Uploaded April 2019 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Ever Heard of a SWENCH? These are MASSIVE hand powered ratcheting Impact wrenches known as the SWENCH. Well, it’s a bit more complicated than a standard ratchet. It’s a manually-operated, HIGH torque impact wrench for use with square drive sockets. They are designed to be used where no power sources are available, or when power tools cannot remove corroded nuts/bolts. They also excel at precision tightening of bolts all the way up to the MASSIVE sizes!
The smaller one is the SWENCH Model 750 with a ¾” square drive and it can create 800 ft lbs of torque. The larger SWENCH is the Model 1000 with a 1” square drive, and it can create 2000 ft lbs of torque by HAND!
The model 750 I’m restoring kept binding up and wasn’t working at all. Come to find out the tensioning rod in the handle was broken in 2 places, and a pin holding the drive link onto the rotary hammer head was broken in half and was binding the head from rotating.
The model 1000 was just in need of a simple cleaning, but I thought I would include it so you can see the difference between the ¾” and 1” SWENCH’s, and because it’s massive and BAD A**!!
A little history on this unique tool:
In the late 1940's, Oscar J. Swenson was always searching for ways to make a man's work easier. He realized that an unanswered manual tool problem was the loosening of difficult nuts and bolts, especially ones that are rusty & corroded in places where powered sources were not an option. At first he devised a small 1/2" square drive, torque ratchet wrench using a wound-up flat spring, much like a clock mechanism. Pulling on the handle tightened the spring, which then released a sharp impact blow to a heavy rotor driving the square drive, with a socket either tightening or loosening the nut. Later he placed a long coil spring into the handle of the wrench, which compressed on pulling, and then released the strong impact. He manufactured this wrench throughout the 1950’s, and eventually sold the design and patents to Curtiss-Wright around 1960. Eventually PowerHawk acquired the design and patents and they are still manufacturing them to this day!
I have a few 3/4" drive sockets & a 3/4" to 1/2" reducer, but I don,'t have any 1" drive sockets. I'm going to keep my eyes open for used sockets in those sizes to add to my toolbox so I can put these two amazing tools back to work!
Thanks again to the guys at the shop for letting me use their 1" drive socket and a truck to use it on!! I appreciate it!!
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#Restoration #ToolRepair #ImpactWrench
LOTS TO COME!
Ever Heard of a SWENCH? These are MASSIVE hand powered ratcheting Impact wrenches known as the SWENCH. Well, it’s a bit more complicated than a standard ratchet. It’s a manually-operated, HIGH torque impact wrench for use with square drive sockets. They are designed to be used where no power sources are available, or when power tools cannot remove corroded nuts/bolts. They also excel at precision tightening of bolts all the way up to the MASSIVE sizes!
The smaller one is the SWENCH Model 750 with a ¾” square drive and it can create 800 ft lbs of torque. The larger SWENCH is the Model 1000 with a 1” square drive, and it can create 2000 ft lbs of torque by HAND!
The model 750 I’m restoring kept binding up and wasn’t working at all. Come to find out the tensioning rod in the handle was broken in 2 places, and a pin holding the drive link onto the rotary hammer head was broken in half and was binding the head from rotating.
The model 1000 was just in need of a simple cleaning, but I thought I would include it so you can see the difference between the ¾” and 1” SWENCH’s, and because it’s massive and BAD A**!!
A little history on this unique tool:
In the late 1940's, Oscar J. Swenson was always searching for ways to make a man's work easier. He realized that an unanswered manual tool problem was the loosening of difficult nuts and bolts, especially ones that are rusty & corroded in places where powered sources were not an option. At first he devised a small 1/2" square drive, torque ratchet wrench using a wound-up flat spring, much like a clock mechanism. Pulling on the handle tightened the spring, which then released a sharp impact blow to a heavy rotor driving the square drive, with a socket either tightening or loosening the nut. Later he placed a long coil spring into the handle of the wrench, which compressed on pulling, and then released the strong impact. He manufactured this wrench throughout the 1950’s, and eventually sold the design and patents to Curtiss-Wright around 1960. Eventually PowerHawk acquired the design and patents and they are still manufacturing them to this day!
I have a few 3/4" drive sockets & a 3/4" to 1/2" reducer, but I don,'t have any 1" drive sockets. I'm going to keep my eyes open for used sockets in those sizes to add to my toolbox so I can put these two amazing tools back to work!
Thanks again to the guys at the shop for letting me use their 1" drive socket and a truck to use it on!! I appreciate it!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Be sure to subscribe and ring the bell if you are new so you don't miss upcoming restorations and build projects!
Please share my videos with others if you think they might enjoy them.
I truly appreciate your time and support!
If you have any suggestions, questions, or comments, please leave them below!
Feel free to donate towards future projects on my Patreon page Below, I would really appreciate it.
★Patreon★ patreon.com/salvageworkshop
Follow my Instagram for what I'm up to on a daily basis!
★Follow me ★ Instagram ► instagram.com/salvageworkshop
#Restoration #ToolRepair #ImpactWrench
LOTS TO COME!
