A piece of pipe, such as electrical conduit pipe, makes a great extension handle for socket wrenches, pipe wrenches, or other tools to provide more leverage when loosening bolts or pipe fittings.

Simply slip a suitable length of pipe over the handle of the tool, then pull on the pipe. Pipe can also be used over a hammer handle to make pulling nails easier.

Watch the video above to find out more.

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT

Joe Truini: When using a ratchet wrench, sometimes you need a little extra leverage to loosen extremely tight or rusted on nuts or bolts. That’s a situation I have here with this lawn tractor. Now, to gain that leverage, all you need is a length of metal conduit, this pipe that’s typically used for running electrical wiring.

Just slip it over the handle, and put the wrench on the nut. And what that does is extends the handle and provides a great amount of leverage for busting through even the most rusted, corroded nuts, bolts. And in this case, because the handle is right up against the tire which makes it very difficult to grab, the extra pipe—the extra leverage—also works as a longer handle just so I can operate the tool more efficiently.

Now, this same idea can work for pipe wrenches, for loosening really rusted plumbing fittings. Of course you need a slightly longer, larger diameter pipe. And I’ve even used it for hammers, to slip a large pipe over the handle of the hammer for yanking out stubborn nails.


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avatar for Joe Truini

Joe Truini

Radio Show Co-Host

Joe Truini is a contractor, author, and the host of “Simple Solutions” on Today’s Homeowner TV and the weekly Today’s Homeowner radio show. He has worked on both large commercial projects and residential remodeling, and has written for national publications such as This Old House and Popular Mechanics. He has also written eight books, including three best-selling shed-building books. Joe lives in Connecticut with his family and enjoys hiking, traveling, and baseball in his spare time.

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