If you’re a DIYer, then you’re bound to run into a situation where you need to tighten a bolt without a wrench. It can happen when you need to tighten a loose table leg, are repairing a bike, or need to fix a leaky kitchen sink.
Even if you don’t have a wrench or pair of pliers lying around, there are still a few things you can do to tighten a bolt. If you have a wrench – but it’s the wrong size – then there are a few tricks you can deploy as well.
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Ways to Tighten a Bolt without a Wrench
Method 1: Coin Method
The first method involves using a pair of coins to pinch the nut in place and then using your thumb and index finger pinch the two coins together.
Try to get the flat portions of the coin around the flat ends of the nut. If possible, position the coins on either opposite sides of the nut, so that you’ll be able to apply force in an even manner.
Apply as much force as you can with your fingers, and then begin to loosen the nut. Then turn the coins clockwise to tighten or loosen the nut.
At this point, you may be able to simply hand-loosen or hand-tighten the nut, or you may need to continue turning the nut with your two coins.
Keep in mind, that this method won’t give you as tight of a result as you would get with a normal wrench, as it’s dependent on your finger strength.
Method 2: Zip Ties
Zip ties are good for more than just fastening cables and wires. They actually work surprisingly well when it comes to tightening or loosening a bolt without a wrench.
To use a zip tie to tighten your bolt: wrap a zip tie around both the bolt end as well as the nut and then rotate the nut in a clockwise direction until the nut is completely tight. You should get a fairly decent result with this method, but you won’t be able to get it as tight as you would with a proper wrench.
Method 3: The Nut and Bolt Method
This is a really clever method, as it utilizes another nut and bolt to get the job done. Odds are you can scrounge up another nut and bolt if you need to tighten or loosen one.
If you have a number of nuts and bolts lying around, then go with the longer bolt if you can, as this will give you increased leverage while turning the nut.
Basically, what you’re going to do is turn your spare nut and bolt into a makeshift wrench. Essentially, you tighten the spare nut and bolt around the nut you wish to tighten until it’s pinched tightly in place, and then lever the bolt to loosen or tighten the nut.
Now, depending on the type of nut and bolt you dealing with, you may need to repeat the same process with another nut and bolt around the bolt end.
Method 4: Pliers
This one might seem a little obvious, but a pair of pliers, or better yet a pair of locking pliers, will work really well to tighten or loosen a bolt. Simply lock the pliers around the nut (if they’re the locking type), and then rotate the bolt until it’s tight or loose.
Method 5: WD-40
If you’re dealing with a stubborn or rusty nut that won’t come loose, then you may need to apply some WD-40 or other lubricant to the nut and bolt assembly. This will penetrate and saturate the bolt, allowing you to potentially loosen the nut with other methods.
You can also use things like petroleum jelly, cooking oils like olive oil, canola oil, and coconut oil, or even things like bar soap, 3-in-1 multipurpose oil, or melted paraffin wax.
Coat the bolt in your lubricant of choice, and wipe it with a rag to get the oil to penetrate the threads. Then use one of the above methods to actually loosen your nut and bolt.
Method 6: The Coin and Wrench Method
This next method is intended for when you actually have a wrench – but it’s too large to fit your nut.
Basically, all you need to do is sandwich a few coins in between the wrench and the nut until you get a snug fit. You can also use washers or something similar to accomplish the same thing.
Once you have a solid snug fit, you can turn the wrench and tighten your bolt as you would with any other nut/bolt.
Other Considerations
While the above methods all work to various degrees, they aren’t ideal, and most won’t allow you to tighten your nut as tight as you could with a proper wrench.
Whether or not this matter will depend on what you’re working on. Tightening a chair leg: good enough, working on a car or motorcycle: better to get a real wrench and do the job properly.
