I work in utility construction. Many times we have to remove bolts and/or nuts that are rusted - "frozen tight!" - even after we spray them with various penetrating oils to "loosen them up."
How does this work? I put a wrench on the nut/bolt, pull as hard as I can. Nothing happens. Then I put a 5 ft. long pipe on the end of the wrench, pull on the end of the pipe (opposite side from wrench), and my "pulling" is 1/2 as hard, and the bolt/nut unscrews!!??
Sure, I understand this is called "leverage," but that does not make me understand WHY, with the pipe, I pull 1/2 as hard! I mean, the bolt/nut will STILL require more 'pull' than my arm can give, to 'break free,' but with the pipe, I see to "get-more-pull", with 1/2 the required strength.
This does not make sense. I guess I am saying, if you use a air wrench to tighten up the nut with 100 pounds of pressure, to remove it again -should require 100 pounds of pressure. My arm is pulling 50 pounds of pressure, so nothng happens!
2007-10-03
05:25:23
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8 answers
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asked by
Anonymous