood the OP correctly) are mixing up the "Knuckle Buster" effects of some badly made/badly used adjustable wrenches/spanners.

What the op is searching for is a special tool actually called a "Knuckle Buster", and it even had a part number........

It appears it turned a bolt head or nut and also applied mechanical shocks at the same time, to help loosen things up.....I have done something similar with a wrench and giving it a few hard taps with a hammer......

Am I right or wrong Mr.OP?

Correct. An air impact wrench (or other type) can supply the torsional impacts at the same time the operator tugs on the handle to supply a steady torque. Both, together, loosen the tight or rusted nut or bolt.

Can you find a Patent number on the tool? You can look it up in www.datamp.org. That site is the "Directory for American Tools and Machine Parts. I use it all the time when restoring old tools. They do not list a Williams Tool Co. there but that may not be the name the patent was under.

Thanks for the website. Maybe the guy who suggested it to me will be able to find the patent number. If so, I think Google now offers a patent number lookup.

There are several Williams in the tool supply business!

<>the lowly cresent wrench is what the mechanics refer to as a knuckle buster, most mechanics will tell you there is a wrench for every app and the crecent wrench is used to hit those wrenches if too tight, I have a williams torque wrench that is unique in that it is a torsion bar with a click mechanism on it that will give audible click when you hit magic number, unique also that the design means you don't have a spring to unload prior to storage as you do with micrometer design type, I keep it for a back-up if my snap-on one fails or someone wants to borrow a torque wrench, anyone will tell you borrowing a professional mechanics tools will prove difficult as we have 60-80 grand invested in them.
<><>Sincerely

Mitch, Ret peugeot mechanic

My understanding is that the click-type torque wrenches should be calibrated fairly often. I have the bending-beam type.

Maybe this is close to what you have. This tool is put in a rivet gun & a suitable socket-ed driver bit is put in the other end. With the driver bit pressed into the fastener the rivet gun bangs away on it while your hand applies rotational force. As soon as the fastener begins to move then you stop the riveting action & switch to the proper removal tool. The photo is from the www.browntool.com catalog

I have one of these as an aircraft tool for removing screws, from "The Yard." It supplies axial, not torsional, impacts. It works decently on slotted or Phillips screws, but can't work on hex fasteners with a normal socket, because the socket bottoms on the work instead of on the fastener.

When it comes to the term "Knuckle Buster", that means to me any tool that has a tendency to bust my knuckles, if things go wrong.

There has been many a mention of the the Crescent/ adjustable wrench. The other big one is the pipe wrench. Slightly Mal adjusted, or one with worn jaws, will probably bust more than just a knuckle.

Never heard of that tool.

Are you looking for a tool that assists in busting nuts and bolts loose when using open-end wrenches? Spanners?

A new tool is about to be introduced. I actually saw it in action. Won't hurt your wrench and will come with a lifetime warranty. May be around 70 to 80 bucks. Hey the way I see it is that it will be a keeper. I hate busting my knuckles!

Scars are just like tattoos, except there is a better story to go along with them.