Nipple wrenches

[PapaRob]

I have a few old zouaves that are damned near impossible to get the nipple out of. I have been using a pretty stock nipple wrench for years but these nipples warped the wrench. I am looking for an industrial grade nipple wrench. Something that I can actually get some torque on these things to get them out and replace them and use anti seize when I put the new ones on.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Papa Rob

[Sven205]

I had a Zoli Zouave that had a rusted nipple when I received it. Same thing happened when I tried removing, it warped the "teeth" on the wrench.

I took a 1/4" drive thin wall socket. Using the 1/4" drive side on the flats, it was a good fit. Put an Allen wrench in the other side that matches the size of the socket you're using... 5/16", 3/8" etc

Putting some Kroil or something similar may help before removing. Not a heavy duty musket wrench solution maybe, but was stronger than the ones I got from t.o.w or dixie.

[Greg Ogdan 110th OVI]

Plug the nipple. kroil for 2,3 days then do what previous poster said with trhe 1/4 drive socket.

Greg

[bobanderson]

I am looking for an industrial grade nipple wrench. Something that I can actually get some torque on these things to get them out and replace them and use anti seize when I put the new ones on.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,

Papa Rob

I buy a 6" long x 1/4" drive extension and put a 90 degree bend on the female end with a mapp gas torch. More leverage than you'll ever need.

Then to finish it off, I attach a 1/4" drive x 1/4" EIGHT POINT socket on the male end. Works great for spinning them out after they're loose.

[MR. GADGET]

Tom Crone makes some great tools for them. If you carry him a nipple he will make the tool to fit it in case it is a off size, metric or anything different.

[Eggman]

Some folks may have encountered the problem of some of our arms armed with the Maynard primer. We all love these guns, the precursors to the beloved cap guns of our youth. Shown is my .69 smoothbore, with a little Maynard pocket revolver along side for size contrast (my Maynard carbine does not use the Maynard apparatus) . Also an original roll of Maynard primers. Since the original rolls now sell for $113.00 per roll, some of us have gone to musket caps. That aside, here's the deal, that Maynard apparatus makes it impossible to use a regular nipple wrench. At top is the custom wrench I use. This wrench engages the nipple sideways, not from top. Works extremely well.
I have these available for those who need them -- $20 ppd., a bargain for sure.

[PapaRob]

Thanks all who replied. Sven's suggestion with some break free managed to get the bloody thing off but not until after I tore the hell out of my hand doing it. I think I will be reaching out to Tom Crone soon to get him to make me a tool for this purpose if for nothing else than to quit adding my DNA to these muskets. lol

[hawkeye2]

A 1/4" drive socket that you have laying around, any size will do. Get an allen wrench to fit the hex end and put the drive end in the nipple. Unbreakable and nearly free. If you want to get sophisticated you can shorten the short end of the allen wrench to make it handier and also grind down the external diameter of the socket if needed to fit in a tight spot.

[ChrisWBR]

1/4" socket and an impact wrench. Works like a champ for the really tough to remove nipples. Kroil and other lubricants to loosen are always a good idea.