Custom Nipple Wrench

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

Here is an example of where I think simple is best. I picked up an Armi San Paolo 1858 Remington New Army Replica in Stainless Steel with adjustable sights as a “Target Model” from 1980. So the first thing I wanted to do was tear it all down, and clean up all the gunk that has accumulated in the last 30+ years. It didn’t have any pitting or rust on it anywhere but the nipples had a lot of grease and dirt built up around them and it had collected in a few other places as well. I like to pull the nipples clean them to the point of sanitization and use Never-Seez on them. Well none of my nipple wrenches would fit into the cylinder and reach the nipples. They all had too large of a diameter. First time I’ve had that problem. So what to do? The light bulb in my head started to emit a faint amber glow, and I decided to fab a new “custom” nipple wrench. I went down into my secret laboratory, AKA Basement and rummaged through some parts bins until I found a well used grade 8, 3/8th in diameter bolt. Popped the bolt into a vice and got out the drill. Center punched the end of the bolt, drilled a hole maybe ½ in deep and went for the dremel. With Dremel in hand I cut out a couple of slots and then used a file to widen them out as seen in the pics. Finally I used the belt sander to taper the end of the bolt to fit inside of the cylinder. This whole process could not have taken more than 20 minutes but when I was done I had a custom nipple wrench with a sweet patina that you all will envy that fits my New Army perfectly. Believe it or not this is now my go to nipple wrench for all but the Ruger’s with the hex heads. I just pair up the “New” nipple wrench with my ratchet and socket and go to town. I’m glad that the need came up because my new wrench has made quick work of a few other stuck nipples as well. No big deal, just a simple solution to a basic problem.

 

[tom e gun]

hey, thats a great idea! now you should make a few more and try to sell them

 

[icanthitabarn]

I bet it works better than the one I bought, which broke, immediately and forced me to fix.

 

[Hossfly68]

That just sounds painful! Forgive me. Couldn't resist

 

[Hellgate]

I have no clue as to what a "grade 8" bolt is. I know there is a code stamped into the bolt heads to tell hardness which I have not memorized yet. Did you find a real hard bolt and fabricate the wrench from it? I have done similar things but was just using hardware store bolts and they worked OK but couldn't handle the real tough nipples. Congrats on the fabrication. Please educate me on the bolt designation. No need to go into a lot of trouble as I am a slow learner.

 

[Snaggletooth]

I made one f those everal years back and I have never had a nipple that was stuck. Ive got one aldo that is made from a longer bolt. I cut the head odd and drilled a hole in it and ran a piece of hard steel through it. It is now a T shape. Ive made several after breaking the ones that I purchased elsewhere

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

A grade 8 bolt has a much higher tensile strength than an common bolt which will have 3 marks on the head if it is a grade 5. A grade 8 will have 6 marks. I would expect any hardware store that sells bolts out of a bin by the lb to handle grade 8 as well.

 

[303tom]

I have no clue as to what a "grade 8" bolt is. I know there is a code stamped into the bolt heads to tell hardness which I have not memorized yet. Did you find a real hard bolt and fabricate the wrench from it? I have done similar things but was just using hardware store bolts and they worked OK but couldn't handle the real tough nipples. Congrats on the fabrication. Please educate me on the bolt designation. No need to go into a lot of trouble as I am a slow learner.

Grade Eight ! Now you know....................

 

[303tom]

Here is an example of where I think simple is best. I picked up an Armi San Paolo 1858 Remington New Army Replica in Stainless Steel with adjustable sights as a “Target Model” from 1980. So the first thing I wanted to do was tear it all down, and clean up all the gunk that has accumulated in the last 30+ years. It didn’t have any pitting or rust on it anywhere but the nipples had a lot of grease and dirt built up around them and it had collected in a few other places as well. I like to pull the nipples clean them to the point of sanitization and use Never-Seez on them. Well none of my nipple wrenches would fit into the cylinder and reach the nipples. They all had too large of a diameter. First time I’ve had that problem. So what to do? The light bulb in my head started to emit a faint amber glow, and I decided to fab a new “custom” nipple wrench. I went down into my secret laboratory, AKA Basement and rummaged through some parts bins until I found a well used grade 8, 3/8th in diameter bolt. Popped the bolt into a vice and got out the drill. Center punched the end of the bolt, drilled a hole maybe ½ in deep and went for the dremel. With Dremel in hand I cut out a couple of slots and then used a file to widen them out as seen in the pics. Finally I used the belt sander to taper the end of the bolt to fit inside of the cylinder. This whole process could not have taken more than 20 minutes but when I was done I had a custom nipple wrench with a sweet patina that you all will envy that fits my New Army perfectly. Believe it or not this is now my go to nipple wrench for all but the Ruger’s with the hex heads. I just pair up the “New” nipple wrench with my ratchet and socket and go to town. I’m glad that the need came up because my new wrench has made quick work of a few other stuck nipples as well. No big deal, just a simple solution to a basic problem.

By the way, Great Job.................

 

[sltm1]

Nice thinking out of the box, and certainly cheaper than modifying a socket head....which I did, coulda saved that $$ and put it in the kitty for another revolver!!

 

[Hellgate]

Thanks for the short & sweet edgicatin' of me. Let's hope some of our aircraft or infrastructure doesn't come apart because the chicoms have counterfeited the stronger bolts. I'm not sure I could trust the markings on anything made in china but that's a whole new discussion and way off topic.

 

[Malachi Leviticus Blue]

Of similar note....Many, if not most of you probably already know this but the best most effective Nipple Wrench I've found for the Ruger Old Army with the hex nipples is this....

1/4 inch drive, 3/16 inch deep socket

 

[ozarkguy]

Of similar note....Many, if not most of you probably already know this but the best most effective Nipple Wrench I've found for the Ruger Old Army with the hex nipples is this....

1/4 inch drive, 3/16 inch deep socket

You are so correct. As a matter of fact I just used the above this afternoon to remove the nipples on my ROA. I cleaned the whole revolver while watching the Pats and the Ravens. It's the only nipple wrench I have for my ROA. Works perfectly!

 

[tmccray45]

An alternative solution

I needed a nipple wrench for a .45 caliber rifle and was very intrigued me with the bolt idea, so I went downstairs to see if I had a bolt that might work. (I knew I probably didn't but it never hurts to check.)

Sure 'nuff, I didn't, but while there, I spotted a wing nut and thought, "That might work. . ."

I clamped the wings into the vice so that I could get to the bottom of the nut, took out a metal file and, using the edge of the file, quickly filed a notch across both sides. Took thirty seconds.

I removed it from the vice, placed it on the nipple and had my wrench. Easy-peasy.

I'm at work right now so I don't have anything to measure it with, but I think it was something like a #8 nut?

 

[scrat]

if you guys are going to try this out. A word of advice know your bolts. Grade 8 bolts are awesome. About 20 years or so I had a 1965 GMC. The engine was going out and I had another engine or parts for one. So I built a nice v8 for it. When i installed it in the truck all i use was Grade 8 bolts only. Then whole truck was put together with Grade 8 Zinc coated bolts. Very expensive however i knew i would never have to replace a bolt.
Ok now present day. If you ever worked on cars and did engine work you will know some grade 8 bolts are black kinda like head bolts. they have a small triangle on the head. That means the bolt is case hardened. Awesome bolts however not what you want here for making something from. Kinda like trying to take a hack saw to a master lock. You will dull the blade up before you can even put a mark on the bold. Same thing will happen when you try to grind or drill it. You will just burn up a drill bit. So stay away from any grade 8 that are black or have a triangle on them.

 

[wittzo]

I've been replacing the hardware for all of my armor plate steel targets with Grade 8 hardware. I've seen pics of grade 8 bolts and washers take hits from up to .300 magnum at 100 yards without a scratch.

So far, the grade 8 washers and bolt heads only have lead smears on them instead of getting blown out like the grade 5 I used to use.